So, let me ask you....how is it that health insurance companies are getting away with holding companies, and their employee's, hostage by forcing them to implement insurance provided wellness programs for lower premiums, but charging a fee for said programs? Huh.
As I understand it, the insurance company sets up a cookie-cutter wellness programs, perform health risk assessments on the company employee's....use that data in determining premiums and then charge the company a fee for implementing and maintaining the program (which they do via on-line services only). The data collected from the employee health risk assessment is used to determine whether the employee will fall under low or high risk categories. The more high risk employee's on has on staff, the more extensive and expensive the program .....which leads to placing higher premiums based on the number of those high risk employee's. Huh.
Wait a minute! Is that ethical? Is it legal? Even if it is "legal" or unregulated, is it the right thing to do? Basically the insurance company is setting their own client up for failure, just so they can make a few more dollars.
Reality show us that no high risk employee, who doesn't want to change, won't do so just because you impose a "program" on him/her. Or because they'll save $20 per month. Most I've spoken to will pay a gym $20 NOT to attend 12 times per month......and isn't that asking a lot for a "high-risk" employee? High risk usually means they are candidates or have some kind of chronic disease, smoke or are overweight. Now I ask you, are any of those individuals going to make it to a health club to workout 12 times per month?
I see several flaws in current health insurance run corporate wellness programs. First, the health risk assessment (HRA) information that they gather from employees and using it as a basis for rate determination, smacks of unethical business practices. HIPPA thinks so too, which is why they are leveraging to make changes so that the employer maintains possession of that information and is not used in determining premiums.
Secondly, expecting online software programs to do the job of what should be an empathetic, supportive and educated coach when dealing with employees making life changes. Through extensive research I have found that the majority of those who do participate in wellness programs, have a longer-term success rate when they've had the ability to work one-on-one with a coach.
Third, the insurance companies are taking a band-aid approach to health and well-being. They impose an exercise, diet and smoking cessation program in order to solve inherent core value behavior. What do I mean by core-value behavior? Core-values are those belief systems that we all carry around with us that help us navigate through life. Some are positive (anabolic) in nature, and some are negative (catabolic) in nature. Those catabolic ones are the ones who tell us negative things about ourselves, encourage destructive behavior and most typically are conditioned behavior responses. These are the core-values that keep us from losing weight, quitting smoking, going to the gym and leading a healthier lifestyle. These are the real issues a wellness program has to address in order to affect real change in an individual. Only then, when we can clear the path for someone to take anabolic action for themselves can we expect them to take advantage of the gym, healthier eating or to quit smoking.
Lastly I'd just like to add that I think the health insurance companies were on the the right track, but I don't think they are the right provider for such programs. Every company will have it's own issues, whether it's stress management, weight management, communication issues or conflict resolution. The right candidate for providing programs will customize those programs to fit each and every company individually with thought, intention, effectiveness, appropriateness and intelligence. Yes, for most employers is a matter of the bottom line, but it's also about the health and well-being of your biggest asset.....your employees.
Wellness is a way of BEING, not a program you get off a computer.
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