Everyone is talking about the future of
health care, presumably because the
present view is so unsettling.
- In 2008, employers are projected to
spend an average of $9,312 on health care
costs per employee — 46 percent more
than in 2003. - More than 25 percent of U.S. health
care costs are related to physical inactivity
and obesity. - U.S. companies lose approximately 2.8
million work days each year because of
employee injuries and illnesses. - Uninsured Americans numbered 47
million last year, rising for the sixth straight
year. - The United States spends more on
health care than any other nation in the
world, yet ranks 45th in the world for life
expectancy.
Almost everyone agrees that the U.S.
health care system needs to change. In
order for that change to be successful, several events need to occur. Everyone needs
access to affordable health care. Transforming the health care system will require
shared responsibility. We can only achieve
universal coverage if we have universal
participation. Comprehensive health care
reform will only occur if we have a truly
competitive marketplace. People need
access to information, technology and support to make wise health care decisions.
“As insurers, we are working hard to be
part of the solution,” says Bill Berenson,
senior vice president of Aetna’s Small and
Middle Market Business for the North
Central Region. “We continue to work with
employers and plan sponsors to develop
innovative, client-centered solutions that
deliver lifelong health, lower medical
costs and higher productivity for their
organizations.”
Smart Business spoke with Berenson to
learn more about the solutions shaping the
future of health care.
What solutions are helping to shape the
future of health care?
More and more employers are taking an
active interest in wellness because they understand that the health of their employees is directly tied to the cost of their benefits programs and impacts the overall productivity of their organization. Simply put,
if you improve wellness, you improve the
bottom line.
The concept of wellness has moved
beyond lifestyle coaching or weight management programs. It’s a robust solution
that helps all employees achieve optimal
health. A comprehensive wellness strategy
can save money through lower health care
costs, greater productivity and reduced
absenteeism; however, creating a successful wellness program requires everyone’s
participation — the health plan, the
employer and the employees. Everyone
needs to be actively engaged in order to
affect real and lasting change.
Research shows that engaged employees
take ownership of, and are active participants in, achieving optimal health. They
make better health choices. The result is
increased productivity and effectiveness —
and an improved bottom line for employers.
What are some other solutions helping to
shape the future of health care?
Integration is one of the keys to shaping
the future of health care. True integration
delivers a continuum of products and services across the entire employee population
by seamlessly integrating systems, data
and care. The various disciplines — clinicians, behavioral health experts, pharmacists, disease management and disability
management staff — all work in concert to
create opportunities for better health outcomes. Integration improves employee
engagement and drives behavior change to
help employees achieve optimum health —
and it helps improve productivity and
reduce health care and disability costs.
Additionally, medical management strategies improve the quality and cost of care,
helping employers achieve a healthier
workforce.
How can a business make sure that it is
ready for the future of health care?
As an employer, you have to understand
that your employees’ health status is directly linked to the cost of your benefits program. You also need to understand the
importance of getting to a future state
where your employees and their families
are fully engaged and take responsibility
for health care decisions; the benefits
experience they receive is personalized to
meet their needs; and all benefits seam-lessly work together to enhance employers’ bottom lines and the well-being of their
employees.
To ensure that your organization is ready
for the future, consider working with a
health benefits provider who is equally prepared and dedicated to helping you reach
your goals. Together, you will be able to
deliver better care for your employees,
increase control over costs, take advantage
of the value of integration, and provide a
simplified and more rewarding benefits
experience for your employees.
BILL BERENSON is senior vice president of Aetna’s Small and Middle Market Business for the North Central Region. Reach him at
(312) 928-3323 or [email protected].
