We’re now just weeks away from new health insurance exchanges opening for individuals and small businesses. The federal Patient Affordable Care Act’s major provisions will begin to take effect in 2014. Health care as we know it is about to change, yet Americans’ current health is at the worst in our history as a country. We really don’t have a health care crisis, we have a health crisis. Will the new law and the changing system improve our overall health?
Both obesity and diabetes have become epidemics in our country, with two-thirds of our population either overweight or obese. According to a study from the Society of Human Resources, U.S. employers are spending more than $13 billion annually on overweight or obese employees.
According to the American Diabetes Association, estimated costs associated with diagnosed diabetes have increased 41 percent in the past five years to $245 billion. Medical expenditures are 2.3 times higher with people who have this disease. Diabetes is the leading cause for kidney failure and a major cause of heart disease and stroke.
I could go on with statistics on smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, high blood pressure and other health issues – our lifestyles and behaviors are causing poor health, disease and premature death at an alarming rate.
The new health care law does have a couple of bright spots for promoting health, including mandatory coverage for preventative services and increased incentives for businesses who install wellness programs. Preventative screenings and annual physicals will now be covered on all health plans. This should eliminate the barrier of cost associated with knowing your current health status. Businesses can also now provide greater financial incentives for their employees to be engaged in healthy behaviors. Many local businesses are responding by implementing their own health and wellness initiatives.
In 2008, Ozarks Technical Community College contracted Springfield Preventative Medicine to operate an onsite health and wellness clinic. Dr. Jim Blaine provides onsite medical care, preventative services and prescribes medications. The campus has been tobacco free for 10 years and offers the Weight Watchers programs to faculty and staff. The college has also stabilized medical costs during the past few years with this approach.
Watts Radiant, a manufacturer of radiant floor heating, has improved its employees’ health by offering a variety of wellness services. An onsite wellness coach, smoking cessation programs, health risk assessments, lunch and learns and incentives for improving health are just a few of the strategies.
Springfield-based tech company JMark Business Solutions Inc. is using its wellness program to change behaviors and its executives are setting the example. After an initial health risk assessment, which identified current health statuses, many in the company have made significant progress by increasing their level of physical activity.
Our community is also making strides in improving health. Organizations such as the Healthy Living Alliance, Greene County Health Department, Ozarks Greenways, farmers markets, city of Springfield and many others are developing community and school gardens, supporting locally grown foods, building bike paths and sidewalks and encouraging increased physical activity.
Blue Zone’s author Dan Buetner also came to Springfield to promote his book and communicate how other communities are promoting health and longevity. CoxHealth and Mercy are not only promoting Blue Zones, they also recently supported the new medical mile walking trail to encourage walking around their campuses. Additionally, our community voted to make restaurants, public spaces and businesses smokefree.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, families can purchase insurance without any restriction for pre-existing medical conditions. Lower income individuals are eligible for subsidies to help pay for coverage. All insurance plans now provide coverage for preventative services such as birth control, mammograms, annual physicals, colonoscopies, etc.
Families also should start becoming more proactive with their health. The community offers many opportunities for physical exercise, healthy food choices and educational programs through both government and nonprofit organizations. Businesses also can lead the way. Group medical plans must also provide preventative coverage for all employees and covered dependents. Understanding your statistics and current health status should become the norm.
The new health care law now allows businesses to provide an incentive of up to 30 percent of an individual’s premium for participation in wellness programs. This enables employees that participate in health screenings, educational classes, physical activity, smoking cessation and healthy food or diet programs to be rewarded. Those that choose not to participate or make progress should no longer be subsidized by employees who are actively working on their health. Every business can implement a wellness program at some level.
Although the new health care law has its flaws, let’s use it as a catalyst for improving health in our families, businesses and community. The ultimate and only real solution to our health care crisis is to improve health. It’s a problem we can impact together with families, businesses and as a community.
Richard Ollis is president and CEO of Springfield-based Ollis and Co., specializing in risk, employee benefits and insurance. He serves on the national board of the Wellness Council of America and can be reached at richard.ollis@ollisco.com.
