New health care plans for 2008
Prevention, wellness emphasized in new health care plans
The link between lifestyle and health is an area of growing interest to researchers and health care experts. Studies have shown that by making the right choices—exercise regularly, stop smoking, eat more fruits and vegetables, and manage stress—people can live healthier, more fulfilling lives.
This emphasis on staying healthy has led to a new focus on prevention and wellness in the workplace and in overall efforts to control rising health care costs. There’s no doubt that preventing rather than treating disease is not only a less expensive approach, but what many experts see as a smarter way to think about health care. In fact, individuals with chronic diseases spend three to five times more on health care. And early diagnosis is one of the best ways to avoid chronic disease and the costs associated with treating it.
OUNCE OF PREVENTION: STAYING HEALTHY
All four of the new University health
care plans pay 100 percent of nationally
recognized services for preventive
care, including:
- Well-baby/child visits
- Physicals
- Immunizations
- Mammograms
- Cholesterol screenings
- Bone scans for osteoporosis
- Colorectal and prostate cancers screenings
- Pap tests and pelvic exams
National guidelines for preventive care services have been established by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services.
Emphasizing prevention and establishing incentives to help employees make healthy choices were goals of President Seligman’s task force on employee health care plans. That’s why access to preventive care is a key component of all four of the new health care plans. Routine physicals and screenings such as mammograms, pap smears, and prostate exams (see a complete list at right) are all covered 100 percent.
Charles Murphy, associate vice president for human resources, says the focus on prevention and healthy lifestyle choices demonstrated in the new health care plans complements the University’s wellness program, Well-U, which already provides a range of workshops and sessions to support healthy living.
“Through our health care plans and through Well-U, the University hopes to give employees the tools they need to lead healthy, productive lives. We want to provide the incentives and the support so that employees can take the steps necessary to make those changes, whether it’s smoking cessation, nutrition, or weight management. Those who do take the steps have the opportunity to pay less for health care.”
In addition to preventive care, the task force looked at a range of incentives that could be offered this year and in the coming years that will help employees reexamine their lifestyle and make changes to enhance their health.
As part of the effort, employees will receive $100 for completing a health assessment in 2008. The confidential questionnaire provides employees with a personalized evaluation to help them identify areas that may need improvement. look for more details this fall in Currents and @Rochester.
