Benefits July 24, 2001

Large Employers Embrace Special Health Programs

July 24, 2001 (PLANSPONSOR.com) Over three-fourths (77%) of large US employers surveyed now offer their employees special health programs such as disease and medical management, flu vaccinations, baby or childcare programs, and prenatal care.
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That’s more than the 71% in last year’s study by Hewitt Associates. That study also found that nearly all (92%) offered some form of health program, up from 88% in 1995.

Screenings and Health Appraisals

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Further, some 74% use health screenings, up from 67% in 1995, to detect high blood pressure or cholesterol through their health plans or via on-site health fairs, mobile units for mammography or other screenings.

In addition to those who use screenings, 27% of companies administer health risk questionnaires to analyze employees? medical histories and promote early detection of health conditions.


And 40% of companies offer financial incentives or disincentives, such as gifts or monetary awards for employees who participate in these screenings or health appraisals, compared with 32% in 1995.

Disincentives include higher premiums for employees who smoke, or lower medical benefits for those not wearing seatbelts when involved in a car accident.

More Findings

The survey also found that:

  • some 71% of companies now offer employees some kind of education program, such as health seminars, up 5% from 1995,
  • the same percentage of employers are considering, or already have a disease management initiative in place to reduce healthcare costs and increase productivity.

The study, “Health Promotion/Managed Health Provided by Major U.S. Employers in 2000”, reflects the practice of some 1,020 companies.

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