subject: Healthcare Accountability [print this page] Did you know that in the last ten years the cost of healthcare has risen 131% and could double in the next ten years? Did you know that on average companies pay $7,173 per employee for healthcare? (Human resources consultants Watson Wyatt and employer coalition National Business Group on Health). Because of these high premiums and the current health conditions of employees, employers are looking for ways to cut healthcare expenses, one of those is by using incentive to improve employee health.
Companies are taking action to encourage employees to improve their lifestyle and overall health. They are offering incentives such gym memberships and discounts to participate in wellness programs. They are also adding surcharges, for example employees at PepsiCo who smoke are charged a $600 surcharge. Employees who do not participate in wellness programs have to pay higher insurance premiums and some employers are penalizing those employees who do not actively participate in activities or wellness programs to improve their health.
Being a Leadership and Health Coach, I feel a responsibility to let you know that now is the time to start taking control and managing your own healthcare. We need to start by being accountable for our own health and wellness. When we act with accountability, we have a willingness to accept responsibility for our own actions.
We need to make a personal shift from an attitude of "have to", to an attitude of "want to". We have to want to be healthy. When we do this, we will experience an increase in productivity not just in the short term, but that remains consistent over time. You will no longer be spinning your wheels, but will be focused on making behavioral improvements. When we act with accountability, we can overcome challenges by improving your level of self-awareness. Accountability leads to follow through on commitments, taking initiative, and ongoing personal development.
Did you know that Americans make over 1billion visits to doctor's offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics and ER's every year? If you are overweight or have multiple health risk factors your healthcare costs on average $1000 more per year than healthy persons does. It may be costing you money to be unhealthy. We each need to contribute to the current state of chaos in our healthcare system. We need to act with accountability if we are going to make a difference, start by improving our own personal health and wellness.
