Health Insurance Daily

Workers' Unhealthy Habits Could Cost Them

According to an article in the Detroit Free Press, employers are looking for ways to reward employees who take better care of themselves. Some employers are beginning to charge lower health insurance premiums to people who exercise, have annual physicals, don't smoke and let their employers monitor their health.

The new trend toward offering financial incentives could improve participation in company-sponsored programs and drastically cut costs, said Dee Eddington, director of the Health Management Research Center at the University of Michigan.

One way to keep insurance inflation in check is to keep employees healthy. But traditional employer-sponsored plans encouraging exercise, nonsmoking and healthy eating habits have fallen flat. Adding a financial incentive may be the answer.

posted by Mike @ 9:25 AM