As employers continue to look for ways to trim the bottom line, they are now turning to employee health insurance as a fast way to shed financial fat. Overweight or tobacco-using workers at Clarian Health in Indianapolis, for instance, will now have to pay additional money toward the cost of their own insurance if they indulge in unhealthy habits, including overeating.
More employers are zeroing in on obesity and smoking as the primary culprits for the ever-rising cost of health care. And that means companies increasingly are tracking not only their employees’ productivity but also personal information such as their waistlines, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Some companies already have been monitoring employee health habits and sometimes charging premiums accordingly. But some programs, such as Clarian’s, are moving beyond the honor system to mandatory health questionnaires and screenings.
The cost, an additional $30 every two weeks, amounts to $780 out of an employee’s pocket annually. The company justifies the practice by saying that health care costs for overweight employees are 21% more per year… roughly $670, according to the article.
So where does that other $90 go? Let’s just say that, even if they’re giving employees motivation to shed a few pounds, the company stands to gain yet more.
Chubby Mommy