The rising cost of poor health

The Rising Costs of Poor Health to Corporate America ... and what you can do about it.

Losses of $32 billion per year are related to premature illness associated with cardiovascular disease – high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity. Every year billions of dollars in productivity are lost as a result of employee sickness and disability. The average annual healthcare cost per person in the U.S. is more than $3,000. Preventable illness makes up approximately 70% of the total costs of illness.

Because many of these costs are directly linked to health habits, employers have an opportunity to take aggressive actions toward containing costs by implementing corporate fitness programs.

According to a study published by the American Journal of Health Promotions, for every $1 spent on wellness programs, employers can expect a return of $2.30 to $10.10 through lower medical claims, reduced absenteeism, improved productivity and other factors.