According to the recently released 2012 PSILOS Outlook on Healthcare Economics & Innovation report, engaging and personalized employee health and wellness is key to controlling employers' health care costs. The new report focuses on consumer engagement, and the report shows that employees who receive some kind of personalized engagement in their health care are more likely to take an active role in the day-to-day management of their health and wellness.
Active engagement in health care management and healthier employees are key to prevention of chronic and/or serious illness. These types of diseases and conditions make up 75% of the national health care spend. Healthier employees, who are engaged in their healthcare will keep costs down. Although the act of maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be enough to keep employees engaged, 80% of employees want to be compensated for their healthy behavior, weight loss, etc. Instead of supplying bonuses for these types of behavior, supplying rewards such as gift cards provides trophy value and a choice to employees that cash cannot offer.
