The high costs of obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes for employers.
As an Employer, you understand the importance of keeping your employees healthy and productive. However, with rising healthcare costs and a growing number of chronic conditions affecting the U.S. workforce, achieving this goal can be challenging. Three of the most significant health concerns that impact employees today are obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Let’s take a closer look at these conditions and their costs to employers.
Obesity: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 40% of adults in the United States are obese. This condition is a major risk factor for many health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. For Employers, the cost of obesity is significant. Obese employees are more likely to miss work due to illness, and have higher healthcare costs. In fact, a recent study found that obesity-related absenteeism costs Employers $4.3 billion per year.
Hypertension: High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects nearly one in three adults in the United States. This condition increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. For Employers, the cost of hypertension is also significant. Hypertensive employees are more likely to have health problems and require more healthcare services, leading to higher healthcare costs. In addition, hypertension-related absenteeism costs Employers an estimated $3.4 billion per year.
Type 2 Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects more than 34 million Americans. This condition is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. For Employers, the cost of type 2 diabetes is staggering. Employees with diabetes have higher healthcare costs and are more likely to miss work due to illness. In fact, the American Diabetes Association estimates that diabetes-related absenteeism costs Employers $3.3 billion per year.
What Can Employers Do? As an Employer, you have the power to make a difference in the health and well-being of your employees. By implementing wellness programs that focus on preventing and managing obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes, you can help reduce healthcare costs and improve employee health and wellness. Telemedicine services such as Epiq MD provide employees with convenient access to medical care, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming visits to doctors’ offices or emergency rooms. This not only saves employees time and money, but it can also lead to significant cost savings for Employers. A recent study found that telemedicine services can lead to a 15% reduction in absenteeism rates and a 20% reduction in healthcare costs. By investing in telemedicine services, Employers can improve employee health, increase productivity, and see a significant return on investment that not only improves the businesses bottom line, but positively impacts the lives of their employees.
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