Specifically, our overall well-being and future healthcare costs are top of mind for both consumers and employers alike, especially considering the growing impact on consumers’ mental and physical health and as healthcare costs are expected to rise in the new year.

As a result of the pandemic, 53% of Americans are reporting a decline in their mental health and well-being, 76% have gained up to 16 pounds, and nearly half of adults say they or someone in their household has postponed medical care. Therefore, employers may soon be faced with a tidal wave of future high-cost claims and thus should be doing everything they can to provide the resources employees need to get and stay healthy—mentally and physically—to limit future healthcare spending. 

An Increased Focus on Holistic Well-Being

Employee health and well-being is a priority for consumers and business leaders everywhere as a deadly virus continues to spread across the nation. At the same time, what employees want from their employer has adapted to reflect what they truly need to be successful in the current climate.

This includes caregiving support, grocery delivery, mental health support, fitness apps, and much more. Consequently, employers are tasked with providing these tools and resources to ensure employees can stay mentally and physically healthy during one of the most challenging times in modern history.

The “Quarantine 15” may jokingly refer to the weight gained during the pandemic, but the truth is that many Americans are struggling to remain fit while spending the majority of their time at home. While weight is an important factor in a person’s health, holistic well-being is much more than the number on the scale. It includes everything under the health and well-being umbrella: sleep, mood, mental health, and so much more.

That said, in order to limit healthcare spending, employees need to focus on the root cause of issues that result in higher claims like irregular sleep patterns, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, poor mental health, and mood. While there are resources that target each of these concerns separately, employers often see higher engagement and can boost a program’s overall impact if they package everything in one solution, like weight management, to address a variety of employee concerns....

Source: HR Daily Advisor