Do wellness programs work? Let the numbers answer that

Finally, there are some numbers to back up what wellness pioneers have been predicting: These programs actually save companies money.

Most companies are at least intrigued by the prospect of implementing a wellness program. But many aren’t willing to test the waters without seeing proof they get results.

Healthcare experts suggest that companies who have implemented wellness programs are starting to see the first real ROI on their investments — mainly in the form of decreased healthcare costs.

According to a recent study by Principal, for every dollar a company puts into a wellness program, there’s an average reduction in medical claims of $2.45.

Even better news: It generally takes about 18 months for an employer to see returns of any kind on a wellness program. So, the longer a program is in place, the greater the reduction in healthcare costs will be, experts predict.

While wellness programs tend to vary greatly from company to company, research from the Kaiser Family Foundation found the following breakdown of what companies are offering:

• 19% offer injury prevention programs
• 10% offer some type of fitness programs
• 9% offer smoking cessation, and
• 6% offer weight-loss programs.

Interested in creating your own program? Be sure to check out our reports on introducing wellness as a part of your company’s culture and the hidden costs of these programs.