Half of workers don’t get adequate preventive care

Seventy-five percent is a critical figure when it comes to understanding healthcare costs.
That’s the percentage of total American healthcare spending that chronic conditions – specifically heart disease, cancer and diabetes – accounts for, according to the CDC.

What’s worse, a good amount of that spending probably could’ve been avoided if individuals were up to date on all their recommended preventive screenings.

In fact, the CDC estimates that Americans were only seeking access to preventive services at half the recommended rate.

More accessible than ever

Regular preventive screenings are a critical part of preventing long-term health problems.

So what can firms do to ensure employees are getting all the preventive care they should be?

These three tactics should help get more workers to buy in to the importance of regular preventive care:

1. Use the health reform law. Whether you love it or hate it, the healthcare reform law has made regular preventive care more accessible and affordable than it’s ever been before.

Currently there are over 50 preventive services covered by the health-reform-compliant plans that won’t cost employees a thing. It’s up to employers to let staffers know.

2. Get your provider involved. Your healthcare provider should be able to provide your employees with timely reminders on the types of services and screenings they should be getting, based on their age and gender.

Plus, some plans will offer workers incentives for getting annual physicals or preventive-care screenings.

3. Ask for testimonials. Few tactics work better than personal examples (e.g., “a screening detected my cancer early enough to save my life”). See if any staffers would be willing to share a testimonial on preventive care.