Health Insurers Continue To Shamelessly Promote Their Worthless Wellness Programs
April 22, 2016
I remember the time a Cigna health insurance representative gleefully explained their new, “free” disease management programs to our company. It was the early 2000s and insurance companies wanted to make employers feel like they felt bad about the large plan increases they demanded during plan renewal. The hope was that with their new, “free” disease management programs they could reduce high dollar claims that employees with chronic diseases tend to have. And just like today’s workplace wellness programs it made since that a personalized, dedicated program designed to improve an individual’s health status would result in reduced claims costs.
Improved Health Status Delusion
Our company eagerly signed on to adding these five programs to all of our Cigna health plans. They included disease management programs for coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—which at the time we had no idea was a chronic disease. The plan was to keep these programs low-key to protect employees’ privacy. Dedicated nurses working for Cigna would contact employees who incurred claims related to one of the conditions. And, the program was voluntary.
Not surprisingly, all of the targeted employees declined participation in the plan. They didn’t like getting a call out of the blue from a health insurance rep. They thought the health insurer was only interested in saving money for themselves and not with their wellbeing. They also had privacy concerns—they thought we, the employer, would fire them because of their health issues. Sound familiar?
Fast forward 14 years and we are faced with the same employee concerns about workplace wellness (health promotion) programs. Only this time health insurers are claiming that the programs they were peddling more than ten (10) years ago actually do lead to premium savings, when monetary incentives to participate are added. At least that is what Cigna CEO, David Cordani, claimed recently about his organizations health coaches program.
Back in September 2015, Cordani told participants at an event co-sponsored by Cigna that the health care system needed to switch from “sick” care to “health” care with an emphasis on better health. Six months later he is declaring victory. According to an article in the April 20, 2016, edition of FierceHealthPayer, Cigna claims that “employers that offered (cash incentives ranging from $200 to $1,000) saw total premiums decline $360 per employee.” I’m not buying it and I hope employers are not buying it either.
Insurance company disease management programs are ineffective and don’t work. Health insurers will continue to peddle the idea that they should or could, but it’s a lie. Employers would benefit more by supporting community-based health promotion programs like those offered by local YMCAs.
Improved Health Status Delusion
Our company eagerly signed on to adding these five programs to all of our Cigna health plans. They included disease management programs for coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—which at the time we had no idea was a chronic disease. The plan was to keep these programs low-key to protect employees’ privacy. Dedicated nurses working for Cigna would contact employees who incurred claims related to one of the conditions. And, the program was voluntary.
Not surprisingly, all of the targeted employees declined participation in the plan. They didn’t like getting a call out of the blue from a health insurance rep. They thought the health insurer was only interested in saving money for themselves and not with their wellbeing. They also had privacy concerns—they thought we, the employer, would fire them because of their health issues. Sound familiar?
Fast forward 14 years and we are faced with the same employee concerns about workplace wellness (health promotion) programs. Only this time health insurers are claiming that the programs they were peddling more than ten (10) years ago actually do lead to premium savings, when monetary incentives to participate are added. At least that is what Cigna CEO, David Cordani, claimed recently about his organizations health coaches program.
Back in September 2015, Cordani told participants at an event co-sponsored by Cigna that the health care system needed to switch from “sick” care to “health” care with an emphasis on better health. Six months later he is declaring victory. According to an article in the April 20, 2016, edition of FierceHealthPayer, Cigna claims that “employers that offered (cash incentives ranging from $200 to $1,000) saw total premiums decline $360 per employee.” I’m not buying it and I hope employers are not buying it either.
Insurance company disease management programs are ineffective and don’t work. Health insurers will continue to peddle the idea that they should or could, but it’s a lie. Employers would benefit more by supporting community-based health promotion programs like those offered by local YMCAs.
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Denise Perkins
