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In the near future we will see Mobile Technology for health insurance and wellness in the from of an APP.

People will have the option of downloading APP to their phone which will give them constant communication on health insurance and wellness programs. There are programs that are all ready developed like Calorie Counter.  The  next generation of health & wellness app are going to be developed by the carriers. Imagine to have immediate access to cost for a certain procedure. Open the app to see if where you are on the calendar year deductible. Maybe a social app for your company to address wellness and keep you connected with health goals.

The new apps that are coming out are going to have unlimited capabilities.

Inside Indiana Busines reported on a story about a Dorel Juvenile Group attacking thier health care cost with an On Site wellness clinc. The company CEO stated that their health care costs were around $6 million a year. It sounds that this company has a Self Funded plan which requires them to pay the majority of the claims. This group decided that they would attack these claims but placing a FREE on site clinic to their employees.

We really don’t have a lot of details about how they set up this program but they did speak about a health risk assesment. From the health risk assement that must have given them more information on the health care needs of the employees.  Groups over 100 lives should look at having a health risk assement of the group to provide information on the needs of the group.

With balloning health care cost companies are looking to take agressive action to control and reduce the cost of health care.

Dorel Juvenile Group has taken a very active role with improving the health care of their employee’s.  In today’s enviornment of a unhealthy work force company’s have to become involed with their employees over

The American Medical Association is stating that the Rating Measures are wrong up to 25% of the time. This is a very high % if they are correct. The Wall Street Journal confirmed that one of the studies that reported this high % was funded by the AMA.

What we are seeing from the top health insurance carriers is they are developing health plans that want you to use the top rated doctors and facilities. These plans will have less cost to the insured if they use the preferred doctors.

So now it seems that the health care providers are not happy that the insured can now look up the cost of the procedure and the quality of care that doctor provides. All of these types of plans were developed pre health care reform so it will be interesting to see if this type of health care information will continue to be available to the consumer. Recently the HHS launched a site that also gives a quality of care. So at this point there is not just the carriers programs available but now a free service to shop health care.

Goal driven wellness programs work best when the program is to alter employee’s unhealthy lifestyle.  An example of this would be to help employee’s quit smoking. Where they can have great results is if an employee is suffering from multiple conditions. High Cholesterol, High blood pressure, and Obesity could be a direct result of a un healthy lifestyle depending on the individual. So to educate an employee how they can change their life style to help treat these conditions can have a huge impact on cost to the employee in the form of claims. The wellness programs can even address issues like stress management or how to buy and prepare health foods at a reasonable cost.

The first step is an employee/insured should complete a Health Assessment form. We are seeing these more and more in an online format. After completing the assessment form you will be given information on what you might be high risk for.  Some of these programs even address the issue if you drive too fast as it may be linked to stress. With that high risk information you could have access to a disease management program or health coach. In some programs the health coach will help you establish and work towards your health goals.

Once you have entered the disease management side of the program you will be educated on what conditions you are high risk for.  The education can include treatments and prevention. There might be 10 drugs out in the market place that can treat that condition and it’s important that you know about the different options. One of those options might cost you a lot less and treat the condition.

The best way to reduce your out of pocket expenses is to actively live a healthy life style and the wellness programs that are being developed today can help you meet those goals.