A Different Kind of HRA

The soaring cost of health insurance is prompting more and more U.S bosses to carry out checks on their employers (sic) to gauge how healthy they are and whether they may be at risk of getting ill in the future.

Research from consultancy Watson Wyatt Worldwide has concluded that the number of U.S employers carrying out "health risk assessments" (HRAs) on workers will rise by more than a fifth next year.

Employer health checks. And you thought they were just showing compassion for your health.

Already two thirds of U.S employers offer HRAs, with many linking participation to incentives, such as reduced healthcare plan contributions or free gifts.

The health and wellbeing of workers is becoming an ever more pressing issue for American bosses, particularly against the background of rising healthcare costs, increasing levels of obesity, an ageing workforce and a crisis in pension and retirement provision.

There is no question, the vast majority of what ails us, both young & old, is preventable. Diet, lack of exercise are certainly primary contributors to poor health. But according to some, so is good oral hygeine.

Recent studies claim that 85% of those who suffered a heart attack had some form of peridontal disease. Personally, I always floss after having a double cheeseburger and onion rings.

When was the last time you did a health assessment? Your life, as well as your wallet, could depend on how well you take care of your body.