Health Assessment - How Much

How much would you pay for an assessment of your health and your potential health problems ?

What if it were free, would you bother ?

The answer for many is - NO. 

The chart above, produced by StayWell, shows that to get close to 100% of employees in a company participating in heath assessment, the company has to pony up about $600 per employee. 

I found this amazing but then I have been out of the corporate world for 5 years and things change. 

If you read off the chart you'll work out that $100 of employer money handed out to employees gets about 50% participation. $400 given to each employee gets around 80% of employees active and involved. Then it's on up to $600 to get about 98% involved leaving those last 2% who just do not want to know at any price.

Mercer, who are just about everywhere - including Atlanta - created this report on health costs for employers and employees. It's all totally scaring but not to be ignored either.

Part of the issue of employees not wanting to participate is down to fear:

• what if I have cancer or something equally nasty - NOT knowing is better and knowing!
• Knowing about a health issue makes it a pre-existing condition. What will happen if I change job and can't get medical coverage at the new company?
• Could I miss out on job opportunity if I'm seen as sick and perhaps not going to be around for that long?