With legislation like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requiring organizations to offer health benefits to all employees, it’s possible that many Americans have access to perks that they didn’t even know about. A recent story from Fox News stresses the importance of employees taking advantage of all available benefits offered.
Wendy King, HUB International‘s director of health and performance, wants people to recognize the small steps involved in staying healthy, which includes using the benefits offered by your employer’s health insurance plans.
“It’s a matter of using the right benefits for your life right now. It’s all about saving time, saving money, and improving your quality of life,” said King.
King also emphasized preventative care, which can keep adults and children safe from any unpredictable medical events. She says, “Preventive care on the recommended schedule will help to save you money in the long run, and help you to really modify your risk factors over time.”
She recommends that employees take advantage of the offered vaccines and screenings, for conditions like:
-
Alcohol Misuse
-
High Blood Pressure
-
Depression
-
Diabetes
-
Hepatitis B or C
-
Lung Cancer
These preventative screenings can help to reduce the risk of a chronic illness or other health conditions. Employees can also look at their benefits for programs that can help them to lose weight, quit smoking, and more.
Programs to help with tobacco cessation and weight loss can benefit both employees and employers, providing a healthy work environment and encouraging a healthier, more productive lifestyle. Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in the country, so any steps taken by employers to help their staff quit benefits not only their business, but the community as well.
King hopes to steer employees towards exploring their company’s benefit programs. Employees working for organization with over 50 employees automatically have health benefits available to take advantage of.
