Wellness Program Outcomes
Organizations can measure ROI related to wellness programs, but challenges persist.
Organizations of all sizes are incorporating wellness programs into their health care cost containment strategies. Driving some of this interest in wellness initiatives is the realization that employee lifestyles account for a vast majority of an employer's health care costs and that the improved overall health of employees has been shown to contribute to long-term health cost avoidance and increased productivity. For example, the American Institute for Preventive Medicine reviewed published studies on wellness program outcomes and found $3.48 in reduced medical cost for every dollar spent. This type of objective return on investment (ROI) is key to an organization's decision to continue to offer wellness programs.