AL charges state employees fees for health problems

Anne Zieger — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:20:54 -0400

The Alabama State Employees' Insurance Board has announced that it will go forward with a plan requiring state employees who are obese or have other health problems to make progress on those issues or pay a monthly charge for health insurance. Employees will be required to undergo a health screening at no charge by January 2010 or pay a $25 monthly charge for their health insurance, which workers currently receive at no cost to them. If the screening finds blood pressure elevation, high cholesterol, high glucose, or obesity--defined as a BMI of 35 or above--employees will have one year to visit a physician at no cost, enroll in a wellness problem or take their own steps to improve their health. If follow-up screenings don't show progress, employees will begin to pay the monthly surcharge in January 2011. Plan administrators expect to spend an estimated $1.6 million next year for screening and wellness programs, but believe they'll see big savings over the long term, as individuals with a BMI of 35 to 39 cost $1,748 more in annual health costs than those with a BMI of less than 25.

To learn more about this plan:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report item

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Study: More than half of insureds on chronic-care meds

Wed, 14 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

A new study suggests that for the first time, more than half of insured Americans are regularly taking prescriptions for chronic health problems. The most popular drugs include those used to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, according to Medco Health Solutions, which manages prescription benefits for about one in five Americans.

According to Medco data, 51 percent of American children and adults were taking one or more prescription drugs for a chronic condition, marginally up from 50 percent the previous four years and 47 percent in 2001. Use of medication for chronic conditions was spread across age groups. However, the biggest jump in the use of such medications was in the 20- to 44-year-old age group, due largely to more use of drugs for depression, diabetes, asthma, attention-deficit disorder and seizures.

To learn more about the study:
- read this Associated Press article

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