Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 1711 Among workers over the age of 65 responding to the National Health Interview Survey, 12% of respondents reported that they are current smokers, 21% are risky drinkers, and 75% are not following recommended leisure-time exercise. (Table I, p. 429) Fleming, L. E., Lee, D. J., Martinez, A. J., Leblanc, W. G., McCollister, K. E., Bridges, K. C., et al. (2007). The health behaviors of the older US worker. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 50(6), 427-437. "Using the nationally representative 1997-2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), self-reported current smoking, risky drinking and leisure-time physical activity behaviors of older workers (aged 65 and older) were compared with older non-workers. These behaviors were evaluated by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and occupation, as well as prototype ''healthy'' and ''risky'' persons." Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 2077 In a 2008 survey of employers, HR leaders and benefits mangers indicated that to improve the health and productivity of their workforce, for the 2008 plan year [their companies] have implemented wellness benefits, like disease management (60%), promoting exercise and physical activity (68%) smoking cessation programs (46%) and health risk appraisals (48%). For 2009, these numbers will increase to 72% for disease management, 74% for exercise/physical activity, 55% for smoking cessation programs, and 66% for health risk appraisals. (p. 5) Aon Consulting. (2008). Aon consulting's 2008 benefits and talent survey. Chicago, IL: Aon Corporation. "More than 1,100 employers participated in the 2008 Benefits and Talent Survey." The participants were primarily senior HR leaders or benefits administrators and managers. 41% of the respondents represented organizations with 501-5,000 employees. 36% were from organizations with fewer than 500, and 22% had 5,001 or more employees. (p.2) Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 2037 In a 2008 survey of 500 employers, among "high-performing" employers [those who have been successful in keeping health care cost increases lower than 5% per year], "78% say they play a significant role in motivating employees to manage their health and health care purchases responsibly, versus just 36% of low-performing companies....72% of high performing companies say they play a significant role in employee health management (e.g., by identifying and managing health risks, and helping employees manage chronic conditions), compared to about one-third (33%) of low-performing companies." (p. 7) Towers Perrin. (2008). 2008 health care costs survey. Stamford, CT: Towers Perrin. Retrieved from http://www.towersperrin.com/tp/getwebcachedoc?webc=HRS/USA/2008/200801/hccs_2008.pdf The Towers Perrin 2008 Health Care Cost Survey, conducted in September 2007, marks the 19th consecutive year that Towers Perrin has surveyed, analyzed and reported on major trends in employee and retiree health care costs. A total of 500 employers, with operations in numerous locations nationwide, responded. Respondents are primarily Fortune 1000 companies. Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 2020 Analysis of 2000 data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicates that obesity shows a tendency to increase with age up to about 65. In the 55-to-64 age group, more than 1 in 4 men and 1 in 3 women are considered obese. (p. 2) Rix, S. E. (2001). Health and safety issues in an aging workforce (Issue Brief No. 49). Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/ib49_health.pdf This issue brief "focuses on some of the health and safety issues that might confront businesses employing growing numbers of older workers." (p. 1) Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 2009 According to analysis by the Milken Institute, lower obesity could reduce cases of illness by 14.8 million in 2023, which would cut $60 billion from the national treatment bill and improve GDP by $254 billion. A parallel calculation for smoking suggests that lower tobacco use could be responsible for 9.4 million fewer illnesses in 2023, along with $31 billion less in treatment costs and $79 billion in added productivity. (p. iii) DeVol, R., & Bedroussian, A. (2007). An unhealthy American: The economic burden of chronic disease. Santa Monica, CA: Milken Institute. Retrieved from http://www.milkeninstitute.org/publications/publications.taf?function=detail&ID=38801018&cat=ResRep This study compares and contrasts the different estimates of absence and presenteeism costs imposed by certain disease conditions. The analysis combines data from administrative records of medical treatment (ie, inpatient and outpatient medical records and drug claims), administrative data related to employee absence and disability, and estimates of absence and presenteeism losses obtained from a variety of self-report instruments and surveys. Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 1971 A 2004 analysis of National Health Interview Survey data indicates that the extent to which obesity contributes to disability "varies by age group, but it is clearly the dominant factor for those ages 50-59." Among this age group, disability increased only among the obese [and not among the non-obese]. In comparison, "obesity accounts for about half of the increased disability among those ages 18-29; about one-quarter for those ages 30-39; and about one-tenth for those ages 40-49." (Exhibit 4, p. 172) Lakdawalla, D. N., Bhattacharya, J., & Goldman, D. P. (2004). Are the young becoming more disabled? Health Affairs (Project Hope), 23(1), 168-176. This study analyzed data from the "National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 1984 to 2000, which contain individual-level information on the demographic and health status of a nationally representative sample of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population." (p. 169) Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 1731 In a 2002 study of 135,000 current and retired employees of a large company, individuals with low risk factors (e.g. absence of obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure) self-reported a chronic disease in 3% of the under 45 bracket, and 10.5% from age 45-64. In the high risk bracket (having four or more risk factors), 18.6% of those below age 45 self-reported a chronic disease, compared to 61% between 45-64. (Table III, p. 254) Musich, S., McDonald, T., & Hirschland, D. (2002). Excess healthcare costs associated with excess health risks in diseased and non-diseased health risk appraisal participants. Disease Management and Health Outcomes, 10(4), 251-258. 135,251 current and retired employees of General Motors Corporation who had completed a Health Risk Appraisal were evaluated. Participants were continuously enrolled in traditional or PPO medical plans from 1996 to 1999. Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 1730 In a 2002 study of 135,000 current and retired employees of a large company, 44% of excess health care costs for individuals less than 45 years of age were affected by the presence of behavioral health risk factors [obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure], with or without self-reported disease. For individuals aged 65 and over without self-reported disease, 8.2% of excess health care costs were affected by such factors. For those employees with self-reported diseases, the health care costs of those with diabetes mellitus and bronchitis/emphysemawere most affected by behavioral health risk factors, with excess health care costs of 19% and 21%, respectively. (p. 251) Musich, S., McDonald, T., & Hirschland, D. (2002). Excess healthcare costs associated with excess health risks in diseased and non-diseased health risk appraisal participants. Disease Management and Health Outcomes, 10(4), 251-258. 135,251 current and retired employees of General Motors Corporation who had completed a Health Risk Appraisal were evaluated. Participants were continuously enrolled in traditional or PPO medical plans from 1996 to 1999. Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 1726 According to analysis of data from the UnumProvident Disability Database, "medical costs are reported to rise at an estimated 25% from age 40 to 50 and 35% from age 50 to 60. Age is less a factor in health care costs than the presence of such risk factors as smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and diabetes." (p. 3) UnumProvident Company. (2005). Health and productivity in the aging American workforce: Realities and opportunities. Chattanooga, TN: UnumProvident Company. Data for this publication was generated by using UnumProvident's disability database. Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 1724 According to analysis of the UnumProvident Disability Database, "health risk factors [such as smoking, obesity, uncontrolled blood pressure, etc.], double and triple the healthcare cost of the older worker. For example, the health cost differential between the low-risk 40 and 50 year old and the high-risk 40 and 50 year old is 3.0 and 2.8 times higher respectively. The health costs for the 60 year old with low risk is an estimated 2.4 times lower than the health risk for the high-risk 60 year old." (Fig. 2.11, p. 8) UnumProvident Company. (2005). Health and productivity in the aging American workforce: Realities and opportunities. Chattanooga, TN: UnumProvident Company. Data for this publication was generated by using UnumProvident's disability database. Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 2095 According to a 2007 GAO analysis of Mercer National Survey data, the proportions of employers with over 500 workers that offered various health and wellness programs in 2005 are: disease management (67%); behavior modification (30%); health risk assessment (46%); and health advice lines (64%). (Table 3, p. 22) U. S. Government Accountability Office. (2007). Employer-sponsored health and retirement benefits. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Accountability Office. Retrieved from http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS82868 This report is based on data from three private-sector surveys of employer-sponsored health benefits and two federal surveys that address workforce characteristics and benefits costs and participation rates, including the Current Population Survey (CPS), which is designed and administered jointly by the Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the Mercer National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans; Mercer's 2005 database contains information from 2,122 large (over 500) and small (under 500) employers who sponsor health plans. Health: Health Behaviors Statistic # 1712 Among workers over the age of 65 responding to the National Health Interview Survey, 20.9% can be classified as "risky persons" who report that they are current smokers, current risky drinkers and get no exercise. Only 4% can be classified as "healthy persons" who report that they do not currently smoke, are not risky drinkers, and do engage in regular leisure-time exercise. (Table III, p. 433) Fleming, L. E., Lee, D. J., Martinez, A. J., Leblanc, W. G., McCollister, K. E., Bridges, K. C., et al. (2007). The health behaviors of the older US worker. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 50(6), 427-437. "Using the nationally representative 1997-2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), self-reported current smoking, risky drinking and leisure-time physical activity behaviors of older workers (aged 65 and older) were compared with older non-workers. These behaviors were evaluated by age, gender, race, ethnicity, and occupation, as well as prototype ''healthy'' and ''risky'' persons."