The economic downturn is taking a toll on employees' physical and mental health, causing more than one in four to forego healthcare treatment to save money, according to a new survey commissioned by the National Business Group on Health.
The survey of 1,500 workers employed at large employers (2,000 or more employees) was conducted by Fidelity Investments in March 2009. Those surveyed were between the ages of 22 and 69 and had health benefits through an employer-sponsored or union-sponsored plan.
Twenty-seven percent of workers surveyed reported foregoing healthcare treatment to save money on co-payments or coinsurance costs, while one in five respondents – 20 percent – skipped taking their prescription drug medication dosage as prescribed by their doctor.
Older workers (44 percent of those aged 45-64) reported that their mental health has been negatively affected by the economy.
NBGH President Helen Darling said the group commissioned the survey to ascertain how the recession is affecting American workers and to provide a snapshot about those areas where businesses should work more closely with their employees to help support them during a very challenging environment.
The survey discovered that employees have grown more sensitive to the cost of healthcare. Seventy-two percent said they have become more aware of the total cost of healthcare services in the past year and 56 percent are more aware of what they pay for health insurance.
Nearly all workers reported reviewing their health plan options during their last annual enrollment period and about one in four changed health plans as a result.
Health improvement is also more of a priority than it was a year ago, the survey suggests. A majority of survey respondents – 52 percent – report that living a healthy lifestyle is more of a priority than it was a year ago, while one in three – 34 percent – are exercising more.
Nearly half (46 percent) say they are eating healthier, and 44 percent are eating out less at fast-food restaurants.
Darling said the survey provides a “pathway for businesses to help their workers cope” despite the bad economy, including offering financial incentives to motivate health behavior changes, disseminating more information about the costs and quality of services at a provider level (for example, encouraging retail clinics for non-emergency care), using benefit statements to clearly articulate a commitment to wellness and providing more targeted communications based on specific health conditions.
The NBGH represents 300 large employers, including 60 of the Fortune 100.