The financial impact of changes in personal health practices

The impact of changes in health practices on medical claims costs between 1985-1987 and 1988-1990 was examined among 796 employees, Employees completed a health risk appraisal in 1985 and 1988 and were categorized into health risk levels, High-cost status and high-risk status were significantly associated at both times, The percentage of employees with high-risk status decreased from 31.8% to 25.3% between 1985 and 1988 (P < 0.01), Changes in average costs and the percentage with high-cost status followed the risk change, The largest increase in average costs occurred in employees who moved from low-risk to high-risk status, The greatest reduction in average costs occurred in employees who moved from high-risk to low-risk status, median costs were not as sensitive to risk change, The findings provide strong evidence that improving individual health status is associated with financial benefits.