Costs for mental or behavioural issues also rising dramatically: survey
Musculoskeletal conditions have the most impact on employers’ overall health-care costs, according to 53 per cent of respondents to a survey in Canada and the United States.
That’s followed by cancer (47 per cent), diabetes (44 per cent) and cardiovascular disease or heart disease (32 per cent), according to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans' Workplace Wellness Trends 2019 Survey Report. This follows a recent report by Aon that found employer medical benefit costs are expected to rise six per cent in 2020.
This follows a recent report by Aon that found employer medical benefit costs are expected to rise six per cent in 2020.
Musculoskeletal conditions affecting bones, joints and muscles have become a major factor in health-care costs. These types of conditions have always been a concern for those who work physical jobs, but they’re gaining more attention as a condition for sedentary workers, says the report.
Advancements in medical treatment, such as joint replacement surgery, along with the rising costs of prescription drugs, especially for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, mean that employers can face high costs to treat these disorders, says IFEBP.
Read more: Early treatment cuts rheumatoid arthritis treatment costs
Mental health costs on the rise
Nearly three in 10 (28 per cent) of the organizations reported mental or behavioural health costs as one of the costliest health-care conditions — up significantly from 15 per cent reported in 2012.
In both countries, the share of organizations that provide mental health coverage to employees has increased substantially since 2014. This year’s survey found that 79 per cent of Canadian organizations offer mental health coverage, up from 40 per cent in 2014, and 87 per cent of U.S. organizations offer coverage, up from 69 per cent in 2014.
