Health Initiatives Focus on Wellness

Some states and corporations are making an active switch to healthy and fit lifestyles. In order to promote wellness, North Carolina has developed a new state employee Health Plan. The plan focuses on quitting tobacco use and weight management.

With the terms and conditions of the new plan, state employees would have to change the terms and conditions of their current health insurance if they aren’t actively trying to quit tobacco. The tobacco portion of the plan will be active in July 2010 with a weight loss plan the following year.

Many private companies are also starting to attempt to improve their health and fitness initiatives. Companies like RP Machine and Iredell Health Systems, both in North Carolina, are reporting that the more employees they get to live healthy lifestyles, the lower their overhead will be. If employees are healthier they will be sick less and miss less work and help keep health insurance costs low.