CIGNA Study Uncovers Relationship of Disabilities to Total Benefits Costs; Signals to Address Return-to-Work, Chronic Disease, Depression
The findings of a new study reveal an interesting trend. Integrating disability programs with health care programs can potentially lower employers' total benefits costs and help disabled employees get back to work sooner and stay at work.
In the medical community, return-to-work is not traditionally thought of as a conventional "health outcome," yet, returning disabled employees to work and keeping them at work may prove to be a cornerstone of controlling an employer's direct and indirect costs from disability. So, fine-tuning your return-to-work program may be one of the best ways to keep your workers’ comp costs under control.
Many health care providers do not consider return-to-work aspects to be a major component of a treatment and recovery plans, however, the health care and employee benefits community needs to view the impact of disability differently; as part of the overall health care plan. This will result in promotion of prevention plans and wellness programs which will lower medical costs and result in less time lost from work.
For a summary report of the study's findings, contact gloria.barone@cigna.com; telephone 215.761.4758 or arlys.stadum@cigna.com; telephone 763.559.5587.
About CIGNA: CIGNA Corporation is headquartered in Philadelphia PA and its subsidiaries constitute one of the largest publicly owned employee benefits organizations in the United States. Its subsidiaries are major providers of employee benefits offered through the workplace, including health care products and services; group life, accident and disability insurance; retirement products and services; and investment management. http://www.cigna.com