What’s at Risk in Maintaining the Status Quo?

Overview: In the face of uncertainty and rapid change, business leaders often think that maintaining the status quo - staying the course - is the smartest and least-costly strategy. However, organizations often are unaware of what this seemingly conservative strategy can really cost. We address, in this IBI Quick Study, the economic burden on employers if they maintain the status quo in health care. We answer two questions: 1. What are the cost implications of maintaing the status quo approach in health care, and 2. How could improved workforce health and productivity offset medical cost growth and drive job expansion?

Our analysis shows that over 10 years, savings for U.S. employers from a 10 percent reduction in health-realated absence and lost productivity costs could offset the equivalent in wages and benefits for more than 5.5 million new full-time jobs or bend the health and productivity cost curve downwards by over $300 billion.

Click here to read the Integrated Benefits Institutes Quick Study.