For all companies, particularly small businesses that are not self-insured, healthcare cost savings may be much less than productivity gains. Regardless of savings, medically high risk employees have higher healthcare costs. Examples of healthcare cost savings:
A study involving Chrysler Corporation and the United Auto Workers Union showed that smokers had 31% higher claims than non smokers and workers with unhealthy weights had 143% higher hospital inpatient utilization than healthy weight workers.
Large companies have found a reduction in healthcare costs after implementing worksite wellness programs. An analysis of eight well evaluated wellness programs found an average savings of $3.35 per dollar spent (Healthy Workforce 2010, 2001).