<p>CVS tells employees they must not only get their health screening, report their numbers but also take action to become healthier.</p>
<p>So where is this all going?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>companies will demand your shopping card data so they can determine if you are buying donuts or sardines.</p></li>
<li><p>Companies will demand that you lose a percentage of your weight monthly or… lose your insurance</p></li>
<li><p>Companies will demand that you wear a pedometer to track your physical activity. If you don’t make the required number of steps you will …lose your insurance.</p></li>
<li><p>Overweight employees will be required to walk at lunchtime…or lose their job.</p></li>
<li><p>People with high blood pressure will be required to lower their numbers or…lose their job.</p></li>
<li><p>Women will be required to have amniocentisis in case they might be having a child with a physical problem… </p></li>
<li><p>Companies will give you blood tests to determine if you have been smoking cigarettes or…lose your job.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The insurance companies will not be happy until they are only insuring healthy people and they will continue to raise our rates. More money for them!!!</p>
<p>At what point will we say enough and get out of my life!!!</p>
<p>I would blow a gasket if my company ever asked for that information. I wonder if CVS employees who don’t utilize the company health plans are exempt.</p>
<p>It isn’t just CVS. My company and many others I’ve heard of offer a health care discount that adds up to $360 a year if you tell them your numbers (weight, cholesterol, bp, diabetic screening). And I can see where next year they are going to start insisting that you “take action” to improve your health. </p>
<p>I think it’s absolute crap. And I agree that this is just another reason companies shouldn’t be the ones dispensing your health care insurance. And don’t tell me to then go buy it on my own. Not affordable and the companies know that.</p>
<p>600 bucks for somebody that works at CVS is probably a lot of money. It looks like some employees are going to have a false choice and are going to have to give out personal health information.</p>
<p>Both my and H’s companies offer discounts for those that demonstrate good health with doctor proof of healthy weight/BP and gym attendance. </p>
<p>I agree that health care in the US needs to be de-coupled from employment. </p>
<p>Although I fear the slippery slope and would want protections from those with conditions that are not life-style related, I would love a system that rewarded a healthy lifestyle and gave everyone some skin in the game. I am sick of paying (via taxes and higher full pay fees) for people who take poor care of themselves.</p>
<p>Spouses company has health care “helpers” who call and see if you need guidance on how to improve your health… We have gotten 4 or 5 calls per week. Next year if you don’t use them the company will punish you in some way $$$.</p>
<p>They have tracked our prescriptions and sent material for helping us after GUESSING what is wrong with us!</p>
<p>mnmomof 2: It is a slippery slope to decide what is actually life style related. High blood pressure…genes or life style??? Overweight?..genes/ medical condition or lifestyle? Does your kid like to skateboard or ski…more money more chance of getting hurt…do you ride on motorcycles…ummm no…too dangerous.</p>
<p>DO you drink??? How much??? Lets see those liver numbers…or how bout we just track your consumption???</p>
<p>How many kids do you want to have??? Well, now, two should be plenty.</p>
<p>In 2012, my company started to require us to submit “numbers” to an independent health website in exchange for not having to pay a supplement for insurance. This applied to employees and spouses (if spouse was also insured by the company). Dependents were not required to do so. For 2013, the requirement is still there. There is no penalty for higher than optimum numbers.</p>
<p>We can opt out of the health coaches if desired. The company receives gross data and analysis, but no information on specific employees - that is, they can’t find out what I weigh, my BP, etc. We can see our own doctors or get blood work done at on-site health fairs. There are company-owned fitness centers, help for quitting smoking, weight reduction classes, healthy food choices, walking/activity schemes (I received a $100 gc last year for exceeding 10K step equivalents per day), and so forth. </p>
<p>I’m always amazed how many people <em>do not</em> see a doctor on an annual basis. As long as the company isn’t getting my info w/my name attached, I’m ok with it. Eventually all this data over time will be analyzed & become someone’s graduate thesis, lol.</p>
<p>I just went to a seminar on the new world of health care yesterday morning. Scary stuff. The information that employers will have to keep track of and submit to the government is unbelievable.</p>
<p>Get used to stuff like this. And get used to paying more for less coverage. We might as well all learn to speak Canadian, eh?</p>
<p>I really don’t see a problem with this approach the companies take. It is only an intrusion on your privacy if you choose to participate. There is always a choice not to participate, you just have to pay for it. There is no free lunch.</p>