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Health Care Coaching
October 10, 2006 Traditionally, law firms complain that they pay among the highest health care rates of any industry. Reasons given range from having an educated workforce that is experienced in understanding complex documents and are, therefore, more knowledgeable about available benefits, to having pregnancies among older-than-average women, resulting in a higher likelihood of problem births. This, of course, is added to projections that health insurance rates overall will increase by 50 percent over the next three years.
One option being offered by some employers is health care coaching. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the medical care costs of people with chronic “lifestyle” diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease account for more than 75 percent of the nation’s $1.4 trillion medical care costs. Online coaching programs are believed to promote behavioral changes that lead to healthier lifestyles, limiting the onset of chronic diseases. This, proponents argue, reduces the likelihood that employees will need costly medical treatment in the future and will enjoy increased productivity and morale.
One such coaching service is Hummingbird Coaching (www.myhealthcoach.com). An independent study found that their clients saw an average 23 percent decrease in health care usage cost after six months of using the coaching service. This is an equivalent to a return of investment of $5.50 for every dollar spent on coaching.
Coaching programs seem to be largely geared around personalized goal-oriented action plans to quit smoking, lose weight, increase exercise, lower stress, improve personal relationships and other positive influences on health. We know of four firms that have introduced similar programs but it is too early to report on results. | 
