Almost a half of users discovered their chronic condition through a wellness program

HealthMine table

In April, HealthMine conducted a survey involving 750 users enrolled in sponsored wellness programs to find out that 28% of them have been diagnosed with a chronic condition in the past two years. Approximately half (46%) discovered their chronic illness through a wellness program.

Consumers want help to know their health risk. Another HealthMine survey, conducted in May and involving 1,200 consumers with health insurance, found that nearly three quarters (74%) believe wellness programs should include genetic testing as a way to identify risk for chronic conditions. Some large insurers have already begun doing so, even as program sponsors await pending regulation over privacy and other protections.

Most consumers also want plan sponsors to offer health screenings, with 74% saying they would participate in vision screenings, 73% would complete a blood pressure screening, and 69% want a cholesterol screening.

Most consumers want plan sponsors to offer health screenings.“Plan sponsors can and do utilize wellness programs to beat the numbers – one member at a time,” sad Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine. “To succeed, wellness programs must enable people to learn their key health facts, and connect individuals to their personal clinical data anytime, anywhere. When consumers and plans are empowered with knowledge, wellness programs can make recommendations meaningful to individuals, and help to prevent and manage chronic disease.”

Chronic conditions afflict nearly half of all Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and three out of four dollars spent on healthcare are for people with one or more chronic diseases. While diagnosis of many chronic diseases is on the rise in the US, a significant number of chronic conditions go undiagnosed. For example, one third of people with diabetes do not know they have it, according to the CDC.