Your health insurance is about to change the look of your workplace.
It comes as more and more employers are asking questions that once seemed private or off limits.
It's why some businesses are going to the extremes to bring down the cost of health coverage.
Why? Because companies have to find ways to battle rising health care costs.
Next year, the federal government is mandating all businesses with 50 employees and up to offer health insurance and that may change the way more and more companies will do business.
The healthier workforce, the lower the insurance premiums are for businesses.
Blue Cross Blue Shield says 70 percent of chronic medical conditions make up 75 percent of the nation's total healthcare costs.
Conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes kill people the most but they are the most preventable.
"They're caused by lifestyle issues, " said Dr. Gregg Laiben, Blue Cross Blue Shield's Medical Director. "So preventing a case of lung cancer by stopping smoking is a whole lot better than paying for the cost of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery."
One sick person in a small insurance pool can raise the costs for everyone.
North Kansas City's e-Commerce company, Pro Athlete, has implemented an extensive wellness program.
The company has on-site gym with a full time personal trainer, access to yoga classes, a swimming pool, racquetball court just to name a few of the wellness perks.
Pro Athlete's exercise physiologist Chris Hawkins says their efforts to get healthier have paid off.
Pro Athlete pays the lowest rate in premiums, its reduced its smokers to one and the demand for jobs has grown.
"A healthy employee is a happy employee. I think this is the way of the future, " said Hawkins.
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Amy Hawley can be reached at amy.hawley@kshb.com.
