What’s at Stake?
Public and private sector employers, state and federal policymakers, the health care industry, taxpayers and families all have a personal and financial stake in our health care system.
Skyrocketing health care costs and unhealthy lifestyles are taking their toll on the current system, and everyone pays a price. The costs are real, and they are evident in higher health insurance premiums, increasing out-of-pocket expenses, strains on local, state, and federal budgets and on businesses’ bottom lines.
There are real human costs, too, as chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity and smoking-related illnesses take their toll on Texas workers and their families. These are conditions that can be prevented or effectively managed to improve the health of Texas workers and their families and increase productivity for Texas busineses.
Texas and the nation are facing a health care crisis, but there is a solution.
Many innovative employers – in Texas and around the nation – have found that investments in worksite health and preventive care are a better way to reduce overall health care costs and encourage a vibrant, healthier workforce.
It’s time we look to innovative solutions to address these challenges. It’s time we transform our health care system and encourage and empower Texans to live healthier.