Our health care system ranks number one in the world in medical intervention. However, the United States also ranks number one in the world in degenerative disease. As a country, we spend more money on health care than any other nation, which we should, but I would like to see more of it spent on prevention. A recent survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, polling 250 small businesses, found that the average health-care cost increase this past year was 19 percent. Ten percent of these small businesses have discontinued their health care coverage because of the increase.
Costs are on the rise again.
Nevertheless, some companies take the competition for employees to a new level by offering benefits in the area of wellness and prevention. For a long time, Microsoft has offered fitness club memberships to all of its employees. Similarly, Boeing rolled out a new wellness program last year. I believe any significant change in health care costs will be because of changes in employees' lifestyles, making it a priority to take care of health from a preventative standpoint.