Uncovering the voice of plan members

living and working with chronic illnessDecember 14, 2010 – MontrealDecember 15, 2010 - Toronto

Agenda

1. Survey Overview2. Chronic Disease3. Key Survey Results4. Lessons for Employers5. Workplace Wellness Programs6. Summary

Survey Overview

Survey Overview

Goal • Better understand the needs and challenges of

plan members living and working with serious chronic conditions.

Survey Overview

• Survey of Canadians who have been diagnosed with a serious illness who had a benefit plan

• Online Survey (January 2010)• 214 Respondents• Reviewed by Expert Panel

Expert Panel

1. Andrea Strath, Ontario Canadian Diabetes Association

2. Meera Jain Ph.D, Chronic Disease Unit, Health Systems Policy & Relations Branch Health System Strategy Division, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

3. Donna Carbell, Manulife Financial

4. Paula Allen, Shepell.fgi5. Vic Medland , Ontario Teachers

Insurance Plan

6. Dr. Alain Sotto, Ontario Power Generation and Occupational Medical Consultant, Toronto Transit Commission

7. Joan Canavan, Chronic Disease Management Unit, Provincial Programs Branch, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

8. Wes Jones, The Great-West Life Assurance Company

9. Teresa Negrich, The Great-West Life Assurance Company

10. Suzanne Lepage, Private Health Plan Strategist

Chronic Disease

Chronic Disease

• Diseases of long duration and generally slow progression1

• Illness that is prolonged, does not resolve spontaneously and is rarely cured completely2

1 - WHO - http://www.who.int/topics/chronic_diseases/en/

2 - Centres for Disease Control and Prevention/Washington. 2002. "Chronic Disease."

Chronic Disease

• 33% Canadians (8.9m) have at least one chronic condition

Canadians aged 40 to 59 • 37% have at least one condition• 30% have two or more conditions

• Chronic Disease accounts for 89% of all deaths in Canada 2

• Will increase by 15% by 20152

1 - 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada2 - Region and country specific information sheets http://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/media/canada.pdf

Chronic Disease

Canadians with multiple chronic conditions…• twice as many consultations with a family doctor• 1.5 times as many consultations with specialists and

other doctors• four times more likely to stay overnight in hospitals• three times more nights spent in hospitals• four times as many consultations with nurses • eleven more times more likely to receive home care

servicesWHO - http://www.who.int/topics/chronic_diseases/en/

Chronic Disease

• Economic burden > $150 billion in direct and indirect costs annually1

• Lost productivity = 30% of total costs1

• Lost productivity from presenteeism was 7.5 times greater than productivity loss from absenteeism2

1 - Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control. Public Health Agency of Canada. WHO – World Health Organization: Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment2 - Employers Health Coalition, Inc. The Changing Face of U.S. Health Care.Tampa, Fla: Employers Health Coalition Inc; 1999.

Chronic Disease

Chronic Disease

• People with chronic diseases are significantly more likely to suffer from depression 1 – Depression appears to precipitate chronic disease 2

– Chronic disease can exacerbate symptoms of depression2

1 - Depression, chronic diseases, and decrements in health: results from the World Health Surveys Saba Moussavi, Somnath Chatterji, Emese Verdes, Ajay Tandon, Vikram Patel, Bedirhan Ustun Lancet 2007; 370: 851–58

2 - Chapman DP, Perry GS, Strine TW. The vital link between chronic disease and depressive disorders. Prev Chronic Dis 2005;2(1):A14. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/jan/04_0066.htm

Key Survey Results

Type of Condition

Multiple Conditions

Impact on Productivity

• 80% would come into work even when they are not feeling well

• 51% find it difficult to focus on their work.

Managing to work

Out of pocket costs

• 55% had to pay some portion out of pocket (excluding co-payments) for the treatments or prescriptions related to their health condition

• 28% say that costs relating to their illness are a serious concern

• Seriousness of the cost varies based on type of illness and income level.

Out of pocket costs

Out of pocket costs

Medication Adherence

• 76% adjust how much or how often they take their medication in some way

• 22% have taken a prescription less frequently than prescribed• 12% have taken a prescription at lower dose than prescribed • 23% considered not taking a treatment because it was not

fully covered by the benefit plan• 19% have not taken a prescription medicine because of cost

Lessons for employers

Lessons for Employers

Lessons for Employers

Employees with chronic diseases value their benefits

• 83% say medicine helps them remain healthy• 73% feel that company drug benefits give them

peace of mind • 94% valued their prescription drug coverage • 85% are “loyal to their employer”.

Workplace Wellness Programs

Workplace Wellness programs

1. Management of specific diseases• Adherence programs• Health Coaching

2. Management of behavioural risks (or risk factor reduction)

• HRA• Fitness Program• Smoking cessation

• Nutrition and Healthy Eating

• Workplace screening

Workplace Wellness programs

Workplace is an ideal location• Employees spend a growing amount of time at

work• Offers an effective method to reach a large portion

of the adult population.

Employers can:• influence behaviour by providing supportive

environment • leverage existing infrastructure to offer low-cost

but effective interventions

Summary

Summary

1. Impact of Chronic disease• Productivity • Chronic disease and depression• Multiple conditions

Summary

2. Lessons for employers• Access to medications• Flexible schedule• Cost concerns• Adherence• Workplace Wellness

Questions and Discussion