46% of Consumers With a Chronic Condition Say it Was Discovered by Their Wellness Program, HealthMine Survey Finds

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SOURCE HealthMine
74% of Consumers Want Genetic Testing from Plan Sponsors to Know Their Risk of Chronic Disease
DALLAS, July 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- An April 2015 HealthMine survey of 750 consumers enrolled in sponsored wellness programs revealed that 28% of respondents have been diagnosed with a chronic condition in the past two years. Approximately half--46%--discovered their chronic illness through a wellness program. 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. Other cases of chronic disease are diagnosed, but not well controlled; 34% of adults with hypertension treat but do not control their condition, and another 11% are aware of their hypertension, but do not receive treatment.

Consumers want help to know their health risk. A May HealthMine survey of 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 to incorporate genetic testing into their wellness programs, even as program sponsors await pending regulation over privacy and other protections.

Most consumers also want plan sponsors to offer health screenings, which can detect risk factors and uncover chronic illness. In fact, 74% of respondents said they would participate in vision screenings; 73% would complete a blood pressure screening; and 69% want a cholesterol screening.

What Screenings Would You Participate In If Offered By Your Employer?

Screening Type	Percent Who Would Participate
Vision	74%
Blood pressure	73%
Cholesterol	69%
Cancer	58%
Hearing	58%
BMI	54%
Glucose	52%
Bone density	49%
SkinAnalyzer	41%
None	9%

Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine said, "Plan sponsors can and do utilize wellness programs to beat the numbers – one member at a time." He continued, "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."

About the SurveyThe HealthMine Wellness Program Member Survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) on April 1-12, 2015. The HealthMine Health Plan Member Survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) on May 15-27, 2015. Data were collected via an opt-in panel. The margin of error is 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 37 Years.

About HealthMineHealthMine, a leading consumer health engagement company, has developed the wellness industry's first and only Personal Clinical Engagement technology platform. HealthMine empowers individuals to make meaning of their health information by automatically collecting clinical data, identifying risk for chronic disease, and setting health goals. Making it easy for consumers to manage their own health, HealthMine provides a personalized health portal available on any device, and delivers tailored recommendations, resources and incentives. 
HealthMine has more than one million users, and has saved employers and payers more than $100 million in healthcare costs. The company, founded in 2008, is based in Dallas, Texas with offices in San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis.