Employers are being warned that increasing numbers of workers will have chronic diseases and conditions over the next twenty years. The number of people with diabetes and respiratory conditions are expected to rise by over seven percent by 2030. The figures have been published in a report called ‘Healthy Work’, following research carried out by BUPA alongside the Work Foundation, the Oxford Health Alliance and RAND Europe. It’s bad news for companies as productivity levels could fall so they are being advised to take steps to help themselves. One thing they could do is take out a private medical insurance policy.


The main factors that will cause the problem are obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking. A private medical insurance policy will help a company’s workforce combat these issues firstly by making them aware that they have a problem. A lot of people are conscious about their weight, but many don’t realise that they are actually classed as obese or even morbidly obese. This can be discovered in a general health check that can be received in a private healthcare centre. Similarly, a lot of people do not realise the effect that their drinking can have on their health until it is too late. Advice on changing lifestyle, including help on giving up smoking as well can also be given by the services made available to a company’s staff through corporate private medical insurance. All these health problems can lead to very serious conditions in the long run and will affect businesses in the future, but this can all be prevented if action is taken now.