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Member, Beacon International Group, Ltd.
Now that 25% of strokes occur in the working population, preventing and managing stroke-related disability costs present new challenges for employers, the Integrated Benefits Institute said in a study released Wednesday.
Strokes that occur in the working population also are among the costliest disability cases for employers and average $144,722 per claim, the San Francisco-based health and productivity research firm found in the “Research Insights” report.
But 70% of those costs stem from wage replacement and lost time, creating opportunities for employers to reduce stroke-related disability costs because 70% of stroke sufferers who file short-term disability claims and 18% of those who file long-term disability claims eventually return to work, according to the IBI's research.
“Employers can no longer afford to permanently lose the skills, capabilities and leadership of older workers to serious conditions like stroke,” IBI President Thomas Parry said in a statement. “The situation is even more serious as younger employees suffer strokes in growing numbers. Not only is better stroke prevention and management a win for the employer through lower costs and greater productivity, these strategies are also key to maintaining wages, social relationships and value for employees.”
IBI based its analysis on a database of more than 1 million covered lives from Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Ingenix Inc. The data includes up to three years of claims experience for medical, pharmacy, short- and long-term disability, and workers compensation for 17 employers.
The stroke population included 430 individuals with at least one STD or LTD claim. Sixty percent of the sample group was male with an average age of 57.