Companies are attempting to cut back on worker health care costs by providing incentives for workers to quit smoking, lose weight or improve their health in other ways. Health insurance rates have risen 50% over the last five years, but some are concerned about privacy when employers ask questions about lifestyle and other factors. More than 150 million people are covered by employer health care in the United States. A 2010 survey found that 11% of companies with more than 500 employees used a health risk assessment that impacted health care costs.
See "Companies focus on workers health to curb costs", The Associated Press, CBS News, October 25, 2011