With as much as 50 percent of the workforce at risk for one or more medical conditions, Principal Financial Group Inc. is pursuing several strategies to improve the overall health of its customers and reduce costs for sponsors of health insurance plans.

“Our reporting capabilities enable us to provide our employer clients valuable information about their specific employee group – information that can drastically change the way the employer thinks about his or her company’s health plan needs,” said Krista Richmond of Principal’s national accounts division. “Based on this information, we can help put together a self-funded health plan that is designed to encourage prevention behavior by employees. The result is healthier employees, and money saved.”

Richmond said Principal uses a number of analytical tools to identify potential health-care risks or chronic conditions that may lead to sizable claims, at which point the company implements a process for the customer to better manage their health and reduce the risk.

One approach involves predictive modeling, which uses current claim data to predict future medical risks and costs. The company then places members in a suitable medical management program. Principal has seen a 29 percent increase in referral volume to disease- and care-management programs.

“Principal is catching conditions earlier and initiating contact with members to help members manage their conditions and reduce the overall claims impact,” Richmond said.

The insurer has also implemented a disease-management strategy for plan members with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or osteoporosis. Most recently, it offered the Principal Healthy Connection Migraine Care Program, which provides members with resources to help better manage and control migraine pain.

But Principal continues to promote prevention as a key factor in addressing what it calls a looming health-care crisis brought on by rising costs. Through Molloy Wellness Co., Principal offers on-site health and wellness screenings for employers across the country.

Over the past five years, Principal has noticed double-digit increases in health screenings, which Jerry Ripperger, the company’s director of consumer health, said is a core component of the most effective wellness programs.

“For many years, health care has really been ‘sick care,’ with employers providing insurance to help employees get back to work from an illness or injury,” said Jerry Ripperger, Principal’s director of consumer health. “Fortunately, there’s an emerging trend where smart companies are investing to keep their employees healthy.”