In the battle to contain healthcare costs, it’s easy to overlook one key cost-driver — employees’ dependents.

That’s especially true when it comes to employees’ adolescent children. A host of serious medical conditions can emerge during teenage years — if warning signs are not spotted early.

Check ‘em checked out — regularly

It’s every bit as important for employee’s adolescent dependents to undergo complete health assessments as it is for employees themselves.

Here’s where to focus:

• Immunizations (shots or vaccines) to reduce the risk of getting diseases that can be expensive to treat such as hepatitis, meningitis, tetanus and mumps
• Preventive health counseling and age-appropriate health info (e.g., drug and alcohol abuse, sexually transmitted diseases)
• Vision and hearing tests, and
• Blood-pressure screenings (especially if there’s a family history of high blood pressure).

Proactive care like this greatly reduces the risk of developing debilitating conditions. It can even be a life-safer in extreme cases.

Tags: dependents, health assessments, healthcare costs