Charlotte Rowell heard some advice last week on how to keep her cholesterol in check.
That advice could help Rowell stay healthy and help Seymour save money.
Rowell, a reference librarian at the Seymour public library, was one of about 50 town and Board of Education workers who stopped by the first employee health fair Thursday at the Seymour community center.
The health fair is part of a broader effort to reduce health care costs for the town.
Town employees collected pamphlets and souvenirs from a dozen vendors. Free flu shots and cholesterol checks were available.
Griffin Hospital was well-represented, along with two local gyms, and a chiropractor.
Rising Costs
Seymour’s medical costs have jumped recently after three employees came down with serious illnesses in just one year, said Paul Roy, the town’s First Selectman.
Last year alone, town health premium costs rose by 11 percent, Roy said.
So Roy teamed up with the town’s insurance broker, Joe Sherman, to organize the health fair.
The cost of premiums is based in part on the number of claims the town brings, Roy said.
The town could lower that number by educating its employees and promoting wellness, he said.
“That was the goal, to try to contain health care costs,” Roy said.
Sherman said he recently negotiated a slight discount with Anthem, the town’s insurance provider, in exchange for a town wellness campaign for workers.
Part of that comes in the form of regular emails to town and Board of Education employees, offering advice about staying healthy or information about regular testing that should be done.
The Health Fair
The other part of that campaign was last week’s health fair.
Rowell and other town workers got information — like cholesterol test results — that may help them to be healthier, which in turn could help the town to save money on health insurance payments.
Rowell had her cholesterol checked by nurse practitioner Rhianan Roman.
Overall, Rowell’s cholesterol picture was very good, Roman said.
“Whatever you’re doing is working,” Roman said.
Roman recommended Rowell try taking red rice yeast, which she said has been shown to have a good effect on cholesterol. Roman also recommended Rowell step up her exercise level.
