Many Americans aren't financially prepared for a serious illness or injury

Only about a third of Americans say they have actively prepared for being sidelined from work due to an injury or illness, even though nearly nine out of 10 say they know there are steps they can take to protect themselves.

According to a Yankelovich survey conducted for CIGNA, among full and part-time employees, many workers don’t necessarily make the connection between staying healthy and staying on the job.

“It’s remarkable that so many Americans place a high value on work, but many aren’t taking steps to safeguard one of their most important assets – their ability to earn a living,” said Robert Anfield, chief medical officer for CIGNA's disability insurance unit.

The survey explored attitudes toward work, awareness of preventive measures that protect workers against injury and illness, and what workers are doing to prepare for loss of salary due to layoff, injury or illness. Eight percent of those surveyed said they work mainly for benefits like insurance.

The overall annual cost of poor health in the workplace is estimated to be $1.8 trillion, according to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Understanding the connection between a healthy workforce and a healthy bottom line, employers are investing in workplace wellness programs, even in a struggling economy.

For example, a recent Hewitt Associates survey indicates that 65 percent of employers say they invest in long-term solutions to improve the overall health and productivity of their workforce and also reveals an emerging interest in absence management.

However, only 12 percent of workers in the Yankelovich survey readily identified workplace wellness programs as a way to help prepare for the possibility that an injury or illness could keep them out of work for more than just a few days. They are focusing instead on strategies such as saving more money to provide a financial cushion or purchasing new or additional disability insurance.

“It’s clear that insurers and employers need to do more to help workers understand that taking care of their health – both physical and emotional – is one of the best ways to avoid a disabling illness or injury,” Anfield said.