Participation in a periodic physical examination program and group health care utilization and costs.

The authors identified 710 male employees of a multinational US corporation eligible to take periodic physical examinations for a consecutive 3-year period (1983 to 1985) and insured by one of the company's health insurers. Group health insurance claims rates and costs for the calendar year 1985 were studied among executives who did not take an examination during the study period, those who took it once or twice, and those who took it all 3 years. Health care utilization for those who did not participate in the program was significantly lower than both groups of participants. Average claim costs in 1985 among those who participated all 3 years ($1,039) was 1.77 times the cost of those who participated one or two times ($588) and 2.30 times the cost of those who did not participate ($452). We conclude that short-term health care utilization and costs are higher among participants than non-participants of a periodic physical examination program.