STOCK TITAN

Employers face rising healthcare costs from climate risks and new forecasting tool helps them assess the impact

Rhea-AI Impact
(No impact)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Neutral)
Tags

Mercer, a Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) business, and the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health have launched the Climate Health Cost Forecaster, a digital tool helping employers predict financial impacts of climate-driven health risks on their workforce. The tool combines weather data, epidemiological research, and Mercer's health cost modeling to provide location-specific risk assessments.

Key findings reveal employees in climate-controlled environments experience 40% lower healthcare costs compared to those in non-controlled settings. Industries like agriculture, utilities, and construction face up to double the healthcare cost risks due to climate factors. While 77% of workers report being affected by extreme climate events, only 4% of employers have assessed employee risk levels.

Mercer, un'azienda di Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), e la Commissione Nazionale per il Clima e la Salute sul Lavoro hanno lanciato il Climate Health Cost Forecaster, uno strumento digitale che aiuta i datori di lavoro a prevedere gli impatti finanziari dei rischi sanitari causati dal clima sulla loro forza lavoro. Lo strumento combina dati meteorologici, ricerche epidemiologiche e modelli di costo sanitario di Mercer per fornire valutazioni di rischio specifiche per ogni località.

I risultati principali mostrano che i dipendenti che lavorano in ambienti con controllo climatico hanno costi sanitari inferiori del 40% rispetto a chi opera in ambienti non controllati. Settori come l'agricoltura, i servizi pubblici e l'edilizia affrontano rischi di costi sanitari fino a il doppio a causa dei fattori climatici. Sebbene il 77% dei lavoratori dichiari di essere stato influenzato da eventi climatici estremi, solo il 4% dei datori di lavoro ha valutato i livelli di rischio per i propri dipendenti.

Mercer, una empresa de Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), y la Comisión Nacional sobre Clima y Salud Laboral han lanzado el Climate Health Cost Forecaster, una herramienta digital que ayuda a los empleadores a predecir los impactos financieros de los riesgos de salud derivados del clima en su fuerza laboral. La herramienta combina datos meteorológicos, investigaciones epidemiológicas y el modelado de costos de salud de Mercer para ofrecer evaluaciones de riesgo específicas por ubicación.

Los hallazgos clave revelan que los empleados en ambientes con control climático tienen costos de atención médica un 40% menores en comparación con aquellos en entornos sin control. Industrias como la agricultura, los servicios públicos y la construcción enfrentan riesgos de costos de atención médica hasta dobles debido a factores climáticos. Mientras que el 77% de los trabajadores reporta verse afectado por eventos climáticos extremos, solo el 4% de los empleadores ha evaluado los niveles de riesgo de sus empleados.

머서(Mercer), Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC)의 자회사와 국가 기후 및 직장 건강 위원회가 기후 건강 비용 예측기(Climate Health Cost Forecaster)라는 디지털 도구를 출시했습니다. 이 도구는 고용주가 기후 변화로 인한 건강 위험이 인력에 미치는 재정적 영향을 예측하는 데 도움을 줍니다. 기상 데이터, 역학 연구, 머서의 건강 비용 모델링을 결합하여 위치별 위험 평가를 제공합니다.

주요 결과에 따르면, 기후 조절 환경에서 근무하는 직원들은 비조절 환경에 비해 의료비가 40% 더 낮은 것으로 나타났습니다. 농업, 공공시설, 건설업 등은 기후 요인으로 인해 의료비 위험이 최대 두 배까지 증가할 수 있습니다. 극심한 기후 현상에 영향을 받았다고 보고한 근로자는 77%인 반면, 고용주의 4%만이 직원 위험 수준을 평가한 것으로 나타났습니다.

Mercer, une entreprise de Marsh McLennan (NYSE : MMC), et la Commission Nationale sur le Climat et la Santé au Travail ont lancé le Climate Health Cost Forecaster, un outil numérique aidant les employeurs à prévoir les impacts financiers des risques sanitaires liés au climat sur leur personnel. L’outil combine des données météorologiques, des recherches épidémiologiques et la modélisation des coûts de santé de Mercer pour fournir des évaluations des risques spécifiques à chaque lieu.

Les principales conclusions révèlent que les employés travaillant dans des environnements climatisés ont des coûts de santé inférieurs de 40 % par rapport à ceux évoluant dans des environnements non contrôlés. Les secteurs comme l’agriculture, les services publics et la construction font face à des risques de coûts de santé jusqu’à deux fois plus élevés en raison des facteurs climatiques. Alors que 77 % des travailleurs déclarent être affectés par des événements climatiques extrêmes, seuls 4 % des employeurs ont évalué les niveaux de risque de leurs employés.

Mercer, ein Unternehmen von Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), und die Nationale Kommission für Klima und Gesundheit am Arbeitsplatz haben den Climate Health Cost Forecaster vorgestellt, ein digitales Tool, das Arbeitgebern hilft, die finanziellen Auswirkungen klimabedingter Gesundheitsrisiken auf ihre Belegschaft vorherzusagen. Das Tool kombiniert Wetterdaten, epidemiologische Forschung und Mercers Modellierung der Gesundheitskosten, um standortspezifische Risikobewertungen zu liefern.

Wesentliche Erkenntnisse zeigen, dass Mitarbeiter in klimatisierten Umgebungen 40 % geringere Gesundheitskosten haben als solche in nicht klimatisierten Umgebungen. Branchen wie Landwirtschaft, Versorgungsunternehmen und Bauwesen sind aufgrund klimatischer Faktoren bis zu doppelt so hohen Gesundheitskostenrisiken ausgesetzt. Während 77 % der Arbeitnehmer angeben, von extremen Klimaereignissen betroffen zu sein, haben nur 4 % der Arbeitgeber die Risikostufen ihrer Mitarbeiter bewertet.

Positive
  • Launch of innovative Climate Health Cost Forecaster tool provides data-driven projections for climate-related healthcare costs
  • Tool enables employers to assess and plan for location-specific workforce health risks
  • Employees in climate-controlled environments show 40% lower healthcare costs
  • Partnership with Health Action Alliance strengthens workforce resilience initiatives
Negative
  • Industries like agriculture, utilities, and construction face up to double the healthcare costs due to climate risks
  • Only 4% of employers have assessed climate-related health risks despite 77% of workers being affected
  • Different regions face varying severe climate risks, requiring complex mitigation strategies

NEW YORK, May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) and a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people, and the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health, an initiative of the Health Action Alliance (HAA), today announced the launch of the Climate Health Cost Forecaster, a digital tool that enables employers to anticipate the financial impact of climate-driven health risks on their workforce.

This model, developed by Mercer, provides business leaders with data-driven projections that estimate the long-term healthcare costs associated with extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding and hurricanes. It offers a unique, localized view of workforce vulnerability across industries and geographies.

Extreme weather can have a range of direct and indirect health effects on individuals, from heat stroke to mental health issues, including depression. These events can at times be catastrophic, costing lives and leaving communities and businesses struggling to recover, rebuild and pay for the damage they left behind.

The Forecaster is powered by a combination of weather data, epidemiological research and Mercer's proprietary health cost modeling — data being brought together in a tool designed for employers. It gives companies a tangible way to assess and plan for the health-related financial risks a changing climate already imposes on their workforce.

Notably, the Forecaster reveals that employees working in climate-controlled environments experience approximately 40% lower healthcare costs on average compared to their counterparts in non-climate-controlled settings. Certain industries, including agriculture, utilities and construction, face up to double the healthcare cost risks due to climate-related factors.

"Employers now have access to data that makes the cost of climate-related health risks visible and actionable," said Susan Potter, Mercer's US and Canada President and Commission Co-Chair. "While 77% of workers say they've already been affected by extreme climate events, only 4% of employers have assessed which employees are most at risk. The Forecaster connects the dots between extreme weather, people risk and rising healthcare costs. It empowers business leaders to prioritize employee health and turn risk into readiness."

The tool is part of a growing portfolio of resources developed by HAA through the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health. The Commission is presented by Mercer with additional support from Elevance Health and The Hartford, and brings together business, public health and sustainability leaders to mobilize employers in strengthening workforce resilience in the face of climate disruption.

"The Forecaster results may be surprising for some organizations, for example, the top risk across all industries in Portland, OR, is air quality, while the top risk in Hartford, CT, and Burlington, VT, is extreme heat. Of course, the results may fluctuate widely depending on an employer's industry and the portion of their workforce in a climate-controlled environment. Still, they illustrate the importance of knowing the risks in the locations where you do business," said Tracy Watts, Mercer's US Leader for Healthcare Policy. "You have to know the risk to address the risk."

David Leathers, HAA's Climate & Health Program Director, added: "We're proud to launch an innovative solution that brings the financial impact of extreme weather on workforce health into focus. With billion-dollar disasters accelerating—and hurricane and wildfire season around the corner—this couldn't be more timely."

Employers interested in exploring the Climate Health Cost Forecaster can access the tool here.

To learn more about the Commission, visit ClimateHealthCommission.org.

About Mercer

Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit mercer.com, or follow on LinkedIn and X.

About the Health Action Alliance

The Health Action Alliance (HAA) is the nation's largest employer network focused on strengthening workforce and community health. Powered by Meteorite and founded in partnership with leading public health and business organizations, HAA equips over 11,000 companies with trusted guidance, actionable tools, and collaborative platforms to navigate emerging health challenges and build resilient, thriving workplaces. Among its signature initiatives is the National Commission on Climate and Workforce Health, a cross-sector effort helping employers respond to the growing health impacts of climate and extreme weather on the American workforce. Learn more at healthaction.org.

Media contacts:
Ashleigh Jang
Mercer
+1 212-345-3965
Ashleigh.Jang@mercer.com

Mariesa Kemble
608-345-2389
media@healthaction.org

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/employers-face-rising-healthcare-costs-from-climate-risks-and-new-forecasting-tool-helps-them-assess-the-impact-302445421.html

SOURCE Health Action Alliance

FAQ

What is Mercer's Climate Health Cost Forecaster and how does it work?

The Climate Health Cost Forecaster is a digital tool that combines weather data, epidemiological research, and Mercer's health cost modeling to help employers predict and assess the financial impact of climate-driven health risks on their workforce across different locations and industries.

How much can climate-controlled environments reduce healthcare costs according to MMC's research?

According to the Forecaster, employees working in climate-controlled environments experience approximately 40% lower healthcare costs on average compared to those in non-climate-controlled settings.

Which industries face the highest climate-related healthcare costs according to Mercer's tool?

Agriculture, utilities, and construction industries face up to double the healthcare cost risks due to climate-related factors compared to other industries.

What percentage of employers have assessed climate-related health risks to their workforce?

Only 4% of employers have assessed which employees are most at risk from climate-related health issues, despite 77% of workers reporting they've been affected by extreme climate events.

What are the top climate-related health risks in different US cities according to the MMC Forecaster?

The tool reveals that air quality is the top risk in Portland, OR, while extreme heat is the primary risk in Hartford, CT, and Burlington, VT.
Marsh & Mclennan

NYSE:MMC

MMC Rankings

MMC Latest News

MMC Stock Data

107.06B
492.33M
0.1%
92.16%
1.1%
Insurance Brokers
Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service
Link
United States
NEW YORK