Are your company benefits tied to your health?
Just curious how many of you work for a company that ties your own health to your benefits and/or rewards a healthy lifestyle.
Last year my company adopted a plan (for lack of a better word) that allows for lower cost health coverage if you are leading or working on leading a healthy lifestyle. This was actually announced in Sept 2010 and the main reason I got my *kitten* together and got healthy.
In order to qualify for the 'choice' plans thru our insurance provider (we have Priority Health or BC/BS) employees have to have a physical each year by March 31st, have a BMI of 30 or lower (or going in that direction), not be a smoker, and fill out an online health risk assessment. If all of those items pass, then our out of pocket expenses will be lower than if we didn't pass (our actual paycheck deduction does not change, but the insurance company would bill more/less for anything they don't cover).
I have heard rumblings that for 2013, there will be a hard cut off for the BMI, so you must be at 30 or lower - period - not just trying to get to it (not a concern for me anymore, thank goodness, since my BMI went from 37 to 23).
To promote a healthy lifestyle, we also have a program called 'Achieve' where you collect points (all on the honor system) for tracking food, exercising, attending weight meetings (like weight watchers), getting your physical, completing the risk survey, and participating in events (like 5K's and such). You can turn in the points and get fitness related prizes....I just got a Gold's Gym weight bench
Anyone else have any programs like this where you work? Are your benefits tied to your health and/or do they have any sort of rewards program?
Last year my company adopted a plan (for lack of a better word) that allows for lower cost health coverage if you are leading or working on leading a healthy lifestyle. This was actually announced in Sept 2010 and the main reason I got my *kitten* together and got healthy.
In order to qualify for the 'choice' plans thru our insurance provider (we have Priority Health or BC/BS) employees have to have a physical each year by March 31st, have a BMI of 30 or lower (or going in that direction), not be a smoker, and fill out an online health risk assessment. If all of those items pass, then our out of pocket expenses will be lower than if we didn't pass (our actual paycheck deduction does not change, but the insurance company would bill more/less for anything they don't cover).
I have heard rumblings that for 2013, there will be a hard cut off for the BMI, so you must be at 30 or lower - period - not just trying to get to it (not a concern for me anymore, thank goodness, since my BMI went from 37 to 23).
To promote a healthy lifestyle, we also have a program called 'Achieve' where you collect points (all on the honor system) for tracking food, exercising, attending weight meetings (like weight watchers), getting your physical, completing the risk survey, and participating in events (like 5K's and such). You can turn in the points and get fitness related prizes....I just got a Gold's Gym weight bench
Anyone else have any programs like this where you work? Are your benefits tied to your health and/or do they have any sort of rewards program?
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We get money (up to $50) every paycheck based on health indicators such as bmi/blood pressure/cholesterol/tobaco usage measured once per year (with optional chances to re-measure a couple times a year)0
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Mine doesn't, but it really should. My field of work is notorious for it's staff being overweight and having health issues. Since part of our job is assisting others in making healthy life choices, it's a terrible hypocracy.
We have to pass a physical to get the job, but they clearly aren't very strict about it.
They talked about supplying discounted gym memberships, but for whatever beurocratic reason, that didn't happen. They were going to have Quit-Smoking workshops, too, but that didn't happen either.0 -
My old job made it a requirement to have a IN HOUSE assessment done! they would have a company come in and take your weight, waist measurements , BP and a blood sample IN FRONT OF EVERYONE... If you don’t meet their standards you would have to pay more $ even if you jumped through all their hoops..................... My new job does not require you to be healthy but they do offer programs for those that need it for health issues0
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I am not sure what this means? Is it an American thing, because you don't have healthcare like the UK?0
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My husband's job gives us discounts on what they take out of his paycheck every month for insurance if he gets free health screenings done yearly and talks to a free health coach monthly. I think it saves us around $40 a month.0
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I am not sure what this means? Is it an American thing, because you don't have healthcare like the UK?
We do not have universal health care..... we or our employers (or both) have to pay for it.0 -
Are my benefits tied to my health? Absolutely. Both my husband and I are self employed and have to pay for our own health insurance. The healthier we are the less we need to use the insurance.0
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Just curious how many of you work for a company that ties your own health to your benefits and/or rewards a healthy lifestyle.
Last year my company adopted a plan (for lack of a better word) that allows for lower cost health coverage if you are leading or working on leading a healthy lifestyle. This was actually announced in Sept 2010 and the main reason I got my *kitten* together and got healthy.
In order to qualify for the 'choice' plans thru our insurance provider (we have Priority Health or BC/BS) employees have to have a physical each year by March 31st, have a BMI of 30 or lower (or going in that direction), not be a smoker, and fill out an online health risk assessment. If all of those items pass, then our out of pocket expenses will be lower than if we didn't pass (our actual paycheck deduction does not change, but the insurance company would bill more/less for anything they don't cover).
I have heard rumblings that for 2013, there will be a hard cut off for the BMI, so you must be at 30 or lower - period - not just trying to get to it (not a concern for me anymore, thank goodness, since my BMI went from 37 to 23).
To promote a healthy lifestyle, we also have a program called 'Achieve' where you collect points (all on the honor system) for tracking food, exercising, attending weight meetings (like weight watchers), getting your physical, completing the risk survey, and participating in events (like 5K's and such). You can turn in the points and get fitness related prizes....I just got a Gold's Gym weight bench
Anyone else have any programs like this where you work? Are your benefits tied to your health and/or do they have any sort of rewards program?
We only have a smoker and non smoker rate. This^^ sounds fantastic though. Talk about incentive.0 -
My company has almost the exact same thing as yours. We have BCBS and have to earn wellness points each year and we do an online health risk assessment as well as a biometric screening, a company comes in and takes your blood pressure, draws blood, checks your cholestrol, weight and all that. You don't have to be at a certain weight or level you just have to make an effort right now.
Last year I got my screening the guy was kindly enough to tell me I was overweight when I kindly let him know that I was pregnant! LOL...although I was still overweight. Regardless I'm still working on it and unfortunatly I think I may weigh the same as I did last year...ugh but I'm going in the right direction
edited to add: I wish our company gave out nice prizes on top of the lower "committed" rate. That weight bench sounds pretty fantastic!0 -
Are my benefits tied to my health? Absolutely. Both my husband and I are self employed and have to pay for our own health insurance. The healthier we are the less we need to use the insurance.
That would DEFINITELY be an incentive! :glasses:0 -
We have a health screening day every year in January where all employees weigh in and have blood drawn. They calculate your BMI based on height and weight and if your BMI is 30 or below our employer donates a set amount of money towards your HSA (health savings account.) There are other things that could also get money donated towards your account; if you get a physical every year, if you don't use tobacco products, if you get your mammogram (for women over 40), if you get your PSA test (for men over 50) and if you fill out your wellness profile online. Plus, every year in January they do an initial deposit to your HSA just for being an employee.0
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For my old health insurance, they had great programs offering discounts on health insurance if you completed some of the wellness online courses and lost weight.
They also had free smoking cessation programs you could do.
They did, however, charge more for people who were overweight or obese on the premiums, so this was good incentive to get that under control.0 -
Not directly... but since 2008 our company has been doing a health and wellness incentive where we can rack up points for things such as getting our yearlies and exercising and we get money.... and because of this program, while many other companies in our area were raising the cost of health insurance by 6-10% (I think... it may have been higher)... we only needed to raise it half of what everyone else did, because of the cost of savings (on the order of $1.5 million a year or more... and that's AFTER paying out incentive rewards) to the company that this wellness program provides them.... it's just good business sense to encourage and reward employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle...
ETA: the only thing that's on the honor system here is the exercise points... everything else must have documentation.0 -
I'm on my mom's insurance still, so I really don't know... She works at a hospital so you would think they would push something like that but as far as I know they don't.
I think that's a really good idea though, especially because there are so many health risks associated with obesity and smoking!0 -
I am not penalized but rewarded when participating in health lifestyle choices such as preventative care, health seminars and health assesments0
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No, but I really wish that they would. I'm not taxing on our insurance, haven't been to the doctor for anything except a physical in 2 years. I always feel like I pay high fees so that someone else can use my benefits.0
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I used to work for a healthcare company and our deductible was $900, but if you went to the 'optional' company physical (blood work and getting weighed) and met their standards of health you got $500 off your deductible price.
I actually thought it was kind of cool and thought of it as a free doctors check up! Only it took just 10 minutes and was on site at work AND they gave us free healthy breakfast foods and coffee afterwards
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My company started doing a very similar thing about 3 years ago. Year 1, you would get the incentive if your fasting glucose level was correctly scored. Year 2 was to be tobacco negative. This year (for 2013 plan year) you have to either be at a healthy weight or show marked weight loss headed in that direction from last year. It is one of the reasons I decided to get off my tukus, but not the most important one!
I love your profile picture, GO PACK GO!0 -
We don't have anything tied to insurance or anything like that. But our company provides us with a gym to workout at whenever we have time during the day. We can also pay for a trainer to come in if we'd like. Our company also has healthy food brought in everyday for lunch.0
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Just curious how many of you work for a company that ties your own health to your benefits and/or rewards a healthy lifestyle.
Last year my company adopted a plan (for lack of a better word) that allows for lower cost health coverage if you are leading or working on leading a healthy lifestyle. This was actually announced in Sept 2010 and the main reason I got my *kitten* together and got healthy.
In order to qualify for the 'choice' plans thru our insurance provider (we have Priority Health or BC/BS) employees have to have a physical each year by March 31st, have a BMI of 30 or lower (or going in that direction), not be a smoker, and fill out an online health risk assessment. If all of those items pass, then our out of pocket expenses will be lower than if we didn't pass (our actual paycheck deduction does not change, but the insurance company would bill more/less for anything they don't cover).
I have heard rumblings that for 2013, there will be a hard cut off for the BMI, so you must be at 30 or lower - period - not just trying to get to it (not a concern for me anymore, thank goodness, since my BMI went from 37 to 23).
To promote a healthy lifestyle, we also have a program called 'Achieve' where you collect points (all on the honor system) for tracking food, exercising, attending weight meetings (like weight watchers), getting your physical, completing the risk survey, and participating in events (like 5K's and such). You can turn in the points and get fitness related prizes....I just got a Gold's Gym weight bench
Anyone else have any programs like this where you work? Are your benefits tied to your health and/or do they have any sort of rewards program?
Ours is identical to yours, aside from the BMI. Working in the medical field, it's common knowledge that BMI is essentially irrelevant, so we use body fat percentage instead. We also have free programs through our company to aide in smoking cessation, weight loss, heart health, etc. Free Weight Watchers program, and a fitness center located in all of our clinics that is free for us and our families to use.0 -
My workplace is going in the opposite direction. People are looked down upon for their food choices, gossiped about, and at the annual health screenings - most people don't go because nosey people gossip about their test results too. No one here cares if we're working on our health and often I feel like I'm the only person that is. They did just instate a policy that we can't use tobacco products and we have to get nicotine tests. That's about all. Our insurance is horrid and they just changed it from a good policy to our current one to save the company money by screwing the workers. Our company also owns an entire building that is empty and when I had people on the healthy bandwagon, we offered to bring exercise equipment to the empty space so we could workout during lunch. We were told no and given some excuse about it being a security risk for us to A). Walk over there {2 blocks away}
. To let multiple people have keys to the buidling C). To be seen out in public shuffling in and out of a random building. So, the space sits there... it's a damn shame too. I could be on a stationary bike or an old elliptical or jumping rope or doing a workout DVD on an old TV..... it makes me sad how unvalued my health is as a worker. They wonder why everyone is sick all the time here. 
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We have two plans/programs to choose from for our benefits.
There are incentives to saving money at local gyms or the YMCA for being an employee where I work.
Our company offers free smoking cessation programs
We run "The Biggest Loser" twice a year - anyone can participate. Winning teams get prizes. Winning individual with the highest loss gets even more prizes.
We get discounts at places like specialty shoe shops if we want jogging/running/workout type footwear.
For employees who participate in healthy programs that are recognized while using the medical insurance plans here (WW, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, or documentation from your physician showing a medical plan you are following and showing good results), you can actually get PAID. we have to submit receipts, documents on a quarterly basis for reimbursement.
Free health advisement from our Employee-Health department is ALWAYS a good perk.
Free exercise classes at each campus so everyone has the opportunity to join.
Free blood pressure clinics at each campus as well as cholesterol and bone scan checks for employees
EDIT: Right now, there is a 30ft minimum requirement to be away from the building we work at for those who smoke. They are contemplating making it a 100% smoke-free environemnt though which I think wouldnt be fair especially for those who are participating in cessation programs (our winters can get nasty here), so driving away to find a place to smoke will be difficult, but also this is hard to enforce as well.0 -
No, but I wish we did. I don't see why I should pay the same rate as people who are at higher risk.0
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Starting in 2013 my company is offering a premium discount if your BMI is in the healthy range or if it has improved by at least 1 point since last fall. Every fall they offer blood tests and screen for lots of things (confidential), but the discount is based on smoking or not and BMI.
I can see them wanting to have healthy workers, less sick days, lower premiums from the carriers, etc. I just wish insurance wasn't so tied to employment, but not goverment managed/run. Should be more like car or home insurance that you can buy off the street, but maybe an empoyer group could give a better deal. But that's another soapbox...0 -
This sounds awesome! I so wish they did something like that! X0
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We get like $9 each check for not smoking, nothing else though0
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My workplace is going in the opposite direction. People are looked down upon for their food choices, gossiped about, and at the annual health screenings - most people don't go because nosey people gossip about their test results too. No one here cares if we're working on our health and often I feel like I'm the only person that is. They did just instate a policy that we can't use tobacco products and we have to get nicotine tests. That's about all. Our insurance is horrid and they just changed it from a good policy to our current one to save the company money by screwing the workers. Our company also owns an entire building that is empty and when I had people on the healthy bandwagon, we offered to bring exercise equipment to the empty space so we could workout during lunch. We were told no and given some excuse about it being a security risk for us to A). Walk over there {2 blocks away}. To let multiple people have keys to the buidling C). To be seen out in public shuffling in and out of a random building. So, the space sits there... it's a damn shame too. I could be on a stationary bike or an old elliptical or jumping rope or doing a workout DVD on an old TV..... it makes me sad how unvalued my health is as a worker. They wonder why everyone is sick all the time here.
I think they would have to carry a liability insurance to set up anything the even appeared to be a corporate sponsored gym.0 -
Our company has incentive and wellness programs. We do a healthmiles thing where you can get a free pedometer and you earn money (gift cards, etc) for milage. You also get points for filling out a health screen. They have on-line personal health consultants and stuff like that. It was all rolled out with our new health care plan two years ago.
They also used to pay for part of your membership at several local gyms, but now they built a new corporate headquarters that has a fancy gym, so this benefit went away. Since I don't work at corporate HQ, I got screwed.0 -
Yes, and I work for a major insurance company and I bet I have worse benefits than 99% of the people on this board. I have to get my life in order because I couldn't afford to get sick with the benefits I have.0
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I am not sure what this means? Is it an American thing, because you don't have healthcare like the UK?
yes, and yes.0
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