Firms willing to reward wellness

Joyzelle Davis, Rocky Mountain News

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Employers are looking to boost the bottom line by watching their workers' waistlines.

A growing number of companies in Colorado and nationwide are offering free medical screenings, discounts or cash incentives to motivate employees to exercise more, eat better and quit smoking. They hope that a healthier work force will contain costs in an era of spiraling health care expenses.

"Over time, we'll get healthier employees who cost us less in health care premiums," said Steve Fitzgerald, senior vice president at Vail Resorts, which last year instituted a wellness program in partnership with the Mayo Clinic that gives workers a $240 discount on their annual health insurance premium if they agree to consult with healthy lifestyle coaches. "And it does a lot in terms of creating employee good will."

Lifestyle factors are at the core of many major medical problems, contributing to 91 percent of all diabetes cases and nearly 90 percent of all heart attacks, according to the nonprofit Wellness Councils of America.

Health care companies have offered wellness programs in varying degrees for years, but say employer interest has surged as health care costs continue to outpace inflation.

"Employers know there's a direct correlation to their bottom line. People who are smokers are undoubtedly at a greater risk for cancer, and that's going to cost them money," said Wendy Morphew, an Aetna spokeswoman.

Many plans, like Kaiser Permanente's Practicing Prevention program - which includes online health risk assessment and free classes at Kaiser centers for smoking cessation and weight management - typically cost employers 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent more to add as a benefit. The programs are usually available to companies with at least 100 participating employees.

Kaiser is running a test with the Rocky Mountain News to offer employees a $250 annual discount on their health care premium if they quit smoking or lose 5 percent of their body weight if they are technically overweight.

The health insurer is evaluating whether to expand the pilot into an official benefit program, but it "really piques our customer's interest when we talk about it," said Melissa Dodd, Kaiser's worksite wellness manager.

Health care companies offer some of the most generous wellness incentives. Aetna deposits as much as $600 a year in employees' health savings accounts for taking preventative steps like getting a flu shot, while Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield gives its physically active employees points that can be redeemed for items ranging from water bottles to digital cameras.

Chris Gaynor, an employee at Anthem's downtown office, lost 55 pounds in the past year after he made a daily habit of hitting the company's on-site gym and lunchtime aerobics classes.

"I had a gym membership for years, but carrying the card around in my pocket wasn't helping me any," joked Gaynor, 46. What made the difference was consulting with Anthem's on-site wellness center director, who helped him modify his diet, and taking part in co-worker support programs like the company's "Maintain Not Gain" program during the holidays.

Qwest, which has more than 38,000 employees nationwide, offers employees free online health assessment tools, smoking cessation programs and cholesterol and blood pressure tests.

The Denver-based telco stops short of offering financial incentives because "we don't want to be in a policing situation," said Teresa Taylor, Qwest's human resources chief.

Vail's employees are on the honor system to check in with their lifestyle coaches. Fitzgerald said more than 70 percent of those eligible enrolled.

$3.50 Amount employers would realize in avoided costs for every dollar spent on wellness programs.

40 percent of employers use incentives or penalties in their health care plans.

75 percent of U.S. health care dollars are spent on diseases caused by unhealthy lifestyles.

Some hefty numbers

23 percent: Estimated cost to health plans for physical inactivity, being overweight or obesity

64 percent of adults in America over 20 are overweight

$117 billion was spent on the total cost of obesity in 2000 alone

Wellness incentives

Here are just a few of the wellness incentives offered by Colorado companies:

• Vail Resorts: Offers a $ 240 yearly discount off health care premiums for employees who participate in a wellness program, in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, that hooks up employees with healthy lifestyle coaches to work on issues like nutrition, stress management and weight loss.

• Aetna: Employees can receive as much as $600 back on their paycheck or have that amount deposited into a health fund for engaging in physical activity or taking positive steps like preventative screenings or completing a health assessment.

• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield:

Offers its employees points for logging hours of physical activity, which can be redeemed for prizes like mountain bikes or digital cameras. Also has on-site gym and exercise classes, and a discounted membership in Weight Watchers.

• Janus: Offers on-site fitness facilities and discounts to nearby gyms, and a $25 rebate for yoga classes, smoking cessation programs or other health-related programs. In August, the company held a wellness expo with free cholestrol, blood pressure and other screenings and seminars from nutritionists.

Source: American Journal Of Health Promotions, Hewitt Associates (Includes Cover Numbers) Wellness Incentives Here Are Just A Few Of The Wellness ...

davisj@rockymountainnews.com or 303-954-2514