Cash Bonus Ranks as Popular Incentive for Wellness Program Participation
May 15, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The number of employers offering their workers an incentive to enroll in a company wellness program has climbed about 15% since 2003, with cash-based rewards the most popular enticement, a recent survey suggests.
The survey of managers and administrators by Wellness Program Management Advisor and Wellness Junction found that 70% of employers were prodding employees' participation in wellness programs in 2006, up from the 54.7% that were doing so in 2003.
About 68% of employers offered cash-based rewards, up slightly from 63.9% in 2003. The number of those offering rewards such as cash bonuses nearly doubled, from 16.3% in 2003 to 32.2% in 2006.
As for what the incentive programs focused on, participation was the highest with 66.9% of incentive programs focusing employee participation.
Other aspects included:
·  Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) participation at 40.7%.
·  Proof of program attendance at 33.9%, up from 25.8% in 2003.
·  Behavior change at 33.1%, up slightly from 32.3% in 2003.
·  Outcomes at 27.1%, up from 19.4%.
One participant said the participation rate at her company had reached an approximate 80% level, because the company included incentives in employee benefits plans, according to the release.
"Employees receive a discounted rate on their co-insurance for completing the simple steps," said Priscilla Bengston at Healthtrax, an employee wellness provider. "Those who do not comply with the program components are dropped from the program and cannot re-enroll until the next year's re-enrollment period. This way employees understand that this is a benefit just like their medical, dental and 401(k)."
Survey participants also suggested offering incentives such as gift certificates to try and spur healthy lifestyles, such as those with cash values for massages, health and fitness magazine subscriptions, health food stores, and discounts to fitness clubs.