Town Partners Health Benefits With Wellness

The town employee wellness program will take on added significance beginning next year as the town scales back its health insurance premium benefit to employees from 100 percent to 90 percent in a cost-cutting move.

Employees will still be able to get the town to cover their full health insurance premium by doing well in the wellness program, but those who chose not to participate or who do poorly in the program will be required to pay up to 10 percent of their cost.

"We're trying to create an atmosphere of personal responsibility," said Town Manager Steve Biggs. "We don't want to penalize any employees for a number of reasons, but we do want to reward certain behavior."

Under the new Wellness Premium Program which goes into effect July 1 of next year, employees will be rewarded for following a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, good nutrition and regular health care. It will also reward employees who stop smoking.

The plan got the approval of the Town Council Monday.

"I'm very much in favor of this," said Councilman Bob Satterfield. "Promotion of good health is something we ought to be doing."

The new program requires employees who participate to get a complete Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Assessment, a complete Biometric Screening and yearly Wellness Physicals. In addition, employees must earn at least 20 "points" by participating in health promotion activities. They'll get 10 points by giving up smoking, another 10 for joining a Weight Management program and an additional 10 by joining a gym and working out regularly.

Employees can also earn five points for each Wellness Program "challenge" they accept, such as the "Amazing Walk" challenge, the "Journey" challenge, the "Total Body" challenge or "Walking Wednesdays." Participating in a road race or a bicycle event will earn six points and a triathlon will earn seven. Other health-friendly behavior, such as getting a flu shot, will earn points, too.

"We want to improve our health profile," Biggs said.

The town spends almost a million dollars a year on health insurance for its employees, and officials want to bring that cost down. Many believe that healthier employees will mean lower premiums. In addition, officials believe that the program might have some side benefits, such as reduced absenteeism from illness and preventable injuries.

The employee wellness program, whose full name is the Well Street Health Exchange Wellness Program, also offers incentives that pays employees up to $150 yearly for a gym membership or for successful completion of a weight management program, a tobacco cessation program or health coaching for key chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease.

The incentive programs do not affect premiums for dependents.