From the ArcaMax Publishing, Health & Fitness Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/healthtips/s-368976-715597
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- To reduce healthcare costs, U.S. employers are
offering cash of up to $600 as an incentive to adopt healthier habits,
a trade association official says.
"More than three out of four major employers are using health and
wellness programs in an effort to rein in costs that continue to soar
year after year," John Engler, president and chief executive officer
of the National Association of Manufacturers, said in a statement.
"But trinkets and T-shirts aren't enough to motivate employees for the
long term. Employers are keenly interested in innovative ways to lower
costs and enhance productivity. Incentives are proving an effective
tool to engage employees and keep them interested in these programs."
The survey of 225 major U.S. companies, conducted by the ERISA
Industry Committee, the National Association of Manufacturers and
IncentOne Inc., finds a wide range in the value of incentives offered
for a host of programs. For instance, incentives for weight management
programs range from $5 to $500, and for smoking cessation programs
from $5 to $600.
The average value of incentives per person per year range between $100
and $300, with an overall average of $192 per person per year, the
survey said.