Lifestyle Incentive Programs Encourage Healthy Behavior

In a May 2005 survey conducted by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN), employers and health plans discussed lifestyle incentive program development within their organizations. Of the 141 healthcare industry professionals who responded, 43 percent currently utilize lifestyle incentive programs and 47.5 percent plan future implementation. An intended initiation rate of higher than 90 percent has significant implications for the future of healthcare. Employers are using a variety of means to communicate these programs to employees.

Employers may not be able to prevent employees from getting the flu, but they can certainly encourage them to avoid illnesses induced by their behavior. In this developing trend of “quid pro quo,” employers are instituting lifestyle incentive programs to push employees to take charge of their health.

“Monitoring healthy lifestyles is difficult. Encouraging healthy behavior at work is easier,” said survey participant Nan Andrews Amish, business strategist, Big Picture Healthcare.

In considering specific incentives, reward conditions and initiative results, the survey analysis underscores an industry-wide effort to adapt to healthcare trends and simultaneously foster employee and financial fortitude. Lifestyle incentive programs provide employees the tools and self-motivation they need to be health conscious while cutting back the debilitating cost of chronic care. Though not foolproof, employers agree these initiatives appear to be a step in the direction of healthcare cost reduction, but note it may take some time to see results.