Wellness in Alabama!

With health costs soaring, Alabama’s State Employee Insurance Board (ASEIB) approved a wellness program that directly links healthy behaviors to premium levels. The Wellness Premium Discount Program will encourage state employees to undergo screening for four health factors that are linked to the development of serious, high-cost conditions. Those measures are blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and body mass index (BMI), a measure of height and weight that indicates amount of body fat.
Currently, the state’s 37,500 active employees pay no premiums for coverage (except for smokers, who pay $25 a month). Beginning Jan.1, 2010, employees will start paying monthly premiums of $50. Those who don’t smoke will have $25 discounted, and those who agree to undergo the screenings will have another $25 deducted. So those who comply will, once again, pay no premiums! In this time of economic difficulty, Alabama is ready to place responsibility on individuals that work for them to take ownership of their health and well being.

Individuals who exceed the baseline measurements for blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol, and blood glucose will be given a voucher to follow up with a physician. The employee will then need to certify annually that that they are working to manage the condition by verifying they have either:

• consulted with a physician
• participated in a wellness management program
• reduced risks through their own self-management

Other states are adopting similar programs. Investing in health promotion and prevention has been proven to pay off for many employers. If you have any question regarding your own wellness program contact juliet@wellnesscorporatesolutions.com

In good health,

Juliet

2009 State by State Wellness Initiatives

It is well known that health care spending has become epidemic in the public and private sectors of the United States and is expected to soar higher over the next the next few years. Several bills to promote health and wellness initiatives have been introduced in the US congress although most of them have failed to move forward.

For this reason the next 50 blogs of "365 days of wellness" will be devoted to understanding what each state is doing individually to address the problems of physical inactivity, nutrition, smoking and chronic disease.

I am confident we will find state programs that are succeeding and thus educate ourselves on which and what wellness initiatives our most effective. As quoted in The Washington Post article http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/12/AR2009011202892.html
"the rising costs of care and failing economy are driving more Americans into medical debt". Employers can no longer foot the bill. The situation as is is unsustainable. Employers must start adapting long term health and prevention programs now. Hopefully the next 50 blogs will empower employers to do just that with proven ideas and programs that work.

In good health,

Juliet http://www.wellnesscorporatesolutions.com