If you are still lucky enough to have a job in this economy, your company wants to make sure you stick around. It is open health insurance enrollment season at many large companies and the watch word around the water cooler is “fitness”. Back in the day companies used to give incentives for anyone who voluntarily participated in a health-risk assessment for themselves. Now, those same companies are taking a definitive stand by not allowing employees to even sign up for health insurance until they take the proper health-risk assessments. If the assessment uncovers any manageable health risks employees are encouraged, for example, to join a fitness center or enter a smoking cessation program.
The rewards for this positive behavior mod are significant. Companies are offering financial incentives such as cash, upwards of $500 annually, discounted insurance premiums or gift cards — just for working out! If you opt out of the healthy alternatives your company will fast track you to restricted health insurance choices. That means the health plans with higher deductibles, fewer services and little if any benes. Some companies are even going so far as to deny health coverage completely.
A word to the wise. What have I been telling you….Get thee to thy Gym! stat. Your Grass is Green
