King County to Unveil Healthy Incentives Program

Public employers (and private employers as well) have seen health care costs skyrocket over the past few years—and sometimes it seems there is no end in sight.

King County has decided to do something about it. Their new Healthy Incentives program is part of an ambitious program to save the county significant amounts of money on health care costs—and improve the health of employees at the same time.

The program gives incentives for employees and their spouses/domestic partners to take ownership of their health. The goals of the program are to:

• improve the health of employees and their families,
• encourage employees to make healthy life changes, and
• reduce the rate of growth of medical plan costs by one-third—targeted to save the county $40 million between 2007 and 2009.

Employees and spouses/domestic partners will have the opportunity to complete a wellness assessment in 2006, and by doing do, lower their out-of-pocket medical costs beginning in 2007. The amount of participation determines the expense level (bronze, silver or gold). While participation is voluntary, employees and their adult partners who complete and follow an action plan will be eligible for the lowest level of out-of-pocket medical costs. (Health coverage and benefits are the same across all three levels.)

Here’s how the three-tier incentive system will work:

Bronze level—highest cost to employees: no participation in the health-risk assessment.

Silver level: employee must fill out a health-risk assessment and follow at least one healthy habit (see example below).

Gold level—lowest cost to employee: employee must fill out a health-risk assessment, complete a personalized action plan (for example, eat healthier or exercise more), and follow at least two healthy habits (see example below).

Possible examples of healthy habits:

• Driving within 5 miles of the speed limit
• Walking 30 minutes three times a week
• Using sunscreen when outside for more than 30 minutes
• Wearing a helmet when skiing or riding a bicycle or motorcycle

For more information about the Healthy Incentives program, contact Kerry Schaefer at King County, kerry.schaefer@metrokc.gov.

 
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