Lifestyles HEALTHY
AT GENESIS
As a new or potential employee of Genesis Health System, we welcome you and want to share how the success of our Wellness Program has helped reduce the rate of increasing costs to our medical plan. Unlike many employers who have had to pass rapidly rising insurance premium costs onto their employees, Genesis has been able to resist this national trend. As a result, our employees have reaped the benefits, both in their improved health and out-of-pocket expenses.
Many Genesis employees and their spouses have reduced their risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes through our Genesis Healthy Lifestyles program. ey have been able to earn wellness discounts ranging from $780 to $1,560 per year in their share of the health insurance cost.
YOU PLAY A ROLE! It’s important for you to know that Genesis employees play an important role in keeping their medical plan premiums affordable. Wellness discounts are based on health screening outcomes. If you are considering working for Genesis or are a new employee, you should be aware of the impact your health habits will have on your medical plan premium.
Ross Ross Christopher, a machine repairman at the Genesis, Illini Campus, has lost 35 pounds over three years. He reduced his blood pressure, waist circumference and triglyceride levels.
Lifestyles HEALTHY
SCREENING • Each fall, employees and their spouses who participate in our medical plan and wish to earn a premium discount voluntarily participate in a free biometric screening to determine their risk for Metabolic Syndrome. e five risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome center on blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and waist circumference. e blood test also screens for tobacco use.
AT GENESIS
HOW THE DISCOUNT WORKS • Automatic discount: If the results of your screening show you are tobacco-free and have less than three of the five risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome, no further action or participation is necessary. You have already earned the premium discount! • Working toward the discount: If you are NOT tobacco-free or you have three or more of the Metabolic Syndrome risk factors, we have programs to help you achieve your health goals and qualify for the discount. You must participate in a follow-up screening, held in the spring. You must be tobaccofree and have one less risk factor for Metabolic Syndrome to earn the premium discount. • If you have no intention of being tobacco-free or attempting to reduce your risk factors for Metabolic Syndrome, please let Human Resources know. Your discount will be automatically removed and you can avoid retroactive payments.
How does this affect new employees?
New employees hired after Oct. 1 of the calendar year do not undergo the screening until a year later – in the fall of the next calendar year. You will automatically enjoy the premium discount for the first year. Example: If you are hired between Oct. 2 and Dec. 31, 2012, you won’t undergo the screening until the next fall of 2013. at’s because the baseline screenings are offered only one time each year. You automatically receive the premium discount (ranging from $780 to $1,560) for the entire year of 2013. Remember, however, that you will have to earn the premium discount the following year. If you don't, be prepared to lose the discount and pay a higher insurance premium.
Dr. Christopher Posey of the Genesis, East Rusholme Street Emergency Department used to take 100 units of insulin daily. Now, he takes none. His waist size has decreased from 48 to 36 inches.
Christopher
New employees hired before Oct. 1 of the calendar year must participate in this screening if they wish to earn a premium discount. Example: If you begin your new job at Genesis on Aug. 29, 2012, you will undergo the screening that fall and can begin the process of claiming your premium discount. e discount can range from $30 to $60 per pay period.
Lifestyles HEALTHY
AT GENESIS
WELLNESS PROGRAMS
COST-SAVINGS
• Be assured, Genesis employees and their spouses are not alone as they strive to become healthier. We offer proven programs at NO COST to help them reduce their risk factors and earn their premium discount.
Our proactive approach has stabilized the cost of providing health care for Genesis employees and spouses who participate in our health insurance plans. We are proud to say the total cost of health care for each covered individual has remained essentially the same for five years, with no benefit reductions.
Sara
• Depending on their health needs, they have access to wellness and fitness classes, discounts to fitness facilities, a diabetes education program, or a tobacco cessation program. Our employees and their covered spouses have realized positive results from their participation – from individually losing as much as 40-100 pounds to reducing their waist size, triglyceride levels and fasting glucose.
Few companies across the country can boast the same experience as Genesis in providing health care for employees. We’ve bent the curve on rising employee health costs; reduced our paid claims; and, passed the savings back to our employees who meet wellness initiatives.
OUR EMPLOYEE SUCCESSES There are hundreds of Genesis employees and spouses who have improved their health and, as a result, earned significant health insurance premium discounts.
In fact, our experience with the Genesis Wellness Program has been so successful, we’ve made it available to other employers throughout the region. ank you for taking the time to learn the benefits that a healthy lifestyle at Genesis can bring!
Sara Birtell, RN, of Genesis Health Group, Eldridge, found a great lifetime eating plan. She realized that sugary soft drinks were a major contributor to her weight gain and now drinks unsweetened iced tea instead.