Employers and health insurers are increasingly eyeing disease and health management programs as a means to ensure a healthier workforce. Now, as CBS News reports, some companies and health plans are looking at a powerful motivator to entice their employees to participate: cash incentives.

The key is to develop a properly designed incentive program that recognizes the role of disease prevention and health management, and aligns rewards with an individual’s desire to achieve health improvements in a positive way.

Lyndhurst, NJ (PRWeb) January 30, 2007 -- Employers and health insurers are increasingly eyeing disease and health management programs as a means to ensure a healthier workforce. Now, as CBS News reports in a piece that aired Jan. 22, some companies and health plans are looking at a powerful motivator to entice their employees to participate: cash incentives.

"A robust incentive strategy, whether it offers cash, non-cash or a combination of the two is critical to the success of any health management program," said Michael Dermer, president and chief executive officer of IncentOne, a leading health and productivity incentive solutions provider.

Less obvious but no less real are benefits to employers, who save money that might otherwise be lost due to sick days or increased health care utilization. According to a study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 84 percent of large company CEOs view incentives as the most promising tool to drive health care cost reductions. As Wyatt Andrews reports on CBS News, the health and lifestyle benefits to employees are obvious (the piece can be viewed at www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2387297n)

Andrews reports that IBM has paid out $130 million in wellness incentives, an investment in its workforce the company expects to pay off as it encourages employees to participate in walking teams or play basketball during their lunch breaks. Health plans, too, are providing incentives; the CBS piece specifically mentions IncentOne clients including Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.

IncentOne is at the forefront of the health management and wellness movement, providing a sophisticated technology solution – Health PowerTM – which integrates rewards (ranging from cash incentives and premium contributions to gift cards from hundreds of national retailers) with all necessary incentive program services. IncentOne provides this solution to health plans serving more than 75 million members and Fortune 500 companies. IncentOne provides an integrated incentive solution embedded in a company’s benefit plan, offering:

• Rewards that appeal to all audiences;
• Systems to manage activities, processes, tracking and reporting;
• Guidance to provide optimal program design and implementation; and
• Services to effectively implement, support, communicate, analyze and improve.

Nearly half of major U.S. employers offer such incentives to their employees. Success hinges on having an integrated solution and the expertise to guide employers so they know how to apply it to encourage healthy behavior.

"Data from clinical studies shows that healthier employee behavior pays off for employers in the form of decreased health care costs, improved productivity and reduced absenteeism," Dermer said. "The key is to develop a properly designed incentive program that recognizes the role of disease prevention and health management, and aligns rewards with an individual’s desire to achieve health improvements in a positive way."

To read more about IncentOne’s incentive management programs go to: http://www.incentone.com/newsletter/Triple_Tree_Report_2007.pdf

About IncentOne
Since 1997, IncentOne has provided integrated incentive solutions to clients ranging from small businesses to the FORTUNE® 500, including half of the FORTUNE® 50. IncentOne’s solutions combine its proven incentive platform with the industry’s most comprehensive reward portfolio and best practices to provide companies with a tool to drive business objectives. IncentOne’s clients include Washington Mutual, WebMD, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Deloitte, MGM, ADP, NBC and the United States Postal Service. For more information, please visit www.IncentOne.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: To speak with Michael Dermer, CEO of IncentOne, contact Health2 Resources at 703-319-0957

This press release was distributed through eMediawire by Human Resources Marketer (HR Marketer: www.HRmarketer.com) on behalf of the company listed above.

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