'Cash In' on Wellness Programs

You may be able to get some extra money or perks from your employer by participating in a wellness program. The benefits can be valuable – one-quarter of the large employers surveyed by the Kaiser Family Foundation offered wellness benefits worth $1,000 or more per year, and nearly half offered annual wellness benefits of $500 or more. Some offer cash; some offer contributions to a health savings account or health reimbursement account; and others provide gift cards or discounts on your health insurance premiums. Some companies even offer the wellness benefits to spouses, too.

To receive the benefits, you generally need to sign up for the wellness program or meet certain goals. For example, you may receive money for signing up for a health risk assessment, which asks about your medical history and health status, or for taking a biometric screening, which measures your cholesterol, blood pressure, or body mass index. You may receive additional money if you meet certain biometric outcomes (such as body mass index or cholesterol goals).

Many employers also offer health promotion programs, such as exercise programs, discounted gym memberships, health education classes and stress-management counseling. You may also be able to participate in a free or discounted weight-loss or smoking-cessation program.

Many employers introduce new programs at the beginning of each year. So this is the perfect time to find out whether you or your spouse are eligible for any of these wellness programs and perks for 2019.

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