May 9, 2024
'I love getting rewarded for my healthy habits'
A wellness program boosts productivity and mental health, a Massachusetts company finds
Every morning, Tammy Falla spends 10 minutes on a wellness app offered by her employer and health plan while she enjoys her coffee – and earns rewards she can spend on gift cards and other items, including electronics and clothing.
The 54-year-old mom of four who is an executive assistant at MAPFRE, an insurance company in Webster, Mass., says she loves starting her day thinking about wellness. On the app, she reads health tips, tracks healthy habits such as how many hours of sleep she got the day before, and connects with new colleagues by participating in healthy challenges, such as listening to calming music once a day.
“I love the app because I can pick and choose what I want to focus on,” Falla said. “I also like the community aspect of it. It’s a fun way to meet new co-workers. And I love that I get rewarded for participating.”
MAPFRE employees like Falla who use the workplace wellness app can get up to a $520 reduction in their annual Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts health insurance premium, as well as another $100 a quarter in rewards.
An emerging trend
A majority of U.S. business offer a workplace wellness program, research shows.
"Providing a competitive benefits program, including a wellness program, helps us attract and retain top talent,” said Nora Costa, vice president of rewards at MAPFRE.
Currently, more than one-third of MAPFRE’s employees participate in its wellness program, which includes the Virgin Pulse app that Falla particularly enjoys.
“Every year we try to develop a program we hope will resonate with employees and help them and their families get on a path to better health,” Kim Leone, manager of benefits and wellness at MAPFRE said, adding the company has been recognize with two consecutive Work Well Awards from the Wellness Council of Massachusetts.
Other companies are also gravitating to the programs, said Blue Cross Senior Director of Health Engagement & Customer Solutions Stacey Grant.
“Wellness programs offer many personal benefits, too," she said, "such as helping to prevent chronic conditions from developing down the road, increasing productivity at work and improving overall mental health.”
A holistic approach to health
As employers increasingly look for online and other wellness options for their employees, Blue Cross has anticipated the need for innovative and personalized services, Grant said.
A 2024 Employee Health & Benefits Trends report by the global firm MarshMcLennan found 66% of employers describe health and well-being as an integral part of their workforce strategy, she noted.
As a health plan, we believe it’s just as important to help our members maintain good overall health and wellness as it is to help them when they are sick
Blue Cross Senior Director of Health Engagement & Customer Solutions Stacey Grant
“That’s why we offer so many different options to support our members.”
In additional to traditional medical coverage, the health plan’s wellness offerings include:
- Reimbursement for fitness activities, weight loss programs and wellness activities such as acupuncture and meditation and breathing apps
- On-site health education events and webinars
- Phone-based wellness coaching
- Access to the Learn to Live app, which provides online self-guided support for members with moderate anxiety and depression.
Blue Cross, a not-for-profit, also is the only health plan in its home state with a team of health engagement strategists who work with employer customers to develop wellness strategies and programs tailored to their employees’ needs, Grant noted.
One-quarter of the health plan’s members participated in a wellness program in 2023, she added.
Meeting evolving needs
It’s important for a health plan to enhance offerings as the needs of employer customers and their employees change, Grant said.
“We try to make sure we are responding to and offering what our members and employer customers are asking for,” Grant said. “For instance, many employers are looking for programs now that emphasize mental and emotional well-being and strengthening social connections, so we work to offer those types of programs.”
The MarshMcLennan report, for instance, found Gen Z particularly reports struggling with work-related burnout and wants support via robust mental health benefits.
Responding to those kinds of needs pays off in retention, the report found:
Employees who believe their employer cares for their overall well-being are 69% less likely to look for a new job
- 2024 Employee Health and Benefits Trends report
Making small tweaks is important too, Grant said: For example, when employees’ interest in virtual spinning and other classes surged, Blue Cross has expanded its reimbursement program to add coverage for online fitness classes and home fitness equipment.
Wellness programs are a win-win, Falla said, adding she encourages anyone who has access to a program at their office to give it a try.
“There’s so many great programs and challenges that it feels like there really is something for everyone, whether you want to exercise, connect with colleagues, sleep better or just have greater peace of mind.”
Did you find this article informative?
All Coverage content can be reprinted for free.
Read more here.