Incentives Increase For Healthy Employees Amid Rising Health Care Costs

A survey of 225 major US employers revealed that more are offering formal health and wellness programs than ever. And incentives for employees to join and complete these programs have increased as well. The values for incentives averaged between $100 to $300 and were paid out in cash bonuses, gift cards, or a reduction in health care premiums. More than three-quarters of big U.S. employers offer formal health and wellness programs, which aim to prevent disease, while more than half have disease management programs. All this has been attributed, in part, to rising health care costs. Full story.