MHealthy has launched its annual Rewards program, encouraging qualifying, benefits-eligible faculty and staff to review their health and take action to maintain or improve it.
“Being proactive and informed about your health is a good way to start off the New Year,” says Karen Schmidt, MHealthy’s associate director of wellness and health culture. “Our Rewards program helps you find your way to well-being by identifying programs and services that support your health goals.”
To participate in Rewards 2016:
• Complete the confidential health questionnaire by April 15. Employees will earn a $50 before-tax reward and get a personalized health report that includes useful information and resources to help minimize or prevent future health problems.
• Also complete one qualifying healthy activity by August 31 to earn an additional $50.
Rewards-eligible activities focus on how to manage weight, stress less, quit tobacco, move more, eat smarter and drink less alcohol. Popular programs qualify, including:
• Active U 2016
• MHealthy mental and emotional well-being programs
• Weight Watchers
• MHealthy’s Ready to Lose weight loss program
• MHealthy nutrition consults
• MHealthy exercise and relaxation classes
• Alcohol management programs
New for 2016, Rewards-eligible programs also include MHealthy personal training, MHealthy Learn to Live Tobacco Free Program, and, from StayWell Health Management, online self-directed coaching and the Your Choice Program. With the Your Choice Program, participants can set their own health behavior goal and then report on their status later in the year.
Paul King says participating in MHealthy Rewards and creating a goal is another way of making the commitment to health more tangible and visible.
“Once you commit in writing to do something, you’re more likely to actually keep that commitment,” says King, executive director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.
“I’ve made the commitment to stay healthy by exercising at least three or four times each week. I also have a Fitbit that I use to count my steps. My target is 10,000 steps which, on a campus as large as ours, isn’t that hard to reach.”
The university continues to partner with StayWell, a national provider of health improvement services, to administer the confidential health questionnaire.
Wendy Talaga
Are the healthy rewards available for retirees? I was wondering about the weight watchers discount.