Employers may sponsor wellness programs as a means to promote better health and higher morale among employees, with the hope that helping employees to embrace a culture of health will lead to higher productivity with lower health-related costs.
Wellness plans may be included in health insurance programs, or they may stand alone. These plans may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- – Tobacco cessation, exercise, weight management, or behavior modification programs.
- – Health risk assessments.
- – High blood pressure or cholesterol screenings.
- – Health education.
- – Subsidized health club memberships.
While participation in wellness programs is voluntary, employers may offer incentives for participation or even disincentives for nonparticipation.