Bona Fide Wellness Programs

A key to lowering healthcare costs is through decreasing the need for expensive services by creating healthier individuals and populations. The Bona fide Wellness Program does this by using risks and incentives as a means to encourage participants to become proactive and knowledgeable consumers. By participating in this program, participants become educated and savvy healthcare consumers.

The basis of the “Bona Fide Wellness Program” is in recognizing and rewarding healthy individuals while providing resources and incentives to those who are less healthy. This is a completely customizable program and can be tailored to fit the needs of any size company.

To determine risk, individuals answer a series of health questions and have their biometrics (body measurements) taken (Health Screens).

Point System

Points are awarded to individuals based on their health risk. Healthier individuals are awarded more points than those found to be at higher risk. All individuals, regardless of initial points, are allowed to participate in approved programs to earn additional points. The programs are geared toward healthy lifestyle choices and are meant to encourage and educate participants (especially those at high risk).

Incentives

The earned points are then exchanged for rewards. The incentives are tiered to promote even small changes (a big part of changing a habit is making the first step ). The incentives are earned based on total points and on improvement. We create a threshold below which no reward is received. Above the threshold, participants receive rewards based on points earned which can be accumulated and redeemed at any time during the year. The program can also be set up to allow points to accumulate over years which allows the employer to offer larger incentives.  Under the "Bona Fide Wellness Program" rules, employers can alter individual premium percentages, account contributions, co-pays, deductibles, etc. based on level of risk.

Why is health insurance not like other insurances?

To the detriment of controlling health care costs, group health insurance has not been allowed to rate premiums based on relative risk. With our Bona Fide Wellness Program, this is no longer the case. If you have this program in place, you can adjust premiums based on risk, just like the rest of the insurance market has done for years. Those at lower risk of incurring costs (healthy individuals in this case) can be rewarded with lower premiums. Most people want to take responsibility for their health; they just need a little push and the resources to do so.

Bona Fide Wellness Rules

For a summary of the rules click here.   

For the complete rules click here.