10,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Members Got Paid for Leading a Healthier Lifestyle in 2005 Through Worksite Wellness Programs.

BOSTON -- In 2005, 10,000 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) members resolved to lead a healthier lifestyle by signing up with the insurer's worksite wellness programs, and got paid for it.

The worksite wellness programs include Blue Ribbon Personal Edge, a program that provides financial incentives to employees who participate in and complete key components of the MyBlueHealth wellness online and consumerism activities. MyBlueHealth is another important step in BCBSMA's ongoing effort to support its members with programs and services that can assist them in improving the quality of their health and in working with their doctors to make health care decisions.

The 10,000 members were from 138 BCBSMA business accounts that signed up for BCBSMA worksite wellness programs. As a result of their participation, these BCBSMA members quit smoking, lost weight, reduced their stress and ate better last year.

One program, Personal Edge, helps employees develop healthier lifestyles and make informed decisions. Features and the most common rewards include:

--A Personal Health Assessment (PHA): Employees who complete the confidential online PHAs receive a $25 gift certificate (to a selection of nearly 200 stores throughout the U.S.) as will employees, if referred, who complete a number of lifestyle advising phone calls within six months of enrolling in a lifestyle counseling program.

--Over-the-phone lifestyle advising sessions

--A customized homepage

--A consumerism workshop that helps employees make informed health care decisions

--Healthy lifestyle programs that address fitness, nutrition, and smoking cessation: Employees who complete the nutrition and/or fitness behavior programs are entered into a drawing for two $100 gift certificates per module. Participants must complete the consumerism workshop to be eligible for the drawings.

--A few BCBSMA business accounts offer different rewards.

The PHA assesses the employees' health status and provides information customized to the employees' needs and interests. Employees with health conditions who complete the PHA are connected with the appropriate health management program from BCBSMA. This is very important, since early detection and intervention help improve or prevent many chronic conditions.

"There are many reasons why employers sign up for Personal Edge," said Janet Edmunson, Director for Prevention and Wellness. "Studies have shown that a person with six or more health risk factors has eight times the health care costs of someone with no health risks.(1) Also, studies have shown that health promotion at the worksite returns between three dollars and eight dollars for each dollar invested over the long term.(2)"

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.com) was founded 68 years ago by a group of community-minded business leaders. Today, headquartered in Boston, BCBSMA provides coverage to 2.8 million members. Consistently recognized for standards of service that are among the highest in the nation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the choice for health care consumers seeking reliable and high quality health care coverage. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

(1) American Journal of Health Promotion 1991; 6(1): 46-54

(2) American Journal of Health Promotion 2001; 15(5): 296-320