Mile Markers on the Road to Better Health and Well-being
WebMD, NRECA’s partner in well-being, has released NRECA’s results for the 2019 MyHealth Survey. “The survey is one measure of our members’ overall health and helps us to track trends year over year. With this, we can design and improve our programs to target the specific needs of plan participants to improve their health and well-being,” said NRECA’s senior product specialist for well-being, Morgan White.
Approximately 4,900 NRECA Medical Plan participants completed the survey in 20191, and all data refers only to the population who responded to the survey. Based on the results for the survey respondents, $985 is paid annually in medical costs per person for things that can be prevented through behavior modification, such as high weight, stress, tobacco use or physical inactivity. The good news is we did see a minor reduction in overall excess medical costs per person:
- Excess medical expenses are down $14 for modifiable risks, such as medical bills related to smoking
- Presenteeism costs are down $67 for risks associated with lost productivity when employees come to work sick
- Absenteeism is down $179 for employees who stay home from work due to poor health
No matter where your employees are on their health journey, NRECA’s employee benefits has a resource to address immediate needs, answer questions and help them achieve long-term health and well-being goals.
All cooperatives participating in the NRECA Medical Plan have access to the following resources, among others:
- First Steps Maternity: Pre-conception through delivery, participants receive personalized care from a nurse who specializes maternity, labor and delivery
- MyHealth Coaches®: Participants can work directly with a health coach to manage health conditions or learn more about lifestyle changes like weight loss or tobacco cessation
- MyHealth Manager: Participants can take the MyHealth Survey and use tools and resources to learn more about their health
- Life Strategy Counseling: Participants can work with mental health counselors for support with personal challenges or assistance with everyday tasks and challenges
- Teladoc: Telephone or video chat access to a physician licensed in your employee’s location 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Well-being Discounts: Participants can save on a variety of nationally recognized health and wellness vendors—and your co-op is eligible for discounts on Fitbits
- Well-being Resources: Participants can access health education materials, like lunch and learn webinars and infographics on various health topics
Plus, co-ops participating in the Rewards for Life® program have the ability to participate in four well-being challenges this year, Lose Weight, Hit Your Stride, Five to Thrive and Seize the Zzzz. If your co-op isn’t participating in this program, now is the time to enroll!
Go to the WebMD MyHealth Manager page on the BA Guide to view the full 2019 MyHealth Manager report and learn even more about NRECA’s results, as well as view the seven recommendations made by WebMD to improve the overall health and well-being of plan participants. You can also find the Know Your Numbers campaign materials to encourage employees to take the MyHealth Survey.
If you have additional questions about the report, our programs or would like support in bringing healthier behaviors to your co-op, please contact the well-being team at wellbeingprogram@nreca.coop or 703.907.6237.
1Co-ops in the NRECA Medical Plan received survey results specific to their employees, if more than 35 of their employees responded. To see if your co-op qualified for individualized survey results and to receive the results, email NRECAAdmin@webmd.net.