Community Hospital s Annual Health Assessment And Wellness Discount Program for 2015 Frequently Asked Questions 1. What s the next step for the It s My Life wellness program? Community Hospital is eager to help you make the lifestyle changes you need to improve your overall health and well-being. We want to help you reach your full health potential. This is one of our strategic intents and is an investment in your future, in your health, and in the cost of healthcare for you and the hospital. Like previous years, all employees are invited and encouraged to participate in Know Your Numbers and the online health assessment. For the third year, we are excited to offer employees and spouses/registered domestic partners covered on the health plan the opportunity to save up to $420 each ($840 per couple) on annual health insurance premiums by participating in the Wellness Discount program. NOTE: Participation in all wellness program activities must be done on off-duty time, before or after work, during your meal break, or from your home computer. 2. What is the Wellness Discount Program? The Wellness Discount Program offers both covered employees and spouses/registered domestic partners on the health plan the opportunity to save up to $420 each ($840 per couple) on annual health insurance premiums for completing three simple steps by December 1, 2014. Once all three steps have been completed, a discount per pay period will be applied after requirements have been verified by Wellness and Health. 3. When do I start receiving my health insurance discount? To qualify for the discount, all three steps must be completed by December 1, 2014. The discount will be applied per pay period starting January 2015. 4. I attended Know Your Numbers last year, why should I attend this year? Know Your Numbers and the online health assessment offer a comprehensive picture of your current health status and allow you to monitor your health from year to year. It is important to have current information since achieving and sustaining good health is a continuous process and a lot can change even in a few months. 5. I am a per-diem employee, can I participate? Yes. Know Your Numbers and the online health assessment are open to all active employees. There is no charge for the screenings and blood work. The Wellness Discount Program is only available to covered employees and spouses/registered domestic partners on the hospital s group health plan.
6. What is the 3-step process? o Step 1: Know Your Numbers screenings (biometrics) Participate in a screening for fasting blood sugar and cholesterol (lipid panel), blood pressure, body composition, and waist circumference. o Step 2: Online health assessment The assessment will be available to take starting October 6, 2014 it may be done from your home computer or from a computer in your work area when you are not working (before/after work, lunch break or rest periods). Dedicated computers for taking the health assessment will also be available in the Café in October. If you have trouble locating a computer to complete the assessment, contact your director, or call Wellness and Health at 625-4646. o Step 3: Satisfy 4 squares on the wellness grid (squares must be from different wellness categories) The wellness categories are; blood pressure, body composition, cholesterol, fasting glucose, and tobacco and nicotine free. 7. Can I attend a class to qualify? Yes, an approved healthy lifestyle course or program can be used to satisfy the blood pressure, body composition, cholesterol, or fasting glucose category. One course cannot be used to satisfy two categories. A list of approved classes and programs are available on the intranet. Only courses completed September 2012 and after can be used to qualify. 8. If I am still tobacco free, can I sign another affidavit to satisfy the tobacco free category? Yes, as long as you sign and submit another affidavit by December 1, 2014. This year you have to be both tobacco and nicotine free. 9. I am enrolled in Life Connections (LC) can I use this to qualify? Yes, Life Connections can be used to satisfy each coached category (blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and/or coronary artery disease) as long as you are actively participating in LC coaching. For the first time, we are offering a new benefit to first-time LC enrollees and re-enrollees that never completed classes. As long as the required classes are completed for at least 1 track by December 1, 2014 and the first coaching session begins by March 31, 2015, no squares are required to get the $420 benefit. If LC is used as the only way to qualify for the 2015 premium discount, enrollees must continue to follow the LC program requirements through out the year to maintain the 2015 premium discount benefit. 10. How do I check my discount status? When you complete your online health assessment on the Trale website you will be able to check your discount status on the same website. Completed classes/programs If you are using a completed class to qualify, you must submit the course you complete on the Trale website for verification by Wellness and Health. To check your status following a course submission, log in to the Trale website with your user name and password. *NOTE: It may take up to 10 business days for verified course data to be reflected on your status page.
11. Will the requirements be the same next year? No. It is anticipated that the requirements for the Wellness Discount Program will change from year to year. 12. When will all this happen and how long does it take? An event schedule is posted on the intranet and you will also receive a schedule at home. o Step 1: Know Your Numbers, September 3-25 (refer to calendar for dates); takes about 20 minutes, but allow 30 minutes in case there is a short wait. Phlebotomists will be at each event, so arrive fasting. o Step 2: Online Assessment, October 6-November 12; allow 15-20 minutes to complete the assessment. Remember, you can do this from home if you choose. o Step 3: Satisfy 4 of 18 squares on the wellness grid, starting now and by December 1, 2014. 13. Are children, spouses, domestic partners, or volunteers eligible? At this time, spouses/registered domestic partners covered on the health plan can participate in the program. 14. If my coverage begins on January 1, 2015 will I be eligible for the discount? Yes, as long as you complete all of the program requirements by December 1, 2014 and submit required enrollment paperwork to Payroll and Benefits by not later than September 18, 2014. 15. Can my covered spouses/registered domestic partner attend any of the listed events? Yes, spouses/registered domestic partners can attend any of the events on the calendar including those in the Terrace Café conference rooms. You can attend together or they can also attend on their own. 16. Will I get time off work to complete the assessment? No. All phases of the program need to be completed on your own time. 17. I just went to the doctor recently and lab work was part of my exam. Can I use this information in place of attending a Know Your Numbers event? Only lab work from a CHOMP lab drawn within the last 6 months (March 1, 2014 or after) that includes a fasting blood sugar and cholesterol (lipid panel) can be used. Additional biometrics including blood pressure, height, weight, body composition, and waist circumference must be collected at a KYN screening. Labs and biometrics from outside facilities cannot be used. 18. Can I go to the lab to get my blood work drawn? No. You can only have your blood drawn at a KYN event. 19. What if I forgot to fast and I planned to attend a KYN event? You can still attend the event and complete the other parts of the screening (i.e. blood pressure, Height, weight, body composition, waist circumference and checkout) as long as you return no later than three days later to have your blood drawn at another KYN screening event. Check the event schedule carefully to be sure you can return to another event within 3 days.
20. Once my blood and measurements have been collected, what happens to the information? All of the data collected at the Know Your Numbers events is HIPAA protected. It will be transmitted in a secure file to Trale so your data is incorporated into your personalized health assessment report. The data collected and your report are HIPAA protected. Wellness and Health will run group reports and only group data will be shared. 21. What is the purpose of a group report? Health assessment group reports are essential in wellness program planning and help identify health promotion opportunities that can assist in improving the overall health of the group, while also promoting prevention. 22. What if I cannot attend a scheduled Know Your Numbers event or complete the online assessment? You will have another opportunity to participate next year, and you will still have access to the hospital s wellness programs through out the year. 23. Who will be conducting the Know You Numbers events? The events will be staffed by Wellness and Health assisted by phlebotomists, Maxim nurses (outside contractor), and additional staff. 24. Will I need to fast before having my blood work drawn? Yes. You will need to fast for 12 hours prior to having your blood drawn. It is OK to drink water and take medication during the 12 hours. It is not advisable to exercise while fasting. 25. Do I need to make an appointment? No. All events are on a first come-first served basis. 26. Who will see my biometric and health information? Your information is HIPAA protected and will not be shared without your consent. It cannot be shared with future employers, insurance companies, the group health plan, your supervisor or director or anyone without your written consent. 27. If I lose my health assessment results, can I obtain them again? Yes. Your results will be stored and protected by Trale. By logging on, you can regain access to your results and personal report and have the opportunity to compare your results from year to year. 28. Is this program mandatory? No. Participation is voluntary. 29. Will insurance deductibles be affected by the results? No. 30. How can I access the online health assessment? Once you have completed Step 1: Know Your Numbers, in September, you will be given instructions on how to create an account and complete the online assessment in October. The web link and log in information will be provided when you attend a Know Your Numbers event. 31. What if I have trouble with logging on? Contact Wellness and Health Monday through Friday from 8a-4:30p at (831) 625-4646.
32. What will I get from participating? It is important to take ownership of your health. If you are unaware of your current health, you won t be able to make changes to improve your quality of life. By participating, you will learn more about your current health, and you will have the opportunity to participate in activities and programs designed to improve your overall wellness picture. 33. Can I obtain a copy of my lab work? Yes, your lab work results will be available only on the Trale website in October. If you participated last year, we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to compare last year to this year. Copies of lab work collected at Know Your Numbers are not available from the CHOMP lab. 34. Can you fax a copy of my lab work to my physician of choice? No, however you can print a copy of your results on the Trale website and present it to your physician. 35. If I have general questions about this and other wellness programming, who should I contact? Contact Wellness and Health at (831) 625-4646.