Employers Offer Employees Incentives To Promote Improved Health, Reduce Health Care Costs

The Los Angeles Times on Monday examined how a "growing number of U.S. employers and their insurers are enticing workers to stay healthy with prizes, discounted insurance and even cash" to help address "ever-rising health care costs." Some employers and health insurers -- such as Wells Fargo, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, UnitedHealth Group and Blue Shield of California -- have begun to provide employees with incentives -- such as electronics, jewelry and cash for medical savings accounts -- to exercise regularly, quit smoking, reduce cholesterol levels, manage chronic conditions or participate in prevention programs. However, according to experts, whether such incentives lead to reduced health care costs remains unclear (Yi, Los Angeles Times, 3/12).