Healthy Boiler incentives for 2019 in reach with two simple steps

The first year of the Healthy Boiler Wellness Program ended Sept. 30, 2018, with 6,143 individuals enrolled (employees and spouses) and more than $60,000 paid to those individuals as incentives earned. As Purdue prepares for 2019, it is important to remember some things about the 2019 Healthy Boiler program.

The 2019 program officially launched Oct. 1, 2018, which means if an employee had their annual physical and biometrics screening after Oct. 1, they have already completed the objectives to earn incentives for 2019. Those who have not yet had their annual physical and biometrics screening still have plenty of time to do so and earn incentives.

As a reminder, the 2019 Healthy Boiler Wellness Program runs from Oct. 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2019. All benefits-eligible employees and spouses covered on a Purdue medical plan have the opportunity to earn $325 (employee-only coverage) or $650 (employee plus spouse, employee plus child or employee plus family coverage) by having an annual physical and biometrics screening done in that time frame. All participants need to do, if they haven’t already, is schedule an appointment with their primary care provider to start the process, which will not only benefit their physical and mental wellness but will benefit their financial wellness, too. 

“For 2019 we decided to focus on the two things that provide the best foundation for our employees in regards to their health -- a physical and biometrics screening,” says Candace Shaffer, director of benefits in Human Resources. “The information obtained during that appointment gives our employees information and data so they know where they stand health-wise and can make decisions based on that information in regards to their overall health and wellness.”

In other words, an annual physical and accompanying biometrics data will provide the patient and their primary care provider -- whether that be a physician or a nurse practitioner -- the opportunity for early detection if applicable, education, prevention measures, tips on how to manage any conditions they may have and helpful insight on how to help lower their medical bills.

The provider screening form (available for download from the Healthy Boiler portal under the Earn tab at the top of the page) asks for the following biometric screening information:

* Current body weight
* Height
* Body mass index (BMI)
* Systolic blood pressure (top number)
* Diastolic blood pressure (bottom number)
* LDL cholesterol level
* A1c (blood test that provides glucose levels over a two- to three-month period)

The portal is accessible at www.healthyboiler.com. Employees and covered spouses will need to register to access the site. Employees must register and log in first in order to allow spousal access to the site.

For those who do not have a primary care provider they regularly see, keep in mind the Center for Healthy Living on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus is a health care resource they can access. Any of the primary health providers at the center are available and welcome new patients.

Incentive payments for 2019 will be made on a quarterly basis (January, April, July and October) through the employee’s health savings account or health reimbursement account. For those employees who have HSAs, payments for both the employee and spouse will be deposited directly to the employee’s HSA. Employees without an HSA will receive payments to an HRA account.

Protections from disclosure of medical information

Purdue University and the Center for Healthy Living are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of employees' personally identifiable health information. Medical information that personally identifies individuals that is provided in connection with the wellness program will not be provided to supervisors or managers and may never be used to make decisions regarding employment. All medical information obtained through the wellness program will be maintained separate from personnel records, information stored electronically will be encrypted and no information provided as part of the wellness program will be used in making any employment decision. The full disclosure can be viewed on Page 2 of the Provider Screening Form needed for the biometric screening; it is available on the Healthy Boiler Wellness portal as referenced above.

More information

To stay up-to-date on all things Healthy Boiler, visit the Healthy Boiler Portal, follow the Healthy Boiler Purdue blog and follow Healthy Boiler on social media:

* LinkedIn
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Any questions on the Healthy Boiler Wellness Program can be directed to Human Resources at 765-494-2222, toll-free at 877-725-0222 or via email at hr@purdue.edu.