Companies offer financial incentives to improve health

Receptionist Collette Menchaca spends most of her day sitting at her desk in the lobby of Fowler, White, Boggs, a law firm in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

"I actually refer to my desk as a ball and chain," she said.

But at least once a day, Menchaca and a group of her colleagues break away and take to the stairs.

Their impromptu workout was inspired by financial rewards for employees to take the initiative to get healthier.

"We wanted to involve the consumer, our employees, more in their health care," said Deborah Brewer, Director of Human Resources at the firm.

Brewer said the company looked at their benefit plans from more of a health management stand point than illness management.

"One of the things we've done is we've increased our preventive coverage so the basic screenings are covered 100%," said Brewer. "We want people to go in for their screenings so that through early detection they can take action through lifestyle changes."

"If you'll pardon the pun, it's infectious in a good way," said attorney Steven Marcus.

Through the company's wellness reimbursement fund, employees can get $300 per year to use on things like fitness equipment and vitamin supplements.

Employees can also reduce their health care premium by up to $100 a month by meeting or exceeding a serious of monthly health screenings.

"If they don't meet all of them they can at least meet a portion of that and that really puts the focus on where we want the thinking to go," said Brewer.

Marcus said the incentives have helped his bottom-line and his waistline.

"I've lost 15 pounds and my cholesterol is much lower, probably the lowest it's been in 20 years," he said.

Menchaca too has lost weight and feels better, even while facing a battle with breast cancer.

"I hope what I'm doing is helping the firm get more people on the same program," she said.

Several other South Florida employers have jumped on the healthcare incentive bandwagon.

Baptist Health offers free 24/7 gyms at work and discounted low-fat meals in the cafeteria.

Florida, Power and Light offers a $5 biweekly reduction in healthcare costs for non-smokers and Ryder Systems will be starting a wellness initiative in 2012 with rewards of up to $300 for participating in programs that offer pre-diabetes and diabetics counseling, nutrition advice, and fitness classes.