U.S. firms offer cash for healthier habits

WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- To reduce healthcare costs, U.S. employers are offering cash of up to $600 as an incentive to adopt healthier habits, a trade association official says.

"More than three out of four major employers are using health and wellness programs in an effort to rein in costs that continue to soar year after year," John Engler, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Manufacturers, said in a statement.

"But trinkets and T-shirts aren't enough to motivate employees for the long term. Employers are keenly interested in innovative ways to lower costs and enhance productivity. Incentives are proving an effective tool to engage employees and keep them interested in these programs."

The survey of 225 major U.S. companies, conducted by the ERISA Industry Committee, the National Association of Manufacturers and IncentOne Inc., finds a wide range in the value of incentives offered for a host of programs. For instance, incentives for weight management programs range from $5 to $500, and for smoking cessation programs from $5 to $600.

The average value of incentives per person per year range between $100 and $300, with an overall average of $192 per person per year, the survey said.