Two companies in Maine have recently teamed up to provide an innovative and affordable healthcare plan to employees. The plan not only pays claims but also rewards those in good health with cash incentives.
Enercon Technologies teamed up with Patient Advocates, LLC, both in Gray, Maine, to offer its employees the Maine Healthy Saver Program, a unique, self-insured medical plan available to smaller employers. The program, which started last month at Enercon, had an overwhelming response among employees with 97 percent signing up for the program, said Marc Beaudoin, CFO at Enercon.
According to Beaudoin, the plan includes three health screenings onsite at Enercon per year. The screenings are also available to spouses who are on an employee's family health plan.
"We took a 9 percent savings in signing up with the Maine Healthy Saver Program as opposed to other traditional health plans since there isn't much of a competitive market in Maine," said Beaudoin. "We took that savings and reinvested it in the wellness plan for our employees."
Beaudoin said employees can earn up to $150 at each of the three health screenings in four different components. In addition to receiving a cash incentive just for participating in a screening, participants are also rewarded for meeting a low body mass index, low blood pressure and cholesterol level, and for being tobacco free.
"Employees can earn as much as $450 a year for an individual, or $900 if their spouse participates as well. The average incentive check per employee from the initial screening was $113," he said.
If health screening results point to a medical need, the Patient Advocates nurse conducting the screening will refer the employee (or spouse) for appropriate treatment. If a chronic condition is uncovered, such as diabetes, the employee is put into a disease management program. The nurse will follow up with the participant one week after the screening to answer any questions and ensure that he or she is seeking an appropriate course of treatment.
"The most important thing is we hope our employees get healthier. Some are trying to lose weight now or quitting smoking. Some had underlying issues they were unaware of. It also helps employees become better workers while they are here, as well as an increased morale and satisfaction," said Beaudoin. "We won't see a savings due to this program until the third year we've been using it but it will come. It feels like we are doing something good here."