Main Office
1212 Court St NE
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-763-3800
Fax: 503-763-3900
Claims Office
PO Box 1469
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
Phone: 503-763-3875
Fax: 503-763-3901
Legal Office
280 Liberty St SE
Suite 206
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-779-1070
Fax: 503-779-2716
CIS is a member service of the League of Oregon Cities and Association of Oregon Counties
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Public employers (and private employers as well) have seen health care costs skyrocket
over the past few years—and sometimes it seems there is no end in sight.
King County has decided to do something about it. Their new Healthy Incentives
program is part of an ambitious program to save the county significant amounts of
money on health care costs—and improve the health of employees at the same time.
The program gives incentives for employees and their spouses/domestic partners to
take ownership of their health. The goals of the program are to:
- improve the health of employees and their families,
- encourage employees to make healthy life changes, and
- reduce the rate of growth of medical plan costs by one-third—targeted to save the
county $40 million between 2007 and 2009.
Employees and spouses/domestic partners will have the opportunity to complete a
wellness assessment in 2006, and by doing do, lower their out-of-pocket medical
costs beginning in 2007. The amount of participation determines the expense level
(bronze, silver or gold). While participation is voluntary, employees and their
adult partners who complete and follow an action plan will be eligible for the lowest
level of out-of-pocket medical costs. (Health coverage and benefits are the same
across all three levels.)
Here’s how the three-tier incentive system will work:
Bronze level—highest cost to employees: no participation
in the health-risk assessment.
Silver level: employee must fill out a health-risk assessment and
follow at least one healthy habit (see example below).
Gold level—lowest cost to employee: employee must fill
out a health-risk assessment, complete a personalized action plan (for example,
eat healthier or exercise more), and follow at least two healthy habits (see example
below).
Possible examples of healthy habits:
- Driving within 5 miles of the speed limit
- Walking 30 minutes three times a week
- Using sunscreen when outside for more than 30 minutes
- Wearing a helmet when skiing or riding a bicycle or motorcycle
For more information about the Healthy Incentives program,
contact Kerry Schaefer at King County,
kerry.schaefer@metrokc.gov.
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