*Photo credit
Today, I have a guest post for you from Brandy over at Busted Budget. Please check out her blog after you’ve finished reading her helpful article about making the most of your employer’s benefits program. If you’re interested in showcasing your work and would like to guest post, please get in touch!
The desire to be healthy and live a balanced life is not a new idea. We, as people, strive to better ourselves physically as we know it will provide benefits in others area of life. It’s no secret that a person in good physical shape will often have more energy, an increased ability to concentrate, and sleep better than those with a more sedentary lifestyle.
While striving for health and wellness, we find ourselves making New Year’s resolutions, joining the local gym, and taking part in the latest diet craze. But, what if we aren’t looking in the right places for help to achieve these goals? Many times, employers will offer benefits to employees that will aide in bettering physical health and wellness. Unfortunately, many people either aren’t aware or don’t participate in these programs.
So, why do employers offer benefits that support better health? For the some of the same reasons we want to be in better health – their employees will likely have more energy and better concentration as a result, which can lead to improved work performance. The programs offered can differ on a vast level. Some may offer discounts. Others may offer money. While I cannot describe each and every wellness incentive out there, I can provide first hand details on those offered by my husband’s employer and mine.
Gym Membership
My employer offers a discount to their on- and off-site fitness centers. The facilities have cardio and strength training equipment, group fitness classes, and free fitness consultations. Most are open 24 hours, which is convenient since we are a 24-hour organization. The group fitness classes offered include yoga, pilates, tabata, zumba, and a variety of aerobics classes. I can also work with a personal trainer at a discounted rate. Yes, it would great if these services were free, but I realize a discount is nothing to scoff at – especially when the cost of a gym membership now can run hundreds of dollars.
Diet Programs
Aside from the internal resources offered to employees such as a personal health coach, a weight management program, and dietician consultations, my employer also partners with Weight Watchers. Through this partnership, I am able to join this popular (and successful) diet program at a 50% discount. I am a big fan of Weight Watchers and recently lost 25 pounds following the program. And I literally pay less than $9 a month for the online services. Personally, this is one of my favorite wellness benefits.
Health Care Premium Discounts
If I meet certain requirements, my employer gives me a discount on my health insurance premiums. First, I have to do a wellness consultation. This basically entails speaking to a person about my current well-being and my future goals. Next, I must complete a barometric screening where they capture my weight, cholesterol, glucose level, blood pressure, abdominal circumference, and BMI. Finally, to receive the discount, I am required to have an annual check-up with my primary care physician. These are all things I should be doing anyway and the best part is what I pay to have them done. Nothing! On top of that, I save almost $400 on my health insurance every year.
Gift Cards
My husband’s employer is pretty awesome in that they offer gift cards when their employees complete a variety of wellness tasks. He is given the choice of participating in coaching calls, well-being assessments, and biometric screenings. There is also an option of completing online items, which includes tracking food, weight, and fitness. He can earn up to $350 in gift cards. So far, he’s earned and we’ve received $250.
I’ve calculated that these benefits alone are saving us over $500 a year. Plus, the $250 we are banking in gift cards. That is a nice chunk of change where I’m concerned. If we hadn’t learned to maximize our employer’s health and wellness benefits, we would be essentially losing money. If the financial benefits aren’t incentive enough to put in the work, well programs are designed to help employees meet their physical health goals. That is a pretty good trade-off if you ask me.
Author Bio: Brandy is a married college graduate in her late-20s living in Ohio with her husband and 3 pets. She is dedicated to paying off their accumulated debt while remembering to squeeze in a little fun here and there. She is working toward this goal by working a full-time and part-time job, while also getting creative along the way. You can follow her journey at Busted Budget.
*Image credit – Flickr
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My company has a fitness center on site, but it is more expensive than the gym around my house ($15 more per month). They do also offer a reimbursement on the Weight Watchers program, but I’m not on the program so I don’t take advantage of that either.
I do, however, take advantage of the free blood test they do every year so I know how my sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels are.
Aldo @ Million Dollar Ninja recently posted…Our Trip To Philly – Part Two
That’s awesome! You definitely have to weigh the benefits so you can pick out which ones are actually deals!
Brandy recently posted…Are You Maximizing Your Employer’s Health & Wellness Benefits?
I think it’s great when companies offer incentives like this, and it’s to everyone’s benefit I think. I would totally take advantage of it if I worked for a company like that.
Tonya@Budget and the Beach recently posted…BATB TV: Tips to Save Money
Yea, it’s sad that some people don’t even know what their company offers. Luckily, mine communicates the incentives pretty well.
Brandy recently posted…Are You Maximizing Your Employer’s Health & Wellness Benefits?
I wish I could get a discount for the gym membership. My old employer used to offer Free Boot Camp classes and Free yoga randomly throughout the month. You just need to sign up.
Ciel Belle recently posted…September 2014 Month-End Recap
Well that’s cool. I’m getting ready to do my first boot camp class and I’m nervous!
Brandy recently posted…Are You Maximizing Your Employer’s Health & Wellness Benefits?
Our employer offers deals at local hotels and statewide resorts, as well as discounts on various cell phone providers. These are pretty nice.
Money Beagle recently posted…Wealth Grows Like A Tree
I love that! It’s like they are encouraging you to take a vacation 🙂
Brandy recently posted…Are You Maximizing Your Employer’s Health & Wellness Benefits?
My company recently changed buildings and they are currently constructing a gym that will be on-site. Our old building used to have one, but I didn’t really take advantage of it. Since I don’t live near work I’d rather work out at home, because I can’t really lift weights on an empty stomach (right after work) and it also means a lot more traffic! I also don’t really want to work out during lunch.
My employer does reimburse $100 a year towards any sort of sport/fitness activity, so I do submit my gym membership for that.
Debt Hater recently posted…September 2014 Budget Review
I wouldn’t want to work out during lunch either! I don’t really like working out anytime, but lunch would be the worst.
Brandy recently posted…Are You Maximizing Your Employer’s Health & Wellness Benefits?
Wow, I never knew employers offered such crazy perks 🙂 I thought I was lucky with our office gym!
Emma Lincoln recently posted…on the road – 3 ways to travel as a couple without going insane
You should look into it! Maybe there’s a discount you never knew about 🙂
Brandy recently posted…Are You Maximizing Your Employer’s Health & Wellness Benefits?
We have a gym on site. We found that only 300 of 3000 use it on a regular basis. They threaten to take it away and the numbers doubled, but it is pretty interesting that you offer something free and no one takes advantage until they hear they might lose it. We do the blood draws as well and find several people every year that don’t know they have diabetes.
Lance @ Healthy Wealthy Income recently posted…Why Are You Afraid to be Rich?
Yikes! I have a strange fear of becoming diabetic. Good thing I get my check up every year!
Brandy recently posted…Are You Maximizing Your Employer’s Health & Wellness Benefits?
My employer offers flex spending…basically you can put pretax dollars in an account and use it for health care expenses. A lot of co-workers I know don’t take advantage of it, but it can save you a good amount of money.
Andrew@LivingRichCheaply recently posted…Versatile Blogger Award
Nice ! I don’t use our flexible spending account, but I do use our health savings account, which basically helps supplement the cost the the high deductible plan.
Brandy recently posted…Guest Post: Saving Money While Holiday Gift Giving
This was a perk of my last job. They offered free wellness like gym memberships.
Michelle recently posted…September Income Recap
I never utilized my gym membership enough because I prefer to workout outside even though it is a gym right on my work premises! I really need to think about giving it a go again for this winter season, although lately I’ve been working from home a lot.
debs @ debtdebs recently posted…Debtity-do-da! – Debt Repayment Plans
We get a health ‘rebate’ from work worth up to £360 ($580) per year to go towards either gym membership or gym/exercise equipment if people prefer to work out at home. The company also negotiates ‘corporate rates’ at various local gyms so people get a choice of which gym to use.
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