Q. How will employees qualify for the ChooseWell and Choose to Own Your Health incentives?

A. During the 2010 Open Enrollment, employees will commit to participate in the ChooseWell and Choose to Own Your Health incentive programs.

Employees must then attend a WellFair or release requested biometric measures to KC WELLNESS - the company's single-source health fair provider - obtained from a physical with your personal health care provider, and complete an online Health Risk Assessment in both 2010 and 2011 to receive $200 (if you see a personal care provider, you must release your results to KC WELLNESS in order to qualify for the incentives). An additional $100 will reward you for estimating your general health behavior and incorporating or maintaining healthy lifestyle choices to strive to achieve your individual wellness goals. Some examples of action steps would be to stop tobacco use, lower one's cholesterol, participate in a disease management program, increase physical activity, eat more fiber and lean protein, etc. HRA recommendations and professional coaching from KC WELLNESS health professionals help employees establish realistic goals and take steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

During the 2011 Open Enrollment, employees will self report on whether they have made progress toward their wellness goals.


Q. If I go to my personal health care provider for a comprehensive physical exam between Jan. 1 and April 30, what information will I be required to release to KC WELLNESS in order to be eligible for the ChooseWell Incentive?

A. KC WELLNESS will only collect data from individuals who go to their own health care provider as they do from individuals who attend WellFairs. You will be required to release your name, employee ID, line of business, age, gender, tobacco use, height, weight, blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and blood glucose.


Q. Why does KC WELLNESS collect employee biometric information?

A. KC WELLNESS provides aggregate health data to Corporate Health & Safety for analysis used in the strategic planning of wellness benefits, initiatives and incentives. The data also is used to support the financial investment E.ON U.S. makes each year in offering wellness benefits not only to employees, but retirees and spouses as well. KC WELLNESS does not provide individual results or group results small enough to identify any single employee in a group. All individual results are protected by HIPPA regulations.


Q. How will I get my data to KC WELLNESS? Is it confidential?

A. A link will be place on our Wellness Web site for those employees who want to go to their own health care provider and release their biometric information to KC WELLNESS. The link will take to KC WELLNESS's Web site where you will complete a form including your name, employee ID, mailing address, and phone number. An information packet will be mailed to you from KC WELLNESS with instructions on how to submit your information. All information submitted to KC WELLNESS is confidential and protected by HIPPA regulations. No individual results will be released to anyone, including E.ON U.S.


Q. How will my incentive be distributed and when will I receive it?

A. The $200 ChooseWell and $100 Choose to Own Your Health incentives will be applied to your Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) in July 2011. By placing this money in your flexible spending account, it will allow you to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses (co-pays, prescriptions, etc.) and enjoy a tax break on those costs.


Q. May I carry-over my unused HCRA account funds after Dec. 31, 2011, since the incentives are being deposited in July of 2011?

A. No. The plan does not allow you to receive any unused money left in your account at the end of 2011. This means any of your incentive dollars that are not used before Dec. 31, 2011 are forfeited. Employees are encouraged to plan accordingly, should you want to use your HCRA dollars during that six-month period in the latter half of 2011.


Q. Why are the incentives being paid out over an 18-month period?

A. The incentive payment will be applied to your HCRA after an 18-month period so you have sufficient time to commit to a goal and see the results of your wellness efforts. This allows you time to get your results from a health fair or your personal health care provider, as well as your Health Risk Assessment, and follow up on a suggested regimen. It also allows you to compare two years of health fair data to see if your wellness efforts are making a difference in your biometric measures including blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, glucose levels, and tobacco use.


Q. Why is the incentive payment being applied to my Health Care Reimbursement Account?

A. It is important to understand how our wellness results affect our premiums. As a self-insured company each of our medical claims directly affects the premiums we collectively (the company and employees) pay in subsequent years. Simply stated, better health means better premiums. We've had success with holding our premiums down and excellent results in the ownership employees have taken for their own health. Choose to Own Your Health is designed to promote an overall healthier, happier work force and will continue to support our goal to maintain affordable health care for our employees and create a Culture of Health.


Q. How will employees certify that they have created or maintained steps toward a healthy lifestyle?

A. All employees who agreed to participate in Choose To Own Your Health during 2009 Open Enrollment will report their progress by answering a yes or no question regarding their incorporation of healthy lifestyle behaviors during Open Enrollment in 2010.


Q. What if I'm already maintaining a healthy lifestyle?

A. If you are already taking active steps toward healthy lifestyle, you are still encouraged to review your health habits and HRA recommendations. Then determine where there are areas for improvement or ways you can continue to successfully manage your health. Suggestions and educational material to further improve health habits will be made available through News Transmission, on the wellness Web site and at WellFairs.


Q. Does the Choose to Own Your Health incentive take the place of the ChooseWell incentive?

A. No. Choose to Own Your Health is an addition to the ChooseWell program. The ChooseWell incentive will reward you with $200 for attending WellFairs or having comprehensive physical exams with your personal health care provider and releasing the biometric information to KC WELLNESS and completing an online Health Risk Assessment in both 2010 and 2011. Choose to Own Your Health rewards you with an additional $100 for establishing and working towards achieving your wellness goals.


Q. How do I set goals?

A. The HRA, your personal health care professional and WellFair providers can assist you in recognizing health risks and recommending healthy lifestyle choices to incorporate into your wellness goals. In addition, a tool to assist you in setting goals will be available in a future News Transmission article and will be housed on the wellness site.


Q. Who is eligible for the Choose to Own Your Health incentive?

A. All full-time or regular part-time employees.


Q. If I don't opt to participate in ChooseWell and Choose to Own Your Health incentives during the 2009 Open Enrollment period, but I decide that I want to participate after Open Enrollment is closed, could I still be eligible for the incentives?

A. No. In order to be eligible for the ChooseWell and Choose to Own Your Health incentives, you must commit to participate during the 2009 Open Enrollment period. You are welcome to attend a company WellFair and complete an online Health Risk Assessment in 2010.