Nothing motivates like money, or credit.
And Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota this week became the first Minnesota payer to tie a financial incentive to its effort to get members to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Specifically, members have to attain these four goals to get a $100 annual credit:
- Body mass index (BMI) of 25 or less
- Low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) level at or below 130 mmol/L
- Blood pressure less than or equal to 120/80
- No tobacco use
“Our research shows individuals are taking more accountability for their health, and this is a way to reward them for their achievements in a very direct way — reducing their healthcare costs,” said Kathy Dunmire, vice president of product management for Blue Cross, in a news release.
A Deep-dive Into Specialty Pharma
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
The incentive is available to all members with Personal Blue coverage for individuals and families or Healthy Blue coverage, which is a new plan with two deductibles for in-patient and out-patient care. That plan is available July 1.
The move to reward members for maintaining a healthy lifestyle has been gaining ground. Employers and insurance companies now provide a variety of wellness programs by which employees can get movie tickets, hotel stays and other prizes by achieving certain health goals.
