Return on investment, meet value on investment.
That’s the preferred terminology of Stuart Slutzky, chief of product innovation for Humana Vitality, the health insurer’s wellness and incentive program for members.
Value on investment is about more than just the financial bottom line, Slutzky explained Wednesday to at the Fitbit Captivate road show in Chicago. Health and lifestyle improvement matter.
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“We’ve seen a significant reduction in hospitalizations for people engaged in wellness activities,” Slutzky said of a targeted wellness effort for Humana employees. The benefits of engagement compound over time, particularly among those with lifestyle-related chronic conditions, he noted, showing data Humana has compiled.
More than anything, companies trying to keep employees healthy and rein in healthcare costs need to built and promote a “culture of wellness,” according to Slutzky. Still, though, employees need a reason to participate in wellness programs. “Rewards are what ultimately get people over those hurdles,” Slutzky said.
Vitality does have a points system to provide rewards, but it also has a noneconomic motivator: Vitality Age, Humana’s name for an age corresponding to health status and life expectancy. “Now people have a metric that means something to them,” Slutzky said. “As I make positive changes to my health, I see my Vitality Age coming down.”
That often is the value employees and plan sponsors alike are looking for.