By Karen E. Butler, Marketing & Communication
According to a 2022 poll by YouGov, almost 40% of Americans said they made a New Year’s resolution or goal in 2023. However, research shows only 9% of Americans who set resolutions saw them to completion. Experts advise that we set goals that are challenging but ones that can be completed in achievable steps—enabling us to stay engaged while celebrating small wins.
UnitedHealthcare Motion and Cigna Health & Wellness Incentive Awards do just that. They are programs that reward members with cash credits for taking small, achievable steps toward better health and wellness.
“I signed up because—what’s not to love,” says Rita Silver, Northeast Account Manager, who walks several times a day to meet her fitness goals. “I get rewards to move around. It’s a win-win.”
The UnitedHealthcare Motion incentive program looks to boost its members’ well-being by rewarding participants with $3 per day for meeting specific goals. The Cigna program provides awards, including cash, when participating members complete specific medical and health-related activities.
Healthcare providers say that walking is perhaps one of the easiest ways to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Just 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days per week has been shown to help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels, maintain body weight and enhance mental well-being.
So, how much activity does it take to earn the daily rewards available through Motion? Motion grades by Frequency, Intensity, and Tenacity (FIT) goals. When achieved, these goals result in cash awards mailed quarterly:
- Frequency: 500 steps in seven minutes, six times a day at least one hour apart = $1
- Intensity: 3,000 steps in 30 minutes = $1
- Tenacity: 10,000+ total daily steps = $1
The UHC program awards participants with a $55 credit upon registration. The credit is just enough to purchase a compatible activity tracker from the UHC Motion website and app. Rewards, deposited quarterly, can be used later to reimburse participants for eligible medical expenses.
“I feel so much more energetic since I started walking on a regular basis,” shares Rita. “I average about 10,000 or 11,000 steps every day. I encourage others to check out Motion or any other health incentive program. Many of us have sedentary jobs so moving is essential to our health and well-being.”
Cigna Health and Wellness includes a Healthy Pregnancies program, Healthy Babies program and a Lifestyle Management program by which members can access a health coach, online or by phone, to get personalized support if weight, tobacco use or stress is affecting their ability to live an active life.
This time, ring in the New Year with an achievable resolution—a resolution to move more in 2024. UnitedHealthcare Motion is ready to help you take the next step to better health and sweet monetary rewards. To learn more and to register, visit unitedhealthcaremotion.com. To learn more about Cigna’s Health & Wellness programs, visit cigna.com/members.