HEALTH & WELLNESS

Progressive gets physically (and fiscally) fit with HealthyU

When Tampa Claims Supervisor Katy Thorry graduated from college and joined Progressive six years ago, she was still wearing her Freshman 15. I had put on some weight in college and wanted to lose it, says Katy. Im a very social person and wanted to join a program with people I knew and worked with. When I heard about Weight Watchers at Work, I signed up right away. Katy started using the Weight Watchers point system, adding points according to what she ate and subtracting points according to her physical activity. It was simple, really. And doing it at work made it easierand more fun. Id be in the break room making my lunch, and other Weight Watchers friends would come in and share tips or food suggestions, says Katy. Or wed see each other in the hallway and encourage each other or celebrate how much weight wed lost. To date, Katy has lost 55 pounds on Weight Watchers and continues to keep it off. And now, people like Katy can celebrate even more than their fitness achievements. They can celebrate all the cash theyll get back with fitness reimbursements from HealthyU.

Working out at fitness centers and completing Weight Watchers programs now have an added benefit: extra money in your pocket.

HealthyU pays U back

As of August 1, Progressives HealthyU program is reimbursing employees for:

Successfully completing a Weight Watchers course at work or in their area

If you achieve: 5 percent weight loss 15 percent weight loss or free Weight Watchers lifetime membership for reaching healthy target weight Youll be reimbursed for: 50 percent of the program cost 100 percent of the program cost $200 per year $200 per year Up to:

How to apply
Whenever you complete a Weight Watchers course: 1. Complete an online application. 2. Print out a validation form for your program leader to sign. Fax the signed form to the HR Service Center at 1-888-235-2058. 3. Youll be reimbursed in 2012.

Working out at any fitness center

If you attend: 150+ times per year (about three times per week)* 200+ times per year (about four times per week) Youll be reimbursed for: 50 percent of the membership cost 100 percent of the membership cost $130 $260 per year Up to:

*Or at least 60 visits between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31, 2011.

How to apply
After December 31, 2011: 1. Complete an online application. 2. Fax documentation (e.g., receipts, attendance reports) of your membership cost and completed workout sessions to the HR Service Center at 1-888-235-2058. You dont need to fax this documentation if youre a member of a Progressive Fitness Center. 3. Other workouts, such as running or biking, can count toward this incentive. You just have to track these workouts through fitness applications on your smartphone or other devices with GPS, heart-rate monitoring or pedometers. Fax reports from these tracking devices to the HR Service Center with your other documentation. 4. Youll be reimbursed within two pay periods.
(cont. on next page)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

(cont. from previous page)

Live well, pay less

The mission of HealthyU is to improve the health of our people and, over time, the health of our company by lowering the cost of medical claims, says Pam Sraeel, senior manager of Benefits Services. The less we pay for preventable medical claims, the more we can invest in attracting and keeping customers. About 70 percent of chronic conditions and diseaseswhich make up a significant portion of Progressives medical claimsare linked to behavior and health habits, notes Pam. Theyre preventable, controllable or modifiable, she says. So, theres no question that driving our people to make better lifestyle choices will make a difference for our company.

Like personal training for free

Since HealthyU incentives began in August, active membership utilization at the Cleveland Fitness Center alone is up over 35 percent. This kind of engagement is really exciting, says Sara Bedrossian, exercise specialist. People are really motivated. With the money they can get back, its like getting some personal training or group sessions for free. At the Austin Fitness Center, Aimee Hartwick, HR consultant, has been working with personal trainer Henry Eliperia two to three times a week. Henrys helped me lose 30 pounds, says Aimee. Not only does he inspire me physically, hes a great resource for nutrition advice. To accelerate her weight loss, Aimee joined Weight Watchers in August. Two months later, shes lost another 11 pounds. I feel great both physically and mentally. I have more energy, says Aimee. And, thanks to HealthyU, Ill get hundreds of dollars back for doing it.