Financial Incentives and Employer-Sponsored Health Activities

To understand how employer-sponsored incentives and participant-level characteristics drive health activity engagement.

Multivariable hierarchical logistic regression models evaluated 283,365 individuals eligible for incentives through health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts, health incentive accounts, gift cards, and other means, and estimated log odds of (1) completing a health survey; (2) participating in a biometric screening; (3) attaining a biometric target; (4) participating in a weight loss program; undergoing (5) breast, (6) colorectal, or (7) cervical cancer screening.

Larger incentives were associated with higher odds of participating in biometric screenings only (2% higher for every $25). Obesity, tobacco use, and lack of primary care were associated with lower odds.

Employers may wish to tailor incentive plans to the unique characteristics and needs of their populations to better drive participation in sponsored health activities.