Participation in the Healthy Rewards Program Predicts Staying Employed, Medical Costs, and Utilization

To identify who is participating in the healthy rewards program (HRP), how participation corresponds with employment, and to compare health care costs and utilization between partial and full participants with non-participants.

A retrospective analysis of employees in a large US company during 2016 to 2019, with statistically significant results reported, adjusted for sex, age, and year.

Women, ages 30 to 59, and those employed in more recent years correspond with higher HRP participation. Participants were 15.7% more likely to remain employed from year to year. Compared with non-participants, partial and full participants experienced $740.43 and $884.07 lower annual costs. If all employees experienced the same health care costs as non-participants, partial participants, and full participants, there would be an 8% increase, 13% decrease, and 17% decrease in costs, respectively.

HRP participation is a marker of interest in healthier living.