The Vitality Group's New Prize Drawing Drives Engagement in Wellness Program

CHICAGO, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vitality Group, developer of an incentive-based health and wellness program, launched The Vitality Jackpot™, an opportunity for employee members active in the Vitality™ program to win prizes ranging from movie tickets and iTunes gift cards to HD camcorders, Wii Active systems, LCD televisions and vacation packages. The Vitality Jackpot™ complements other Vitality incentive models, such as variable healthcare premium contributions, travel and merchandise rewards, and charitable contributions to support and motivate participation in the Vitality program.

"Key to the success of wellness programs is to get members to participate and remain engaged in healthy behaviors that benefit their long-term health," said Arthur C. Carlos, president and CEO, The Vitality Group. "The Jackpot model is designed to encourage individuals to commit to a wellness program. The more they engage, the higher status level they achieve – enabling them to be eligible for more robust prizes."

Respected for its expertise and innovation in designing health and wellness programs with effective incentives, The Vitality Group developed the Vitality Jackpot based on recent research that suggests prize drawings can be a powerful tool in motivating individuals to participate.

"The intention to take care of my health was always there," said Mary Ann Rudersdorf, a Vitality member through her employer Aspirus and winner of an Apple MacBook. "However the Vitality program provided me with the motivation to refocus on my health after I learned that my cholesterol was high. I returned to running, adopted a healthier diet and lost 30 pounds. Vitality Bucks and the Jackpot provided the extra encouragement and motivation, but nothing is more beneficial to me than my improved health."

The Vitality Jackpot

The Jackpot is open to all employee members who are active in the Vitality program. Each month, all members, regardless of status, are automatically entered and eligible to win. The member's Vitality Status determines the prize they win. In addition, only a person that has completed their health risk assessment (HRA) for that year will be able to claim their prize. The winner will be given one month to complete their HRA and a total of six weeks from the drawing to claim their prize.

The Vitality Jackpot was kicked off in February and each month, 100 prizes will be awarded. The winners at the different status levels will be able to select their choice of prizes.

Every six months, a grand prize winner will be selected among all active and registered employees who have reached the Silver, Gold and Platinum Vitality Status®. The first grand prize will be awarded on May 3, 2010 and the winner will receive a trip for two to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and a safari.

How Vitality Works

Accessed online, the Vitality program begins with a Health Risk Assessment that identifies relative risk factors for each member and provides them with their Vitality Age™. This is a scientifically calculated representation of their risk-adjusted or "true" age, allowing each member to easily understand how their current behaviors are impacting their health. Additionally, each member is presented with a Personal Pathway™, or a personalized set of activities and goals to assist them in improving their health. This provides a verifiable and clinically sound mechanism to track and reward more than 30 health-related activities including exercising, achieving health goals such as losing weight or stopping smoking, receiving routine preventive care, such as a prostate exam or mammogram, and participating in health education program. Members are incentivized for their participation throughout the program and earn Vitality Bucks™, redeemable for merchandise on the Vitality Mall.

About The Vitality Group

The Vitality Group is a member of Discovery Holdings Limited, a leading international financial services institution founded on the principles of consumer engagement and wellness and the originator of the Vitality health promotion program. Vitality wellness programs serve more than 1.7 million members in companies in a wide range of sizes and industry categories, improving individuals' health and well-being as well as employers' and health plans' bottom lines. Early adopters in the United States include some of America's most forward-thinking companies. They join global organizations in the United Kingdom and South Africa who together are proving the effectiveness of the Vitality health enhancement solution in reducing healthcare costs. www.thevitalitygroup.com

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Arthur Carlos

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SOURCE The Vitality Group