Only 37% of Wellness Plans Have Smoking Cessation Programs, HealthMine Survey Finds

DALLAS, May 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As the federal government and behavioral economists zero in on smoking cessation in light of growing usage and health concerns, a recent HealthMine survey of 750 wellness program participants indicates that only 37% say smoking cessation programs are included in their plan. Even in plans that do include quit smoking programs, 87% said they need an incentive, or they would be unlikely to complete the program. As new findings show that combining a penalty with a reward can double success rates for smoking cessation, HealthMine found that only 32% of wellness program enrollees say their program includes any incentives for smoking cessation.

Plan members support both incentives and disincentives for smoking cessation: 63% of consumers think colleagues that smoke tobacco products should pay more for health insurance, while 48% of consumers think that e-cigarette smokers should be penalized, HealthMine uncovered in its January Health Plan Member Survey.

But as use of e-cigarettes has drastically increased, tripling among teens between 2013 and 2014, and as new research shows that smoking tobacco may be even more risky than previously believed, wellness programs may not be doing all they can to address this hazardous habit for their members; only 37% of wellness program participants say a smoking cessation program is included in their wellness plan.

Said Bryce Williams, president and CEO of HealthMine, "Health plan sponsors could do a whole lot more to help people quit smoking than they do now. Wellness incentives and disincentives—when personalized and matched carefully to recommended health actions—can play a powerful role in helping members address smoking—the largest cause of preventable death in the US."

About the Survey
The HealthMine Wellness Program Member Survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) on April 1-12, 2015. Data were collected via an opt-in panel of 750 consumers in a wellness program. The margin of error is 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 37 Years.

Key Results Below:

Are smoking cessation programs included in your wellness plan?

Are you likely to complete a smoking cessation program without an incentive?

Does your program offer incentives for smoking cessation?

About HealthMine
HealthMine, a leading consumer health engagement company, has developed the wellness industry's first and only Personal Clinical Engagement technology platform. HealthMine empowers individuals to make meaning of their health information by automatically collecting clinical data, identifying risk for chronic disease, and setting health goals. Making it easy for consumers to manage their own health, HealthMine provides a personalized health portal available on any device, and delivers tailored recommendations, resources and incentives. HealthMine has more than one million users, and has saved employers and payers more than $100 million in healthcare costs. The company, founded in 2008, is based in Dallas, Texas with offices in San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis.

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SOURCE HealthMine

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