Updates to the 2018 Wellness Program

See Step 1 for clarification about the office visit requirement

The goal of the wellness program is to improve the health of employees by encouraging employees to:

• Build relationships with primary care physicians;
• Utilize wellness and preventive exams
• Reduce and end tobacco use

What is the 2019 Wellness Program Incentive?

The wellness incentive opportunity for 2019 continues to be as follows:

• Classic Plan: Reduce your medical plan out-of-pocket expense maximum from:
• $5250 to $3,850 for single coverage
• $10,500 to $7,700 for family coverage

• Health Savings Plan: An employer contribution of $90 to the Health Savings Account.

• Premier Plan:  Reduce your medical plan out-of-pocket expense maximum from:
• $3,000 to $2,500 for single coverage
• $6,000 to $5,000 for family coverage

How will the 2019 Wellness Program Work?

To qualify for the 2019 wellness incentive, *employees covered on UA insurance should complete two simple steps:

1. Complete a qualified office visit with an in-network provider between November 1, 2017, and November 1, 2018. 
   You do not have to provide any information regarding a qualifying office visit to the benefits area of the Human Resources Department.  UMR will provide a file to us that will confirm whether or not you had a qualifying office visit during these dates.

2. Complete the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge and Notice during Open Enrollment
   • Non-users pledge to continue to remain tobacco-free.
   • Tobacco users commit to enroll in and complete a tobacco cessation program in 2019.
   • Human Resources is working with BASIS programming in hopes that employees can complete their Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge using the on-line webBASIS Annual Benefits Enrollment process.   More information will be sent on how to enroll. 

*While covered spouses and children are encouraged to take advantage of preventive care coverage and to stop using tobacco products, only the covered employee must complete the required steps in order to qualify for the wellness reductions for 2019.

Details for Step 1: Complete a qualified wellness program visit between November 1, 2017 and November 1, 2018.

You must visit an in-network provider (excluding Dermatologist, Allergist, Podiatrist, Ophthalmologist, or Optometrist)for a qualified wellness visit. There is no form to complete and no need to contact UMR to report your visit. UMR will use claims data to confirm your visit.   

What is a Qualified Office Visit? 

For 2019, a qualified office visit includes preventive exams or screenings, any visit for treatment of a condition or diagnosis, or to manage a chronic disease.

A qualified visit includes any office visit received from an in-network Primary Care provider (Family, General, Geriatrics, or Internal Medicine) or Specialist (Cardiologist, OB/GYN, Oncologist, Gastroenterologist, Endocrinologist, Hematologist, Pulmonologist, Nephrologist, Infectious Disease, or Rheumatologist).

• If you have had an office visit since November 1, 2017, you have already completed Step 1.
• If you have not had a visit, schedule your office visit now to make sure it is completed before November 1, 2018.
• If you are not sure you have completed a visit, log in to the UMR web portal at umr.com to review your claims and confirm your visit. 

Details for Step 2: Complete the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge and Notice during Open Enrollment or pay a $50 monthly tobacco surcharge

What is the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge and Notice?

Non-users must complete the pledge and agree to continue to remain tobacco-free. Tobacco users will commit to enroll in and complete a recognized tobacco cessation program in 2019.

How to complete the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge and Notice?

Human Resources will send future communications when we have confirmation about how employees will complete the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge.  The period to take the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge will be 11/1/2018-11/30/2018.

What is a recognized tobacco cessation program? 

Research shows that the best way for people to quit smoking is through evidence-based smoking cessation programs. In order to expand cessation program use and ultimately decrease tobacco use, several programs that provide tobacco cessation services or one-on-one counseling are available including:  

• UMR's Tobacco-free 4 Life Program
• The Pat Walker Health Center
• UA Little Rock Health Services Center
• UAMS Smoking Cessation Program  
• The National Cancer Institute Quitline
• The American Cancer Society Quit for Life
• 1-800-Quit Now
• The American Lung Association - Freedom from Smoking
• Arkansas Stamp out Smoking

What is the Tobacco Surcharge?

In support of the University's tobacco-free efforts, a monthly $50 tobacco surcharge will be charged to you if you are enrolled in a University health plan and you:

• Do not complete the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge and Notice or
• Do not agree to enroll in a tobacco cessation program.

 If you are assessed the surcharge, you will pay it with after-tax payroll deductions. The surcharge will be deducted from your pay—it will not be an addition to your health premium.

 The surcharge will apply for the entire 2019 calendar year. However, if you don't complete the Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge and Notice or don't enroll in a tobacco cessation program by November 30, 2018, you will have the opportunity to submit an updated Tobacco/Nicotine Pledge and Notice or enroll in a tobacco cessation program by July 1, 2019. If you do so, you won't be charged the $50 surcharge from July 1 through December 31, 2019.

 *You may choose to participate in the tobacco-free/tobacco cessation program to avoid the $50 tobacco surcharge without completing an wellness qualified exam and without earning the wellness incentive.  

Contact Human Resources at hrbenf@uark.edu or 479-575-5151 if you have any questions.