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VADA Insurance Trust “JUMP START TO BETTER HEALTH” Employee Wellness Program VADA members who have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont medical insurance through VADA Insurance Trust are eligible to participate in the VADA “Jump Start to Better Health” wellness program. The VADA Insurance Trust is committed to improve and promote the health and health awareness of our membership by providing programs and education which are supportive of healthier lifestyles for individual members. Our goal is to positively impact medical premiums for our membership by sponsoring and promoting health awareness and wellness programs. The “Jump Start to Better Health” program includes fitness and weight loss challenges, the “Better Health, Naturally!!” monthly newsletter, on-site flu immunization clinics, on-site health awareness screenings, a smoking cessation program, the Blue Health Solutions online wellness center, the FirstLine Therapy Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) program, and a comprehensive incentive program with $10,000.00 in cash prizes. VADA is working closely with Green Mountain Wellness Solutions to provide these programs. Incentive Program Your award winning “Jump Start to Better Health” program has just gotten even better. In an effort to encourage participation in your wellness program and to build on the successes achieved so far, a new incentive program has been developed for you. In a nutshell, there are 10 wellness criteria that we encourage every employee to meet over the course of the next year. Anyone who meets at least 8 of the criteria will receive a customized fleece jacket with your new “Jump Start to Better Health” logo, and will be entered into a drawing for $500.00 in cash. Twenty of these $500 prizes will be randomly awarded among all who complete at least 8 criteria, for a total of $10,000.00. Some of these criteria are simple activities that can be completed online at your new online wellness center, such as completing an online health assessment. Other criteria include getting a checkup from your health care provider or getting a free onsite wellness screening offered to your dealership every year. Click here to see a full listing of the criteria. The program launches on March 1st, 2008. Fleece jackets will be awarded as each individual completes 8 or more of the criteria and the $10,000.00 in cash prizes will be awarded at the end of the program year, in March 2009. You can track your completion of the wellness criteria by going to your online wellness center.
Fitness and Weight Loss Challenges Beginning May 1, 2008, teams of competitors from participating dealerships will attempt to be the biggest winners by being the biggest losers in the “Lose to Win” challenge. In this 10 week challenge, you and your coworkers will work together to lose weight. The teams losing the most will be declared the winners. Team average weight loss will be measured, so small teams have as much chance of winning as large teams. You can satisfy 1 of your 10 wellness criteria by participating in this challenge, so be sure and sign up. Watch your “Better Health, Naturally!!” newsletter and this website for more details. Your 2008 fitness challenge is scheduled to begin October 6, 2008. This 10 week virtual walk will be a group competition similar to past pedometer challenges. The location of this year’s virtual walk has not yet been determined. If you would like to suggest a location for this year’s virtual walk, click here (the 2007 WalkTheWhites challenge took place in the White Mountains of New Hampshire). Click here for a listing of prior challenge results. Watch your “Better Health, Naturally!!” newsletter and this website for more details. On-site Wellness Screenings The 2008 on-site wellness screenings begin in early March. For the fourth year running, your “Jump Start to Better Health” program is offering free on-site wellness screenings to your dealership. The screenings include cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight, as well as a comprehensive health assessment. This is a great way to diagnose diseases like diabetes and hypertension early, get some great advice on how to change your numbers, and to get started on the activities in your new incentive plan. If your dealership hasn’t participated in these screenings in the past, please encourage them to do so this year – for your benefit and theirs! To see a list of participating dealerships, click here. First Line Therapy Program for Metabolic Syndrome If you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abdominal obesity, and/or high cholesterol you may have metabolic syndrome. The bad news is that metabolic syndrome is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. In fact, 25% of people with metabolic syndrome go on to develop diabetes. Metabolic syndrome may also be a risk factor for some types of cancer and a host of other diseases. The good news is that metabolic syndrome is almost always reversible through dietary and lifestyle modifications, and that your VADA ‘Jump Start to Better Health’ plan has a program to help you make these changes. The First Line Therapy program has been demonstrated in a clinical trial to help people lose weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, decrease inflammation and insulin, raise good HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides by 45%. For more information on this twelve week group program for people with metabolic syndrome or diabetes, click here. New for 2008 is an online webinar format for this program. If you are unable to attend an in-person group program, or one is not offered in your area, you will be able to attend this webinar from anywhere via the internet. You will need high-speed/broadband internet access to be able to access this program. Watch your “Better Health, Naturally!!” newsletter and this website for more details. Double your chances of quitting with your “Jump Start to Better Health” smoking cessation program. Research has shown that when people attempt to quit using a quit coach, they are twice as likely to succeed. Your “Jump Start to Better Health” program has teamed up with the state of Vermont to offer you the choice of telephone, internet, or in-person individual or group smoking cessation programs. Quit now to satisfy 1 of your 10 wellness criteria and to start saving $1300.00-$2000.00 per year from not buying cigarettes if you’re a one pack per day smoker. “Better Health, Naturally!!” Wellness Newsletter Click here to see a listing of back issues of your “Better Health, Naturally!!” newsletter. Flu Immunization Clinics On-site flu clinics start in October and generally run through November or early December. Watch your “Better Health, Naturally!!” newsletter and this website for more details. For additional information, please contact Nicole Scudero at 802-229-2038 or by e-mail at info@GreenMountainWellness.com * Requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader |