Majority of wellness programs don't include smoking cessation incentives

DALLAS — A recent HealthMine survey of 750 wellness program participants indicated 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.

 

"Health plan sponsors could do a whole lot more to help people quit smoking than they do now," said Bryce Williams, president and CEO of HealthMine. "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 U.S."