Walgreens and UnitedHealthcare partner on health incentive program

 

 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and UnitedHealthcare on Monday announced a partnership that will integrate the company's respective reward programs that incentivize healthier behaviors. 

 

People enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s fully insured plans in Arizona and Illinois can soon earn Walgreens Balance Rewards points for completing certain healthy activities. Plan participants will have the opportunity to redeem points and save on merchandise at Walgreens in-store or online.

 

Walgreens and UnitedHealthcare’s collaboration will integrate Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices with UnitedHealthcare’s Reward Me to help people adopt healthy behaviors. UnitedHealthcare plan participants in Arizona and Illinois can access the program via the Reward Me tab on UnitedHealthcare’s mobile app Health4Me and earn Walgreens Balance Rewards loyalty points by completing healthy activities such as daily exercise, eating fruits and vegetables, and logging sufficient sleep. 

 

“Through our Balance Rewards for healthy choices initiative, Walgreens encourages participants to adopt simple steps that can positively affect a person’s health, and collaborating with leading health plans such as UnitedHealthcare can further enhance the reach and impact of these programs,” stated Adam Pellegrini, divisional VP digital health for Walgreens.

 

Walgreens and UnitedHealthcare’s collaboration is helping to meet the growing demand for meaningful and relevant rewards that are easy to access and redeem both online and offline, and highlights how health plans and employers are using incentives to encourage healthy behaviors among their employees and plan participants. The use of corporate wellness incentives has doubled since 2009, with employees earning $594 in incentives each year on average, according to a recent study from the National Business Group on Health.

 

Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices is a first-of-its-kind program that encourages simple steps, or “micro-habits,” that have the potential to lead to a healthier life. Health plans have the ability to define activities for their plan customers to earn Balance Rewards points to help health plans meet higher patient engagement, as well as HEDIS and 5 Star Medicare quality goals. 

 

UnitedHealthcare’s Reward Me, available through the Health4Me mobile app, is a health-incentive initiative that enables plan participants to keep track of their physical activity, healthy food selections and other lifestyle choices that promote better well-being, and in the process earn discounts on products and services, including up to 

50% off merchandise at a variety of national and local retailers. Health4Me is available on iPhone and Android devices to UnitedHealthcare plan participants and all consumers nationwide, to help people make more informed choices regarding their care. 

 

“We have seen that rewarding healthy behavior can help people make sustained, positive behavior change,” said Vidya Raman-Tangella, head of the Innovation Center of Excellence for UnitedHealthcare. “Our collaboration with Walgreens will play an important role in encouraging consumers to take a more active role in their overall health and well-being, and realizing the promise of a truly activated, engaged and supported consumer.”