Changes in the Annual Wellness Pledge Program

Each year the Wellness Pledge Program becomes a bit more robust, offering new options and resources to get you well, and keep you well. 

• The Health Assessment Pledge for You and Your Covered Spouse: As the gateway pledge, this pledge is the most important pledge of all. The health assessment (which is now called the Rally Health Survey on the United Healthcare portal) is a fun and easy way to get information about your health.
  Value and Buy-Up Plan members login to myuhc.com and click on the Rally Health Survey.
  CareConnect Employee Plan members login to access the Rally Health Survey here.
• The Financial Wellness Video Pledge: Designed to keep you in tune with your financial security in the future, this video pledge is currently in redesign and will be available to you mid-May. 
• New Pledge with the Feinstein Institute for Research: Employees now have a new option to gain credit towards the cost of their benefits by participating in clinical research. Pledge here.

Here's What You Can Do Now to Comply:

Schedule one or more preventive care appointments in 2016 prior to October 31, 2016, and you will be rewarded paycheck credits beginning with your first pay cycle in 2017:

1. Complete the Health Survey (this is re
2. Visit with your primary care physician and get a full physical 
3. Visit with your dentist and get an exam and cleaning 
4. Visit with your ophthalmologist for an eye exam 
5. Get screened for breast cancer with a mammography by Imaging
6. Get screened for skin cancer with a full body check by your dermatologist 
7. Get screened for cervical cancer with PAP Smear by your obstetrician/gynecologist
8. Get screened for colorectal cancer with a colonoscopy by Imaging
9. Have your covered spouse (if applicable) complete the Health Survey
10. Participate in the Feinstein GAP Registry

2017 Paycheck Credits for 2016 Pledge Actions
Complete all four pledges by October 31 and you will earn the maximum amount of paycheck credits in 2017 ($1,040). If you complete your pledge in November/December you will still receive the credits they will just be delayed by six to eight weeks, and you will not receive the maximum amount of credits.

If you have completed the pledges you will see the credit in each of your pay statements as follows:

• Semimonthly (paid on the 7th and 22nd of each month - 24 paychecks a year)- $10.83 for each pledge each pay cycle
• Biweekly (paid every other Thursday - 26 paychecks a year) - $10 for each pledge each pay cycle

We are happy to see that you are actively interested in this important program, keeping you in tune with your preventive care routine each year. 

Note: Newly hired employees will receive automatic credit for four Wellness Pledges. They will have six months to comply or their credits will cease.

Compliance Facts: Wellness Pledge Program

If you are currently enrolled in the Value or Buy-Up medical plan you have still have the opportunity to earn $1,040 in 2016 paycheck credits. Complete four healthy actions prior to the soft deadline of October 31, 2015 and your paycheck credits will begin with the first pay cycle in 2016.
Those who completed their pledges in November/December will still receive credits, they will just be delayed by about 6 to 8 weeks in 2016, and will not be retroactive.

Wellness Summary
Our carriers: United Healthcare, Cigna Dental, Davis Vision, and Transamerica transmit your date-of-service (not your health information) into your Wellness Summary, which can be found under the "Personal Information-SelfService-Benefits" tab when you login to Employee Self Service.

Note:
Your Wellness Summary will not be updated for viewing for approximately 6 to 8 weeks post your action.

If you have completed your pledges by the final deadline of Dec 31, 2015: 
There is no need to call-in, fax or file claims, office visits or other documents to the HR Service Center, you have complied!
Rest assured: 
If you completed your actions before Oct 31, 2015 your paycheck credits will begin with the first pay cycle of 2016.  

If you completed pledges in November/December timeframe you will still receive credits. They will just be delayed in 2016 by 6 to 8 weeks, and will not be retroactive. 


STILL HAVEN'T STARTED?
Here's What You Need to Do to Receive Credit
Complete an online health assessment - this pledge is required in order to receive any paycheck credits offered through the program

• Login to myuhc.com
• Click on the "Health Assessment" on the far right side of screen
• Click on "Take the Health Assessment"
• Complete security questions and health information
• Hit "Submit"
• If you are having technical issues, call 877-818-5826
• You just earned yourself $260!

Choose to act on three additional healthy actions before Oct 31 and you will receive maximum credits in 2016. If you are delayed and do not complete until November/December you will still receive credits, they will just be delayed. These are your pledge choices:

1. Annual Wellness Exam
2. Dental Exam and Cleaning
3. Vision Exam
4. Breast Cancer Screening
5. Skin Cancer Screening
6. Colorectal Cancer Screening
7. Cervical Cancer Screening
8. Health Assessment for a Covered Spouse
   Your covered spouse has the option to complete the HA on myuhc.com as directed above
9. Financial Wellness Video
   Login to nslij.trsretire.com - once you hit the blue tab "view" a communications box will appear underneath "Your Retirement Outlook"
   Select the "Financial Wellness Presentation" and watch in its entirety to receive the credit

The health system cares about you, and strives to find helpful and engaging ways to keep you healthy, happy and financially secure! More to come in 2016...

Financial Wellness Video is Live!

Ten minutes  - that's all it takes to gain valuable information about your retirement planning options and $260 in 2016 paycheck credits.

Pledge Option
Your ninth pledge option for 2015 is referred to as the Financial Wellness Video. Although it is a bit different from your other pledge options - it is just as important. After all, a big part of your future health and wellness is your financial security once you have stopped working. Although that may seem like decades away to some of you millennials out there - your saving opportunity is now.

In collaboration with Transamerica Retirement Solution, the health system's benefits team put together this special presentation (pledge) in hopes you will embrace the importance of understanding your saving actions. Whether you are well on your way to a prosperous retirement, or haven't even begun to think about it, this brief overview on the basics of investing will also educate you on the options the health system and Transamerica offer you as an employee.

What to Do to Complete the Pledge

1. Login to your TA account* on nslij.trsretire.com. 
2. Take a moment to review your "Overview" page and "Retirement Outlook".
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. On the lower right corner you will see a "Communications" box. Within that box is the link to the video.
4. When you click to view, an information box will appear. Here you will need to provide your name, an email address, your employee ID**, and a wellness code (which is pre-populated for you).
5. The video will begin. It takes a little under 10 minutes to complete this pledge, so be sure to schedule your time accordingly. 
6. You must watch and listen to the video in its entirety. No muting or skipping, or you will not receive the credit.
7. At the end of the video pledge (last screen) a red button will turn green. At this point you can exit the video and a certificate of completion will arrive in your email inbox.
8. Print and save the certificate. Your certificate will only appear once, even if you repeat the video.
9. Your pledge completion date will appear on your Wellness Summary in ESS in about 6 to 8 weeks.

*Don't have an account with Transamerica yet? If you are one of the many eligible employees who were automatically enrolled in either a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan upon hire, you can then set up your account. When on the sign up page - just hit "Get started now" and follow the prompts.

**Your employee ID can be found on your paycheck. Visit ESS - Personal Information - Payroll - View Your Paycheck. The ID is in the upper left-hand corner in a box marked general.

Wellness Pledge Program Requires a Health Assessment

As the we approach the halfway mark in the calendar year, now might be a good time to complete your online health assessment (HA) on myuhc.com. As the gateway pledge to the Annual Wellness Pledge Program, the health assessment will help to summarize your overall health and wellness in about 15 minutes. Although the assessment should not be a replacement for your visit to doctor, it will assist in improving your next visit.

Health Assessment - Return User
Many of you may be return users. Since you already have an account - your login will take you directly to last year's HA. A portion of your information will be entered - such as your gender, height, weight, and biometrics. At this point you can update this information or leave as is. There are a total of 59 questions, which will cover your lifestyle habits. You are encouraged to answer all of these as honestly as possible. Once you have completed the 59 questions, hit continue. You will have 92 days to go back into your health assessment and change/update any of your responses. At the end of your assessment you will receive notification of your health results, which will also bring you to a printable page. This indicates your pledge as complete.

New User
If you have never registered on the myuhc portal, hit register now and follow the prompts to create your username and password. Once you have logged in to the health assessment you will be required to fill  in all fields to complete the pledge and receive your certificate of completion.

Kindness Comes on myuhc.com
Do you know someone special in your life that is due for a kind word or pat on the back?  Send an eCard, specially designed by our friends at United Healthcare, to show someone you are thinking of them. Login to myuhc.com, click on the link "Mental Health & Substance Abuse" and find eCards on the Quick Links. It's one of the many services United Healthcare shares with its members. Login and take a look around: myuhc.com.

Celebrate Your Benefits

April 2 is National Employee Benefits Day! In honor of this year's theme, which is dedicated to improving employee health and well-being, get out and do something healthy for yourself. When you do something positive to better your physical and mental state, your energy will naturally flow over to your customers, family and friends.

Schedule a Visit
Whether or not you are participating in the Wellness Pledge Program, take the time to make an appointment with one or more of your healthcare providers. Keeping on track with your preventive care routine in 2015 will make it that much more natural in the years to come. Consider your coverage in the North Shore-LIJ Benefits Plan:

• A physician wellness visit with an in-system or in-network healthcare provider is covered at 100%
• A visit with your OB/GYN, which will most likely include a Pap test for cervical cancer, is covered for the low copay of $40 (if in-system)
• A vision exam with a Davis Vision provider* is covered at 100%
• Two trips to your dentist are covered at 100% (in-network)
• A skin cancer screening by your dermatologist is covered for the low copay of $40 (if in-system)

Find In-System Providers and North Shore-LIJ Facilities HERE

Find Financial Fitness

Another great way to treat yourself well is by investing in your financial future. Take the time to celebrate your benefits by increasing your contribution to your 403(b)/401(k) plan by 1%. Maybe even consider using the Auto-Increase tool on the Transamerica website, making your saving automatic!

Get a Discount on Your Fitness

Make exercise a part your lifestyle. As a health system employee you are offered discounts to over 27 exercise facilities in the area. Big names like YMCA/Long Island/Greater NYC, Equinox, CrossFit Sanctuary, NY Health and Racquet Club, Island Fitness, as well as some locals such as Evolution Fitness in Bayville and Oyster Bay are all available to you at reduced rates. Just show your employee ID and start getting healthy - today. For a complete list visit the employee intranet>Discounts.

*As of April 1, two North Shore-LIJ Opthalmology offices are considered Davis Vision providers:

MEETH Ophthalmology, Marta Fabrykowski, OD and Christopher Lee, OD

210 E. 64th St., NYC at 212-702-7300

NSLIJ Department of Ophthalmology, Corina Busuioc, OD, Francesca Kim, OD

600 Northern Blvd., Great Neck at 516-470-2020

Time for Your Annual Exam

Why not start off the new year by scheduling your annual physical with your primary care physician. Each calendar year United Healthcare covers your preventive care visit free of charge, as long as you stay in-system and/or in-network.

Choose In-System and Save
Think carefully when choosing your healthcare providers and the facilities you visit. Your physician may be an in-system doc, but his new office on the South Shore is not! Another fact to keep in mind when choosing in-system providers: larger medical groups may have a mixed group of providers, some may be in-system, some not. Build your own network of in-system providers by searching the North Shore-LIJ In-System Provider Network at ciipa.nslijweb.com. Savings begin with low copays, no deductibles and no coinsurance.

Your Wellness Visit
Now that you have chosen your primary care physician, your annual wellness visit is a terrific opportunity to share any noticeable health changes that may have occurred since your last visit: a change in your sleeping habits, unusually weight gain or loss, erratic highs and lows in your mood, can be just some of the symptoms you may ignore on a day-to-day basis. Develop a relationship with your primary care physician, their guidance in your preventive care routine is an important element of your quality of life.

What Occurs at Your Annual Physical
Besides your confidential conversation with your doctor, you can also expect the doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to check your:

• Vital signs: blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, temperature
• Heart and lungs
• Head and neck: throat, tonsils, teeth and gums, ears, nose sinuses, eyes, lymph nodes thyroid, and carotid arteries
• Abdominal: liver and bowel 
• Neurological: nerves, muscles, general balance and strength
• Dermatological: skin check for unusual moles or rashes
• Extremities: physical and sensory changes in joints
• Lifestyle

Depending on your physician's findings, as well as your stage in life, your doctor may prescribe a screening for further detection of a condition, or a medication to maintain a condition.

Wellness Pledge 
If you are participating in the Annual Wellness Pledge Program,  a visit to your primary care physician every year, is not only free of charge, it also credits you $260 in 2016 paycheck credits. Read more about the Wellness Pledge Program by searching this Blog.

Wellness Pledge Program - All Year Long

It's back! Well it never really left ...
The Annual Wellness Pledge Program, designed to heighten the level of awareness of your preventive care health routine, now enters its second year. The program offers eligible* employees the opportunity to act on four wellness pledges in 2015 in exchange for four paycheck credits in 2016. The pledges in 2015 are the same as in 2014 with one exception: the Wellness Video Pledge has been eliminated and will be replaced by a brand new pledge in March. More on the new pledge in just a few weeks.

Pledges Available for Action Now
As in 2014, you will once again have to complete an online Health Assessment (HA) on myuhc.com to collect any paycheck credits in 2016. Keep in mind that six months must pass before you are able to submit the HA. This passage of time between your HAs is put in place to accurately gauge your health routine and patterns.

Choose Three More
What better time than now to schedule your annual health appointments. Those appointments may, or may not, lead to additional screenings. Act on three of the below (+ the HA) before October 31 and you will receive the maximum amount of paycheck credits ($1,040) in 2016. If you complete one or two in November or December, those one or two credits will be delayed in 2016.

1. Physician Wellness Pledge: Your annual physical
2. Dental Exam Pledge: Exam and/or cleaning
3. Vision Exam Pledge: Eye exam by a licensed provider
4. Breast Cancer Screening Pledge: Mammogram
5. Skin Cancer Screening Pledge: Full body skin check
6. Colorectal Cancer Screening Pledge: Colonoscopy
7. Cervical Cancer Screening Pledge: Pap Smear
8. Health Assessment for a Covered Spouse Pledge: A covered spouse has the option to submit
9. Financial Wellness Video Pledge: This pledge will be introduced in March

How'd We Do?

Not all the numbers are in yet, but here's some great stats on the pledges in 2014:

• 15,403 completed the HA
• 14,447 visited with their primary care physician in 2014
• 11,922 had a dental exam
• 9,406 completed a vision exam
• 5,056 had a mammogram
• 4,287 visited with a dermatologist
• 1,921 opted to have a colonoscopy under the advice of their doctor
• 8,433 visited with their OB/GYN and had a Pap test for cervical cancer
• 2,115 had a covered spouse fill out the HA
• 18, 851 viewed the Wellness Video

• That's 91,841 preventive care actions in 2014 - Bravo!!!

*You are eligible to participate in this voluntary program if you enrolled in the 2015 benefit plans administered through North Shore-LIJ. Union nurses from Lenox Hill Hospital and MEETH also had the option to choose the North Shore-LIJ plans. To receive paycheck credits in 2016 you must also enroll in the benefit plans in 2016.

Wellness Pledge Program: Final Deadline Approaches

If you have not completed any of the Wellness Pledges in exchange for your 2015 paycheck credits - you still have time. The final deadline for the 2015 Pledge Program is December 31, 2014. Although it may be too late to schedule and complete a clinical appointment but you can still submit the most important pledge of all - your online Health Assessment (HA).
Note: This program is for employees who enrolled in the 2014 Value or Buy-Up medical plan.

Health Assessment is 100% Confidential
The online assessment is administered by United Healthcare and 100% confidential. Your proof of compliance is the date you completed and submitted the health assessment through myuhc.com. The HA takes about 15 minutes to complete, and can be completed from any computer, at any time. If you do not have your biometric numbers handy, such as your cholesterol or body mass index, you can always give your doctor a call and use the numbers from your last visit.

Here's What You Do

• Visit myuhc.com
• Login with your username and password (or register and create an account)
• Hit the blue button on the far right side "Health Assessment"
• Complete the security questions
• Complete your HA to best of your ability
• Hit submit

Paycheck Credits

Your Health Assessment is the gateway to all your other wellness pledges. By completing your HA before December 31, 2014 you will be eligible to collect partial 2015 paycheck credits of $10 per bi-weekly paycheck and  $10.83 for semi-monthly. Because you missed the first two deadline dates of September 30 and October 31, your credits will be delayed by 4-8 weeks. This credit will not be retroactive. 

Next Year's Pledge Program

We hope this newly designed program helped to give you a reality check on your preventive care routine this year. Moving into 2015 the health system will continue to offer financial incentives in exchange for your healthy actions. There will be very little change to the program in 2015. Let's review:

• The Wellness Video Pledge will no longer be offered in 2015
• A new pledge (currently in design) will the added to replace the Video
• The Pledge Program will be referred to as the Annual Pledge Program to encourage your preventive care routine - all year long!

The Gateway to Your Wellness Pledge Credits

If you are planning to enroll or re-enroll in the North Shore-LIJ Value or Buy-Up medical plan you are eligible to receive 2015 paycheck credits in exchange for completing an online Health Assessment and 3 additional health-related actions.

Health Assessment is the Gateway Pledge
It's not too late to complete the Health Assessment Pledge, which is the most important pledge. Without this pledge you are not eligible to receive paycheck credits for the others.
Example: Susan had a dental cleaning in March, an annual physical in June and a mammogram in August - if Susan completes the Gateway Pledge by October 31 she will receive the maximum amount of paycheck credits ($1,040) beginning with her first pay cycle in 2015. If Susan waits and does not complete her final Pledge until November or December - her paycheck credits will be delayed 4-8 weeks. If Susan ignores the Health Assessment altogether she will not receive paycheck credits for any pledges in 2015.

What are you waiting for? Complete your online HA now:

1. Visit myuhc.com
2. Register and log in with a username and password
3. Click on the Health Assessment tab on the right side of page
4. Register and login using the same username and password you used for myuhc.com
5. Answer security questions
6. Fill in the health information
7. Hit submit

The Health Assessment is 100% confidential. Your health information is housed by a third party provider, Optum Health and not shared with North Shore-LIJ Health System. The only information the health system receives is the date you submitted it.

Wellness Summary
The Health Assessment will appear on your Wellness Summary, the third Monday of the following month in which the HA was completed and submitted.

The Program's Goal
The Wellness Pledge Program's goal is to educate and engage participating employees about the importance of their preventive healthcare routine. The Program runs on an annual basis and requires health-related actions the year prior to the receipt of paycheck credits. New Hires and those new to the medical plan have six months to comply. Scroll down and read more about the Wellness Pledge Program, or visit HealthPort-HR-Benefits-2015 Wellness Pledge Program.

Now you are on your way to a healthier and wealthier new year!

October is Here!

Since the deadline for the Wellness Pledges have been extended that mammogram you scheduled for during Breast Cancer Awareness Month will be in accordance with the 2015 Wellness Pledge Program.
Let's review the Pledge deadlines:

• Complete the online Health Assessment on myuhc.com and 3 additional pledges by October 31 and you will receive your maximum paycheck credits beginning with the first pay cycle in 2015
• Complete the online Health Assessment on myuhc.com and 3 additional pledges after October 31 (in November/December) and your paycheck credits will still appear in 2015 but they will be delayed 4-8 weeks - keep in mind, they will not be retroactive!

What you can do NOW - if eligible for the Pledge Program*
Step One: 
Complete your online Health Assessment on myuhc.com - it's the gateway pledge and is required in order to receive any paycheck credits in 2015
Step Two: 
Watch the Wellness Video - it was posted on your iLearn Module for viewing and submission
Step Three: 
Schedule 2 appointments (pledges) before Oct 31 and you will receive full credits:
--Annual Exam or Physical
--Dental Exam and/or Cleaning
--Vision Exam
--Breast Cancer Screening/Mammography
--Skin Cancer Screening/Check with a Dermatologist
--Colorectal Cancer Screening

In Addition: 

If you currently have your spouse covered under our medical plan you are also eligible to receive credit if he/she completes the online Health Assessment on myuhc.com.

Read more by searching 2015 Wellness Pledge Program in the search box (upper right corner of this Blog) or click here.

*You must be a non-union benefits-eligible employee or a Lenox Hill Hospital RN who is planning to enroll of re-enroll in North Shore-LIJ's Value or Buy-Up medical plan with United Healthcare to be eligible for the paycheck credits. New hires and those new to the medical plan in 2015 will have 6 months from their benefit's eligibility date to comply with the Program. 

Wellness Pledge Program Extended

If you still have not completed your pledges and are having difficulty scheduling appointments or screenings in September, now you have a bit more time!

• Complete the four wellness pledges/actions by October 31 and your paycheck credits will begin with the first pay cycle in 2015. 
• Complete the pledges in November/December and you will receive your 2015 paycheck credits, but they will be delayed 4-8 weeks (or the first few pay cycles in January). These credits will not be retroactive, so do your best to complete all four pledges by 10/31!

Wellness All Year Long
The pledge extension has been opened up through December because the health system wants you to consider your preventive care routine all year long.

Give it Time!
If you are constantly checking your Wellness Summary to review the status of your pledges, remember it takes time for the providers to send in the claims, and it takes time for the claims to feed into the Wellness Summaries.

United Healthcare sends the claims to us the third Monday of every month so if you choose to do the Physician Wellness Visit in early August your date of service should be marked on your Summary after September 22 (remember September 1 was  legal holiday and did not count as the first Monday of the month).

If you took the time to take care of yourself, we'll take the time to take care of you!

Wellness Pledges for 2014 New Hires and Those New to the Plan in 2015

Are you considering enrolling (for the first time) in North Shore-LIJ's 2015 Value or Buy-Up medical plan through United Healthcare during Open Enrollment? Or perhaps you were recently hired and are looking at your benefit options in 2015. Either way, note that you have six months to complete these pledges. 

Wellness Pledge deadline for employees hired in 2014:

If you were hired in 2014 and currently enrolled in the 2014 Value or Buy-Up medical plan through United Healthcare you may have noticed four paycheck credits in your pay statement. That's because you we want your health experience at North Shore-LIJ to be a positive one. Now it's time for you to prepare for your health in 2015 by complying with the rest of the North Shore-LIJ family and complete your 2015 Wellness Pledges on time. Here's what you need to know:

• You have six months to comply with the 2015 Wellness Pledge Program starting from your benefits eligibility date
• Your benefits eligibility date is the first day of the month 32 days after your date of hire
• Example:-Your first day at North Shore-LI was June 16
  -You are eligible for benefits enrollment on August 1
  -Your 2015 Wellness Pledges are due in six months from August 1 - that would be January 31, 2015
• Up until that date of January 31 you will have received those first few paycheck credits in 2015
• If you do not complete your pledge actions by January 2015 - your credits will cease with the February pay cycle
• You are not expected to pay the health system back for those credits

Wellness Pledge deadline for employees who plan to enroll for the first time in the North Shore-LIJ Value or Buy-Up medical plan

Attention Lenox Hill Hospital Nurses:

• You have six months from the day your benefits become effective with North Shore-LIJ's medical plan to complete the four pledges - that would be June 30, 2015
• Up until that date of June 30 you will be receiving the paycheck credits each pay cycle
• If you do not complete your pledge actions by June 30 - your credits will cease with July's pay cycle
• You are not expected to pay the health system back for those credits

The health system hopes this newly designed Wellness Pledge Program will help to keep your preventive care at top of mind - not just when selecting your benefits - but all year long!

For more information about the Wellness Pledge Program, stay logged in and search "2015 Wellness Pledge Program" in the SEARCH THIS BLOG box in the upper right corner
or
visit HealthPort>Human Resources>Benefits>2015 Wellness Pledge Program>Wellness Pledge Toolkit for New Hires.

Wellness Summary on Employee Self Service

You are now able to view your Pledge compliance on ESS. Notice that the online Health Assessment is listed first and in bold due to the mandatory completion requirements. If you do not complete and submit the online Health Assessment Pledge prior to December 31, you will not receive any paycheck credits for you other pledges.

The summary shows the pledge action choice on the left and the date of service you complied on the right.

As you can see none of the employee's pledges have been loaded into the Wellness Summary yet.

Please note: When you take action on one of your Wellness Pledges it takes at least one month for that information to load into your summary.

Below is the schedule of file uploading into the North Shore-LIJ platform from our carriers:
Health Assessment: 3rd Monday of month
United Healthcare claims: 3rd Monday of month
Cigna Dental claims: 1st Monday of month
Davis Vision claims: 1st day of month

How Your Information Loads
Let's give some examples:
Your annual exam was on February 4, 2015. You should see your visit as complied the following month on the third Monday, March 16. United feeds their files on the 3rd Monday of the month.
Your dental cleaning was sometime in January and again in July. You should see your dental visit as complied on the January date of service. Your second visit will not override your first.
Your eyes were examined on January 26. To view your date of service on our Wellness Summary you will have to check back March 1, first day of the following month.

Still Don't See Date of Service?
Please keep in mind your physician's office may delay filing the claim with the carrier, which will further delay the capturing of your visit. Not to worry - as long as you complete your four wellness pledges/actions before December 31* you will receive the paycheck credits in 2016.

Check on the Status of Your Pledges
If you want to check up on the status of your pledges visit Employee Self Service - Personal Information - Self Service - Benefits - Wellness Summary.

*To receive your credits beginning with the first pay cycle of 2016, finish all pledges before October 31!

There's Still Time to Do Wellness Pledges

Did you know over 8,000 benefit participants did not file a healthcare claim in 2013? That means 8,000 of our employees/dependents were not proactive with their health in 2013! So while there is still a few good months before winter hits us what better way to celebrate than to Pledge to Be Well. 

If you are planning on enrolling in the 2015 medical plan with North Shore-LIJ, and have not had the chance to review or act on the 2015 Wellness Pledge Program in exchange for your paycheck credits in 2015, the time to act is NOW -  the deadline for the pledge program has been extended through the end of the year.

Deadline Dates

• October 31 is the deadline to remember if you want those paychecks starting with the first pay cycle in 2015.
• Pledge compliance in November/December will still get you paycheck credits in 2015 but they will be delayed by 4 to 8 weeks. These credits will not be retroactive, so do your best to complete all four pledges by October 31.

Who is Eligible?

Full-time and eligible part-time non-union employees and Lenox Hill nurses who are enrolling or re-enrolling in the 2015 medical plan through North Shore-LIJ.

Here's the quickest way to complete your pledges:

One:  Submit Your Mandatory Online Health Assessment 
Complete the online Health Assessment (HA) on myuhc.com (which is a mandatory pledge). Visit HealthPort for detailed instructions.

Two: Watch the Wellness Video on iLearn
Take 2 to 3 minutes to watch this informative video about your preventive care on North Shore-LIJ's Learning Management System's iLearn (refer to this blog post for more on the video). If the Wellness Video Pledge is not loaded on your module and you know you have not viewed it, contact hrit@nshs.edu for help.

Three: Schedule a Dental Exam
If you are up to date on your dental hygiene you should be scheduling your second dental exam/cleaning for the calendar year. If so, note you have complied as of the first, since the dates of eligibility are January 1 through December 31. If you have not had any dental exam in 2014 and have no dentist, search Cigna Providers.

Four: Schedule An Eye Exam
Schedule an exam even if you have no problems with your vision. Vision issues can arise as we age. Search Davis Vision for a location near you. Keep in mind you need to be currently enrolled in the Vision Plan for your visit to be recorded.

What Else?
Another valuable Pledge is the HA for your Covered Spouse - just keep in mind your spouse can only participate if he or she is currently enrolled in the health system's medical plan with United. Visit myuhc.com. 

Visit HealthPort or tool around this Blog, to learn more about the other pledge choices available to you.

Here's to a happy healthy you - all year long!

What to Expect from the Clinical-Based Pledges

If you are a non-union, benefits-eligible employee, who just happens to be reading your emails from the Department of Total Rewards, you know by now there is a new design to the 2015 Wellness Pledge Program. In close collaboration with the Wellness Team, the Program was rethought to encourage employees to better engage in their health care routine, by proactively scheduling exams and screenings that are tracked through North Shore-LIJ's carriers, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna Dental and Davis Vision. You are recognized for your preventive care pledge compliance with $260 for each pledge, credited to your paycheck beginning January, 2015.

Choices
As mentioned in the previous post - you now have choices - in fact you have nine of them! Out of those nine pledges, seven need scheduling on your part. Take the time to review your options carefully, as they were designed to give you the opportunity to act proactively on your health and preventive care - long before enrolling in your 2015 benefit plans.

What to Expect at Your Visit or Screening
Some of you may have never scheduled a physician wellness visit before, or perhaps it's your first time to the dermatologist. Whatever your level of knowledge is - it's always good to know more. For more information about the seven clinically-based wellness pledges read more on HealthPort - HR - Benefits. 

2015 Wellness Pledge Program Starts Now!

Your wellness should be top of mind all year round. That's why the health system has redesigned the Wellness Pledge Program for all benefits-eligible employees who plan to enroll, or re-enroll, in the North Shore-LIJ Value or Buy-Up medical plans with UnitedHealthcare in 2015.

Available Now
Unlike previous years, the Wellness Pledges are available to you now through September 30, 2014. In conjunction with Employee Wellness, the Benefits Team is hoping by offering you these opportunities well in advance of Open Enrollment you will  be more prone to take positive action about your health early on.

Here's How it Works
You have from January 1 to September 30, 2014 to complete four Wellness Pledges in exchange for four paycheck credits in 2015. Each pledge is worth $260 annually, totaling $1,040 in savings to your pockets in 2015.
Step One: You must choose to complete and submit your health assessment in order to proceed with the other three out of nine pledges offered. The reason for this HA requirement is so you take accountability of your health.

• Visit myuhc.com
• If you have not registered yet: register, login, then click the blue button on the right side of the screen "Health Assessment" - this will take you to another registration and login screen where you will use the same username and password you used for myuhc
• If you are already registered from last year: Simply login and click on Health Assessment and begin the assessment
• Once complete hit submit, and save your confirmation statement.

Keep in Mind

• You cannot resubmit your HA until six months have passed since your last Health Assessment
• If you were unable to complete your 2014 HA until January 2014, your HA is then good for 2015 Wellness Pledge compliance

Step Two: Choose to complete three of the nine pledges listed below before September 30, 2014. Each pledge will be tracked by one of three carriers: UnitedHealthcare, Davis Vision or Cigna. There is nothing for you to track. Choose to act on three of the following Wellness Pledges now, in exchange for paycheck credits in 2015:

1. Physician Wellness Visit
2. Dental Exam 
3. Vision Exam 
4. Breast Cancer Screening
5. Skin Cancer Screening
6. Colorectal Cancer Screening
7. Cervical Cancer Screening
8. Wellness Education Video (not active - you will be notified once live)
9. Health Assessment for a Covered Spouse

For more information and instructions about the 2015 Wellness Pledge Program, visit HealthPort-HR-Benefits.