Wellness Programs With Financial Incentives Through Disparities Lens

Abstract

Purpose: To examine wellness programs with financial incentives and their effect on disparities in preventive care.

Design: Financial incentives were introduced by 15 large employers, from 2010 to 2013.

Setting: Fifteen private employers.

Subjects: A total of 299 436 employees and adult dependents.

Measures: Preventive services and participation in financial incentives.

Analysis: Multivariate linear regression.

Results: Disparities in preventive services widened after introduction of financial incentives. Asians were 3% more likely and African Americans were 3% less likely to receive wellness rewards than whites and non-Hispanics, controlling for other factors.

Conclusion: Federal law limits targeting of wellness financial incentives by subgroups; thus, employers should consider outreach and culturally appropriate messaging.

Keywords: employer wellness incentives; health disparities; preventive medicine.