MedCost Well-Being Strategy - Supporting Your Plan Participants for Optimal Health

In this year full of changes, MedCost Benefit Services recognizes that the needs of your health plan participants might look different than expected. That’s why we continue to grow our programs to support participants in reaching their optimal health—and to support your company in achieving the Benefits Balance™. 

As we collectively begin to shift our focus to the new year ahead, we want to remind you of the health and wellness resources MedCost offers. Our programs are geared toward healthy habits and lifestyle behaviors to support physical, emotional, financial and social well-being. And, some of these programs and services are available at no cost to your plan.  

• Active & Fit Direct Fitness Membership– For only $25 per month*, plan participants can choose from over 11,000 fitness centers and studios nationwide, with the flexibility to change anytime. (Through February 2021, the $25 enrollment fee is waived.) In addition, Active & Fit offers 1,500 on-demand workout videos, including over 200 available at no cost to the member. To learn more, log in through our secure member portal, click on Healthy & Whole and select Active and Fit Direct. *Monthly fee for participants increases to $29 effective 7/1/21. Available at no cost to your health plan. 

• myStrength– As part of MedCost’s Behavioral Health program, a personal myStrength account gives participants a secure way to access hundreds of online emotional health resources. Program topics include anxiety/depression, substance abuse, stress management, chronic pain, nicotine addiction, and PTSD. In addition, myStrength continues to build its resources with new programs focused on coping with COVID-19, the emotional challenges for those living with or supporting someone with a chronic condition, mental fitness for first responders, and Bipolar Disorder. 

• Tobacco Cessation and Weight Management Programs via Lifestyle Coaching  – Tobacco usage and obesity are high cost drivers for health plans, and MedCost offers programs to specifically help participants with these lifestyle-related conditions. UBreathe (tobacco cessation) and UBody (weight management) are available coaching programs, along with a variety of other topics such as URest (sleep), UMove and UFIT (beginning and advanced physical activity), UFuel (nutrition), UCents (financial health), UBalance (stress management), and U&Yours (healthy family habits). 

• Financial Health– Empower U offers financial empowerment programs for your participants. Banking experts are available via live webinars to provide education on a variety of financial health topics, such as basic budgeting and saving, first-time home buying, estate planning, identity protection, boosting credit score, and more. Available at no cost to your health plan.  

• The Wellness Outlet Wearable Devices– Plan participants have the opportunity to purchase wearable fitness devices from Fitbit and Garmin at discounted prices. And, you can offer gift codes toward the cost of a wearable or tracking device that can be used as a way to reward or recognize employees. Available at no cost to your health plan. 

• WebMD ONE Online Wellness Platform– MedCost’s new well-being platform is provided by an industry leader and trusted brand for health information. Participants will enjoy a person-first experience and choose to engage in ways that are most meaningful to them. The WebMD ONE platform includes a comprehensive Wellbeing Assessment with personalized program recommendations, mobile app, digital coaching, secure personal health record, the ability to connect to more than 100 tracking devices and apps, and access to WebMD health-related content like videos, podcasts, fitness tools, and recipes. (Replaces Personal Health Suite effective 1/1/21) 

• Turn-Key Wellness Calendar and Materials– Use our pre-packaged wellness calendar and monthly emails to introduce over 15 well-being challenges to your plan participants.  Available at no cost to your health plan. 

In addition, our in-house wellness expert is available to review your wellness programs and provide recommendations to increase participation or to offer consulting services to help you create and implement a complete wellness strategy.

A new year is on the way, and it’s the perfect time to support your participants’ health and fitness resolutions. If you are interested in purchasing or learning more about any of these programs, or if you already have any of these programs in place and want materials to help remind your plan participants about them, please contact your MedCost Account Manager.