[Englecturers] FW: [Staff] StayWell

[Susan Brown]

Please Post/circulate

 

 

TO:  Faculty and Staff

 

RE:  StayWell

 

FR:  OP/Benefits

 

Recently circulated information regarding the University's newest
benefit-the StayWell Wellness program-is misleading.  As a part of this
program, the University is offering eligible employees, retirees and family
members a $75 gift card if they complete a health assessment survey,
designed to give employees the tools they need to better manage their own
health and wellness.  

 

Below, you'll find a list of some of the misleading claims, along with the
facts about the program.

 


CLAIM

FACT


 

The third-party that administers the surveys sends the information to your
medical plan provider. 

 

 

All participants must give their permission for any information from the
survey to be shared with an outside party, including medical plan providers.
Medical plan providers are required by law to hold health assessment results
to the same strict standards of confidentiality that apply to other health
information.

 


 

StayWell may sell personal health data to other commercial entities, such as
insurance companies and employers. 

 

 

Neither StayWell nor the University will ever sell personal employee health
information to any party.  In addition, StayWell will not otherwise use or
disclose a UC employee's personal information to any third party except to
the extent authorized by that employee, or to comply with applicable law or
valid legal process.  


 

All UC unions asked the UC Office of the President to keep personal health
responses confidential and UCOP refused. 

 

 

UCOP has never refused to keep personal health information confidential.  On
the contrary, in response to the concerns expressed by the unions, UC asked
StayWell to add a REQUIRED question to the health assessment regarding the
privacy of employee answers.  All information from employee health
assessments will be kept private unless the employee indicates otherwise. 

 


 

A
<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/11/BUUASN20I.DTL&h
w=health&sn=001&sc=1000> recent newspaper article revealed that employers
were limiting health care options and or charging more for healthcare to
employees who refused to divulge their personal health information in such a
survey.

 

 

UC's medical plan providers are not permitted to use health assessment
survey information to increase employee coverage costs, limit coverage, or
restrict employees from benefits.  No incentive or disincentive will be
applied to an individual's medical plan coverage, rates, or premiums based
on participation in any aspect of the StayWell program. 

 

The StayWell program is completely voluntary.  

 

 

About StayWell

As part of UC Living Well and the wellness efforts provided at UC locations,
StayWell offers improved, standardized wellness and individual health
management resources at no charge to employees. The program is designed to
help eligible employees and their family members achieve a healthy
lifestyle.  The program is administered for UC by StayWell Health
Management, a renowned nationwide industry leader for nearly 30 years.  For
more information on the StayWell program and UC LivingWell, please visit
http://uclivingwell.ucop.edu/

 

For questions please call the Benefits Office at X24766.

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