July eNewsletter: Deadlines May Be Closer

By Benefits Newsletter

Deadlines may be closer than they appear!  Act before 9/30 to earn up to $520 in 2021


Did you know the ways to earn Wellness Credits were changed this year? We’ve made it easier than ever by automatically giving you $130 in wellness credits just by getting your screening by September 30th. Get wellness credits your way and find details below.

Why Get Screened?

The Wellness Credit Screening not only gives you basic information about your health, but it also gives you the chance to earn $520 in wellness credits for next year.  What are Wellness Credits?  Wellness credits add extra money to your paycheck to help lower the cost of medical insurance in 2021.

What’s in It for Me?

Up to $520 annually on your paychecks next year, $130 of which you get automatically JUST BY GETTING A SCREENING! Here’s how it works:

Action in 2020

What you get in 2021

Get your Wellness Credit Screening by September 30, 2020

Earn $130 ($5 per paycheck in 2021)

Meet 2 of the 4 numbers at your screening

Earn an additional $130 (for a total of $10 per paycheck in 2021)

Meet 3 or 4 of the 4 numbers at your screening

Earn another $260 (for a total of $20 per paycheck in 2021

Getting Your Screening Your Way

Here are your options to get your screening—choose which is most convenient for you:

  1. Quest Lab
  2. Doctor’s Office

Details on how to get registered for either option can be found here. Quest labs and your doctor’s office will have safety measures in place, so be sure to ask about the details on masking requirements, screening procedures, etc.

Earn $520 Even if You Don’t Meet the Numbers

You can still earn the full wellness credits for 2021. You have two options to choose from that work best for you:  

  1. Get screened again: Use the Be Healthy programs available to you to help improve your numbers. Then, get screened again before the deadline. You can select one screening option per quarter if you improve your numbers and want to be tested more than once. Your best results submitted by Sept. 30, 2020 will be taken for the purposes of 2021 Wellness Credits (maximum of $20 per paycheck).
  2. Complete a Reasonable Alternative: If you do not meet the numbers, you can still earn the full 2021 Wellness Credits ($20 per paycheck) by participating in a reasonable alternative. Before completing a reasonable alternative below, a screening must be completed first. If a reasonable alternative is completed without a screening on file, Wellness Credits cannot be earned.  There are two ways to complete a reasonable alternative after you get your Wellness Credit Screening:
    •  Virgin Pulse Journeys: Go to your Virgin Pulse dashboard and select complete a journey for each number that was missed. Plan ahead! Journeys could take a few weeks to complete, so get started early. Journeys must be completed by Sept. 30, 2020.
    • Physician Recommendation: if your physician wants you to participate in an alternative activity different from the Journeys, a Reasonable Alternative Action Form must be signed by the physician and submitted with your agreement to complete the alternative activity. Ask your physician to fax the completed form to the number provided on the form. The form must be completed by your physician and submitted by Sept. 30, 2020.