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Summit County employees enter second year in Preventative Health Program

Submitted Julie Booth, Summit County Public Affairs Coordinator

For the second year in a row, Summit County has been proactively championing employees’ health by introducing biometrics as part of their insurance package.

The purpose of biometric testing is to provide Summit County employees specific health information and to educate them about potential risks.

Once test results are received, county employees are able to discover if they have a medical issue that requires attention or if they are at risk for something that could develop in the future. Furthermore, it prompts employees to think about their overall health and make lifestyle decisions for long-term wellness.

"We believe the biometric testing offers motivation to help our employees make quality decisions for their own health," Summit County Human Resource Director Brian Bellamy said. "Now in our second year, we have discovered that employees take their health seriously and have worked to change habits and behaviors."

The five biometrics used by the County include: blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, waist circumference and a flu shot — with the goal of passing three out of the five.

If an employee does not pass three out of the five biometrics, and uses a tobacco produce, they must pay 10 percent of the base level insurance premium.

If an employee uses a tobacco product and passes three out of the five biometrics or conversely does not pass three out of the five biometrics and does not use a tobacco product, they are responsible for five percent of the premium.

However, for employees who meet the threshold and do not use a tobacco product, the 10 percent employee cost of the premium is waived. The biometric program is voluntary, but those who do not participate are required to pay the 10 percent health insurance premium.

"Ultimately, we are concerned about our employee’s health and we want them to be healthy," Bellamy said. "If they are not, know the steps they can take to become healthy, which lead to happier employees and reduces long-term costs for healthcare, workers compensation and employee absenteeism."

Summit County

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