Employer Wellness Programs: Final Rules Issued Under The Affordable Care Act

Steven Gillman is a Partner Chicago and Adam Young an Associate in our Chicago office

Final regulations for wellness programs have been issued to help employers encourage healthier behaviors among their employees.

Background

Large employers are much more likely to offer a variety of wellness incentives to their employees. That said, estimates are that half of the employers in the United States already offer such incentives. The potential payoffs include savings in health care costs, decreased absenteeism and increased productivity. For example, free in-office flu vaccines result in fewer sick days, smoker cessation programs mean fewer trips outside for smoke breaks and healthy eating tips could help curb the epidemic of obesity and diabetes.