BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - February 16, 2011) - Virgin HealthMiles, a leading provider of technology-based employee health programs that reward individuals for getting healthy, today recapped another strong year of client growth and adoption of its proven prevention-based employee health and productivity program and announced several new program developments now available.
In 2010, Virgin HealthMiles saw a 50 percent year-over-year increase in the number of employees represented, which now tops 700,000 lives nationwide. The company continued to attract large enterprises to its client roster comprised of more than 120 leading U.S. organizations. In a market known for switching plans and program vendors every few years, Virgin HealthMiles has once again achieved a client renewal rate of greater than 90 percent. These successes underpin the value of the Virgin HealthMiles program and the measurable results employers and their employees continue to see as a result of the program.
"We're gratified by the continued adoption of the HealthMiles program in 2010 and are excited about what 2011 holds for our company, including the launch of new product functionality that will help companies derive maximum value from their investments in incentives-based employee health programs and help further lower costs. Regardless of the future of healthcare reform, leading organizations recognize prevention is the best strategy to curb rising healthcare costs and improve business performance," said Chris Boyce, CEO of Virgin HealthMiles. "Virgin HealthMiles Pay-for-Prevention™ approach motivates sustained behavioral change that helps employees avoid the onset of lifestyle-related chronic conditions that drive the majority healthcare costs impacting businesses and their employees today."
Virgin HealthMiles shared evidence of the program's ability to motivate sustained behavioral change with the results of a recent analysis conducted by Boston University's Biostatistics Consulting Group (BCG). BCG evaluated 11,000 HealthMiles members over an 18-month period. The analysis showed that 50 percent of the participants who were physically inactive at the start of the program achieved and maintained a level of physical activity exceeding the CDC guidelines. This level of physical activity is shown to prevent or in some cases remediate the chronic diseases that comprise nearly 75 percent of healthcare spending in the US today.
The Virgin HealthMiles Pay-for-Prevention™ approach creates a culture of health that aligns employer and employee interests in driving down lifestyle-related healthcare costs. The program features a number of unique capabilities that support and encourage long-term member engagement and healthy behavior change. The company announced several new product developments and enhancements, including:
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Integrated Incentives: A significant portion of Virgin HealthMiles' clients have adopted Integrated Incentives to leverage Virgin HealthMiles communications, engagement and incentives management capabilities across their broader health and wellness strategy. Virgin HealthMiles' Integrated Incentives management solution expands upon the company's current integration capabilities and offers employers even more integration and communication features to support their broad range of employee health programs and objectives.
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Activity Tracking: Virgin HealthMiles introduced the latest accelerometer-based version of its GoZone® pedometer, which provides accurate, validated activity data for members to track their progress with the program. Virgin HealthMiles offers the GoZone at an affordable price for large-scale employee health initiatives. HealthMiles members regularly use the GoZone to capture their daily physical activity.
- Virgin HealthMiles Kick: Virgin HealthMiles recently introduced Virgin HealthMiles Kick -- an informative, engaging 12-week health enhancement program that helps employees create the habit of regular exercise and educates employees on all the elements of a healthy lifestyle. For employers who know that a healthy lifestyle is key to productivity and healthcare cost control and who need an engaging program that helps employees understand the value and develop the habits of an active lifestyle, Virgin HealthMiles Kick is an easy-to-use, fun program which guides employees to the right amount and frequency of healthy activity.
About Virgin HealthMiles
Virgin HealthMiles provides technology-based employee health programs that pay people to get active. The company's Pay-for-Prevention™ approach, based on physical activity and healthy lifestyle change, attracts an average of 40 percent of employees who participate, which helps organizations reduce medical costs and improve employee productivity and satisfaction. The program is offered by employers, government entities, and insurers. Over 120 industry leaders representing more than 700,000 employees across the U.S., including American Diabetes Association, OhioHealth, Ochsner Health System, MWV, SunGard, SunTrust, and Timberland have selected Virgin HealthMiles' award-winning program for their employees. The company is a member of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group. For more information, visit www.virginhealthmiles.com.
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