If I told you that you could earn an extra bonus from the State of Arizona each year by doing activities that you probably are already doing, would you believe me? It's true; you can earn up to a $200 incentive from the State of Arizona for participating in the Health Impact Program (HIP). HIP is an award-winning well-being program designed to help you make small, everyday changes to experience better health. All benefits-eligible employees can participate in the HIP program.
If you aren’t part of the over 1,600 University of Arizona employees already earning points and monetary incentives from HIP you might be wondering, “How do I earn this incentive bonus”? The answer may surprise you because you are probably already doing many things that are eligible for points. To earn the up to $200 incentive you need to earn 50,000 points. 50,000 points might sound like a lot, but once you dive in, you’ll see how quickly those points add up. Do you get your annual physical from your primary care physician each year? If you do, you just earned yourself 5,000 points. You can also earn points by tracking physical activity, practicing mindfulness, being nicotine free, and much more.
Don’t just take my word for it. Check out some of the great features available on the Virgin Pulse platform from your colleagues.
Daily engagement and syncing
Carrie Johnson, Senior Health Educator & Health Communications Manager at Campus Health Services, enjoys the daily card features and how she earns points after reading them and learning something new. Johnson enjoys earning points for doing things they already do daily like physical activity. “I like the step tracking feature and how it syncs to my Apple Watch,” says Johnson. Christi Castillo, Project Coordinator – Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant at Campus Health Services, agrees. “I appreciate that the Virgin Pulse app syncs with my Apple Watch and updates my steps, sleep, and more without me having to enter it manually,” says Castillo. Apple Watch is just one of the many devices that the HIP portal syncs with to help you earn points for things like physical activity.
Healthy Habits
Castillo also finds value in the Healthy Habits section of the portal and app. Within the portal, you can choose which healthy habits you want to focus on throughout the year, which can help you stay engaged with current habits or find new things to try out. Castillo said, “I really enjoy logging in to track my Healthy Habits on the app. Some of my habits were things I already do every day, but it was great to have reminders for some new healthy habits that could easily be incorporated into my daily routine.”
RethinkCare
Lori Van Buggenum, Project Director for the Office of University Initiatives, loves the gamification of many activities they were already doing before joining the program. Beyond physical activity, Van Buggenum enjoys how the platform supports mental well-being, specifically in the RethinkCare area. “When I am having a tough day, I can hop into one of these sessions for a quick five to 10 minutes and reset,” says Van Buggenum.
Focus on you and get rewarded
It is important to remember that there are many facets of the program, so find what works best for you on the way to earning a monetary incentive. Van Buggenum perfectly, sharing, “You don’t need to be perfect with this program to find it helpful and useful.” Perfect also doesn’t mean having to earn the full 50,000 points. The program is designed so you can earn a monetary incentive with as few as 25,000 points. You’ve got this!
Interested in joining HIP and want to take advantage of earning an incentive for focusing on your health? Find more information on registration and how to use the portal on the HIP Life & Work Connections page.
HIP is provided and managed by the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) and powered by the Virgin Pulse platform.