So my employer is now offering reduced rates on health insurance premiums by having employees and spouses complete biometric screenings, etc. OK no biggie, we had our numbers done and are now saving around $1000 a year on our premiums, great.
Additionally, we can earn a $150 gift card by participating in at least four "coaching" phone sessions. Sounds great but mine will be about weight management and I judging by the questions in my "personal health assessment" and some other literature on the site, this program has very outdated information that mainstream medicine is still supporting. For example, I lost points on my health assessments because I don't eat "6-11 servings of whole grains per day" - I don't eat any grains at all because they cause symptoms of inflammation in me. I also don't eat "5 servings of fruit per day" because fruit is high in sugar so other than some berries in my morning smoothie, I don't eat fruit at all. They also preach about "calorie free soda" as a healthy alterntive to sugar-sweetened soda - really? Diet soda is OK? - and to not eat saturated fat, which has been proven to have been terrible advice over and over and over again.
Has anyone participated in a similar program? One one hand, I'd love the $150 and enjoy the thought of being able to take something like a barre or kettlebell class or something else at a local studio that my regular gym doesn't offer. On the other hand, I don't think I could sit through 4 phone calls of someone giving me bad advice or telling me things I already know without becoming super annoyed. If you've done one of these programs, do the "coaches" have to stick to their script or are there some who actually have up to date info that is actually helpful?
Even a broken clock is right twice a day. $150 seems like a nice amount for what might be a bit of aggravation. I would listen, and really listen, there might be something useful/ worthwhile/ thoughtprovoking / or relavant to you in their presentation.
Best,
F. B.
Ah...yes...the health coach & online assessments.
First step in the final legal discrimination...the overweight, the smokers, the couch potatoes..
Of course they have a script. Can you imagine having to work with a million different people with all their health quirky ideas? It would take hours just to get through 1 call.
I don't think you are reading their recommendations correctly. I think I have the same program and it's 5 servings of fruits and veggie a day not just fruit. The 6 to 11 servings of whole grains is per week not per day. The other recommendations about diet soda is for people who suck down tons of soda or sweetened drinks all day long. The coaches would recommend water however when people make too many big changes those changes don't last and they fall back into bad habits.
The whole idea of the program is to get you to look at what you are eating and doing and see what small steps you can make toward better health. Take it like any other advice you get. Pay attention to what you want and leave the rest. Personally I really don't eat all that much dairy or meat. My diet consists of mostly veggies with some rice for grain and beans for protein. When I chart it on the government my plate it always shows that I need protein and dairy but I get what I need from other food choices.
So sit through 4 calls and say yes, that's interesting, I never thought of that, thank you for this information and then pocket the $150.
I think I would be tempted for $150. My friend and her husband go to timeshare meetings with magazines and reads during the 2 hour seminars.My husband would never sit through one of these.
Do you have to take a quiz to prove you understand their way of health?
I'm suspicious of it.
HIPPA grants you certain privacy regarding your health records and here health insurers want you to freely discuss it with - who ARE these people on the phone anyway?
Call me paranoid (and I've been called worse) but I'm not convinced they aren't going to do something with the info I might discuss with them.
You can certainly listen, make all the right noises about agreeing with them, yadda yadda yadda - now send me a check - and totally blow off their advice.
I second fanged bunny.
i too would be uber-annoyed. how stupid and archaic and.....well, stupid that THIS is what they consider 'coaching.'
but i could sit through a few minutes of stupid for $150. you'll be on the phone so they won't see your eyes rolling.
MP with us while they're 'coaching' you!
:) khairete
S.
The $150 is better in your pocket than theirs. This is the way all health insurance will be someday. Might as well jump on board now.
I'd have a hard time doing that. Can you get an appointment with your doc and have him write a letter stating you can't eat grains due to.....what's that called? Gluten issues? And the other stuff, if your doc writes it down that this way works best with your body they can't take points off right? If it's a health issue they have to accept it maybe?
when I did it with my employer I pretty much did all the talking. We basically set goals and I talked about whether or not I was hitting them or not. At the end of the day I do not think they offered me any REAL advise. They were just really encouraging and just kept telling me to keep trying. At the end of the day I would say I didnt even see results. It might be worth it for $150 because it was like 4, 10 minute phone calls.So $150 for only 40 mins of "work" sounds like a deal.
