Program Description

Wellpower is a comprehensive health promotion program offered to Unum employees, retirees and family members. The Wellpower Program's goals include promoting the health and well-being of employees and their families, contributing to a productive and positive work environment, focusing on customer needs and providing innovative solutions to evolving health promotion and disease and disability prevention need- as Unum's employee population grows older. Wellpower is committed to providing programs that are cost-beneficial and cost-effective.

The Wellpower Program uses education, a fitness facility, screening and policy to achieve its goals. Education programs include parenting, nutrition, weight and stress management, financial planning, coping with change, self-defense, car-seat installation, AIDS and women's health. The Facility encourages regular exercise with a 10,000 sq ft facility that includes cardiovascular equipment, weights and 32 aerobic classes a week. Wellpower also offers non-facility based exercise; intramural sports, stretch breaks, walking, gardening and a track team which has won national corporate championships four times. Blood pressure and cholesterol screening are offered throughout the company and fitness evaluation for members of the Facility. Finally, Wellpower's reimbursement policy pays for half the cost of health promotion programs. Wellpower implemented Unum's non-smoking policy in 1986, one of the first companies in the country to do so.

The Wellpower Program is staffed, in-house, with a Director of the overall program who holds an MSPH, four exercise physiologists and an administrator. In addition, Wellpower runs an internship program and hires consultants to teach aerobics and a variety of health education programs. Seventy-five percent Wellpower's budget of is funded by Unum America and the other 25 percent is funded through employee fees.

Unum's comprehensive health promotion program also includes Occupational Health and Safety, which has successfully reduced injury and workers compensation costs through case management and education which promotes good posture, lifting technique and prevention of repetitive use injury. In addition, Unum's Human Resources enhances employee health with an EAP, credit counseling, on-site child care, child and elder-care referral and benefit plans that encourage seat belt use and non-smoking, as well as policies that promote work/home balance. Unum America has been honored by Working Mother magazine as one of the best companies for working women.

Unum's Wellpower Program has successfully enhanced the health of Unum employees. Several studies have shown significant reductions in smoking, significant increases in seat belt use and maintenance of healthy exercise and weight. A cost benefit analysis of 1993 and 1994 claims data found that Wellpower participants were 25 percent less likely to file a medical claim than non-participants. The average cost per claim for Wellpower participants was $929, compared to $1226 for non-participants, a significant difference. Unum estimates that the cost savings per Wellpower participant per year are $322, or a savings of $1.81 for every dollar invested in health promotion.

Unum's Wellpower Program won the Health Action Leadership Award in 1990 from Kelly Communications (best overall program, < 5000 employees), a Buckle Up America Award in 1991 from the American Coalition for Traffic Safety, the 1993 Business and Industry Award for Corporate Based Programs ( > 1000 employees) from the Association for Worksite Health Promotion and received an honorable mention in the 1994 C. Everett Koop National Health Awards and won a 1995 C. Everett Koop National Health Award.

Unum America is an affiliate of Unum Corporation (NYSE:UNM), the Nations leading provider of disability insurance products and services and a provider of employee benefits, long term care and retirement products.

For more information, contact: 

Susan Olson, MSPH 

Director, Medical Programs, Finance and Planning 

Unum America 

2211 Congress St, W317 

Portland, ME 04122 

207-770-2516 

207-770-7399 (fax) 

USUNMBBL@lBMMAIL. COM