Interview Scott Marber Virgin Life Care

Virgin Life Care is enabling employers and health plans to recognize and reward employees for engaging in healthy behaviors. Scott Marber, SVP Sales at Virgin Life Care knows how to design incentive programs that work!

Q. Can you briefly describe Virgin Life Care's approach to rewarding healthy behaviors?
A. Our HealthMiles program is a physical activity rewards program that motivates employees to exercise and lead healthier lifestyles. First and foremost it is fun, and therefore lots of people participate and stay engaged. We help members take charge of their health by becoming more active, taking important health measurements on a regular basis, and monitoring their progress - all while getting rewarded for it.

HealthMiles works because it fits into virtually any lifestyle. It's comprehensive but easy to use. HealthMiles takes a unique approach to activity, encouraging members to do what they enjoy most. Whatever gets them moving gets them Miles: walking, biking, dancing, swimming, playing. Regardless of their level of fitness, employees can reap the rewards of the HealthMiles program.

Q. Based on your company's research, 81% of adults in America agree that "I am directly responsible for my health". What will motivate consumers to make needed lifestyle changes to become healthier?
A. Cash is a great place to start but it is only one of our tools. We also tap into people's competitive spirit through our various challenges, both personal and team based. We give social support, offer encouragement, help people set goals, give feedback against those goals, provide personalized messages and reminders, give recognition for achievement, and most of all, we aren't preachy. We keep it fun!

Q. What types of rewards are companies choosing to give to their employees?
A. This runs the gamut of everything you could think of. Often we see companies reward people for one-time or annual events like filling out an HRA (Health Risk Assessment) or getting a flu shot. We encourage this as well but we believe that real value comes from encouraging lifestyle changes that are sustained like physical activity or eating well. Rewards also are as varied as people are creative. Cash, days off, reduction in premiums, t-shirts, water bottles, lunch with the company president - the list goes on. We believe it's important to make sure that the rewards are meaningful enough to the employees that it will catch their attention.

Scott explains that each program is unique based on the company's goals and the profile of their employees. What if you were asked to help design an incentive program for your company? What behaviors would you reward? What types of rewards would motivate the employees at your company while fitting into your corporate culture?

During his presentation on Incentivizing Healthy Behaviors, Scott shared examples of programs from different companies and health plans designed to motivate positive changes.