Wellness Program (THAW) Home Page

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Wellness Program (THAW)

The Total Health and Wellness (THAW) program provides a variety of wellness activities. Employees may participate in on-site health and wellness activities through the new UA Health in Action program or complete a confidential health risk assessment that identifies their particular health concerns.

Wellness News

UA Health in Action
The new program is a partnership between the university and Wellness Initiatives Network for Alaska, Inc. (WIN for Alaska). The wellness provider will host frequent events on Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau campuses and semiannual activities at locations with 20 or more employees. Activities will include health fairs, health seminars and fitness events.

Look for a schedule of upcoming events at WIN for Alaska's Health Activity Tracker Web site or watch for e-mails. Employees may use health resources on the site and track their activities and exercise.

Health Risk Assessment
Employees may assess and improve their health through a health assessment provided by Summex Health Management, a national company that offers wellness services.

During October, employees fill out an online or written health risk assessment, and receive a personal health report that shows the status of their health and flags possible future health risks. Some participants may also use Summex's voluntary telephone counseling service for guidance on reducing their health risk factors. Eligible employees and their spouses who complete the assessment, receive $100 tax-free health care rebates. For more information, refer to the Q & A section below, and to the Assessment FAQ.

2006 Health Risk Assessment Results
Results from the 2006 health risk assessment are available in the following reports from the Summex Health Management:

2006 Health Monitor Management Report
A summary of results and trends

2006 Health Monitor Cohort Report
Participants' health risk rate changes from 2005 to 2006

Q & A

How do I use the WIN for Alaska Web site?
Register on the program's Health Activity Tracker Web site, which is also the program's information center. It will list upcoming activities in your area. You may also enter your health-related data and track your activities online. No one will view your personal information except you.

How does WIN for Alaska decide which programs to offer?
The company relies on feedback from employees to plan events of interest to as many employees as possible. It will also use the Summex health risk assessment to plan events aimed at reducing the greatest overall risk factors identified in the assessment, which, in 2006, were poor nutrition, cardiovascular disease and stress. Anyone with program ideas, may e-mail WIN For Alaska at winfor@alaska.net, or call toll-free at (866) 248-0797.

What do I get when I complete the health risk assessment?
You will receive an evaluation of your health, including an overall "wellness score," information about health risks that apply to you, suggestions on reducing your risks, and a summary you may share with your doctor. You and you spouse will also receive a $100 rebate on your UA health care deduction just for completing the questionnaire.

Who is eligible to complete the questionnaire?
All University of Alaska employees and their spouse or FIP (financially interdependent partner) who were enrolled for UA health care coverage and their enrollment information had been entered into the university's database by the deadline.

Will my information from the questionnaire be kept confidential?
All information in the health risk assessment and the personal health report is personal and confidential, as protected by federal law. The University of Alaska will never see the individual results for you or your spouse or financially interdependent partner. A third-party vendor, Summex Health Management, will process the assessment.

What if I have other questions?
If you have any additional questions regarding the wellness program, the questionnaire, or the rebate, please e-mail UA Benefits or call (907) 450-8200.

Please email UA Benefits about any problems with this page 21-Feb-2007

Photo credits: woman in field class and woman at Sitka campus photos courtesy of UAS; Mt. McKinley photo credit © Rex Melton,
Alaska Division of Tourism; flower photo credit Nile Mueller; aurora photo credit Jan Curtis 2003