Live Healthy, Get Cheaper Health Insurance

By Leslie Knopp



SEATTLE - Here's what King County wants its 13,000 employees to do: stop smoking, work out, and eat healthy.



What will they get?



"People will pay less for their health care if they live a healthy lifestyle," said King County Executive Ron Sims.



King County is one of the first public employers in the country to launch the Healthy Incentives program. Every worker gets the same heath benefits. But, if a worker participates in the Healthy Incentives program, co-pays and deductibles could go down, saving that staffer as much as $2,400 a year.



"The employee has to own the consequences of the decisions they make in health care," said Sims.



Sims told KOMO 4 News no one is forced to join. But, if workers participate, they must follow their doctor's recommendations, such as losing weight or getting preventative tests. If an employee has a disease, as long as they follow doctor's orders to stay as healthy as possible, they earn points that lower their costs.



"A lot of us sit at a desk all day and if we can get out and do a little exercise, watch our diets, take care of our health, that's going to save costs," said King County Employee Patrick Vanzo.



But there are some employees who think the new system is unfair. They say it's invasive and denies their right to privacy.



But, the county says health care costs are getting so expensive, it must do something. Sims says Healthy Incentives could save King County $32 million a year.



The county is still working with union members to write a plan, which would be up and running in 2007.