Green Shield Canada will use insights from its data to take current health care a step toward preventive health care with an initiative called Change4Life.
“We have been spending much of our time on rethinking employee health benefit plans in light of the emerging health challenges of Canadians,” says Peter Gove, GSC’s innovation leader for health management.
The premise of the campaign is based on behavioural economics using reward contingencies to promote healthy behaviours.
A portal accessible through GSC’s website will use a simple points-and-rewards system to slowly help employees take achievable steps toward better health practices. Points earned can then be used toward winning gift cards and such from major retailers including Sport Chek and Sobeys.
Gove further adds that their research indicates that focus should be on engaging plan members in effective self health management. Because GSC believes the keys to changing behaviours include ease of access to resources and reinforcement of positive change.
