MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2010) – UnitedHealthcare has awarded 11 companies its "Well Deserved" award for 2009, an honor given to employers who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to improving their employees' health and well-being.

Award winners were recognized for implementing exemplary wellness programs aimed at reducing health risks and improving prevention among their employees. Their commitment to successful wellness programs was evidenced by high-level executive support; the presence of active wellness committees and/or champions; an established wellness budget; and the use of diverse wellness resources such as health assessment tools, biometric screenings, personal health records, direct employee communication, health education and coaching.

Among this year's winners, six employers have won the "Well Deserved" award for two consecutive years. In recognition of these companies' ongoing commitment to employee health and well-being, UnitedHealthcare also presented them with a Golden Apple award to honor this multi-year distinction.

The following companies earned the "Well Deserved" Golden Apple award:

• City of Arlington, Texas – The city has a dedicated wellness coordinator who works directly with city employees. More than 60 percent of the city's work force are engaged in the wellness program. The city's "Wellness Works for 'ME' Incentive Program" was first launched in January 2008 to all full-time employees enabling them to earn points based on healthful activities.
• City of Austin, Texas – The city's "HealthPLUS Wellness Program" offers free or low-cost education and activity-based programs and health screenings that focus on exercise, healthful eating, smoking cessation and prevention of chronic diseases. The city has three staff members dedicated to employee wellness and utilizes a network of employee wellness champions who assist with program and service coordination.
• Franklin County, Ohio – The county's "Journey Toward Your Health" wellness program allows employees to attend week-long seminars such as Healthy Heart Week, Diabetes Week, Women's Health Week, and Men's Health Week, all of which bring in health experts who focus on a particular health issue. It also offers stair walking, cardio dancing, yoga, on-site health screenings and immunizations, health counseling and support to help people make appointments with their doctor, and works with cafeteria vendors to offer more healthful food choices to employees.
• Shamrock Foods Company, Phoenix, Ariz – Shamrock Foods has organized wellness committees to create awareness and build participation in programs like biometric screenings, on-site wellness coaching, lunch-and-learn seminars, community volunteering and run/walk events. Employees are given incentives to participate in a variety of health and wellness programs that have been designed to appeal to their culturally diverse work force.
• State of Rhode Island – More than 68 percent of employees participated in a new incentive-based program called "Rewards for Wellness." This program offers eligible employees credits to their health insurance for completing health activities such as taking a health assessment, participating in on-site health screenings and receiving routine preventive care.
• Texas Mutual Insurance Company, Austin, Texas – Texas Mutual Insurance Company's "Healthy Lifestyle Incentive" program provides significant incentive for participation in the wellness program, resulting in employees who proactively manage their health risks through early intervention and lifestyle adjustments. The program, also includes "Fitness Friday," which encourages wellness activities and provides educational information on a variety of health and wellness topics. All employees and their spouses enrolled in health insurance benefits participate in the program, which includes biometric screening and coaching based on the individual's identified health risks.

Other companies receiving the 2009 "Well Deserved" award were:

• City of San Antonio, Texas – The city of San Antonio has a dedicated "Wellness Division" in human resources with three full-time employees who administer an incentive-based wellness program. Employees can accumulate points and rewards for practicing healthy behaviors, completing health assessments and obtaining preventive screenings. In 2009, the city added 10 "Health Stations" in city-owned buildings where employees can monitor their blood pressure, weight and body mass index.
• GTECH Corp., Providence, R.I. – GTECH offers its employees a comprehensive health and wellness program that includes a national physical activity challenge, employee health fairs with biometric screenings, and free flu shots for all employees. GTECH was the first company in Rhode Island to provide six visits to a nutritionist as part of its employee benefits program. These visits provide each employee with information on how to eat healthfully and maintain a healthful lifestyle. In addition, GTECH has taken steps to provide employees with more healthy choices in its vending machines and cafeterias, and also offers free monthly blood pressure screenings throughout the company's offices statewide.
• Jockey International, Inc., Kenosha, Wis. – Jockey offers a comprehensive wellness program that includes health fairs, free smoking cessation program for all employees and dependents, on-site yoga and Pilates classes, and a "Corporate Walking Club." Employees are also encouraged to complete an annual health assessment and participate in online coaching sessions to reduce health risks.
• Lanco International, Inc., Hazel Crest, Ill. – Lanco has a dedicated wellness nurse who provides diabetic coaching and offers classes and support for weight loss, smoking cessation and exercise. The company tracks program outcomes and estimates a substantial medical cost savings in part due to the success of its wellness program.
• Wayne County, Ohio – Wayne County has developed a wellness incentive program called "Health First." In 2008, employees had the option of lowering their deductibles and copayments by participating in biometric screenings, an online health assessment, health education programs and health coaching. The county has employed a full-time wellness nurse since 2005 and enjoys over 95 percent employee participation in the program.

"The 'Well Deserved' award winners have developed wellness programs that demonstrate a true commitment to improving their employees' quality of life and reducing health care costs," said Carol Calvin, RN, MS, CPQH and national director of UnitedHealthcare Health and Wellness. "Wellness and preventive health are critical components of improving our health care system. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Adopting healthful behaviors can prevent or control the devastating effects of these diseases."

The "Well Deserved" employer-recognition program was designed to demonstrate UnitedHealthcare's support for customers who have implemented successful worksite wellness programs. Applicants were judged and scored by an external broker review panel on pre-defined criteria established by UnitedHealthcare's Health and Wellness directors. The criteria are based on UnitedHealthcare's mission of helping people live healthier lives.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefits plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of approximately 25 million individual consumers, contracting directly with more than 600,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.