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Council raises employee wellness premium incentives to boost participation
Summary
The Whitley County Council unanimously approved a 5‑percentage‑point increase to employee wellness premium credits (employee credit to 15%, spouse credit to 10%) to encourage participation; staff will monitor uptake and report back if costs rise.
The Whitley County Council on Dec. 2 approved an increase in employee wellness premium incentives designed to boost participation in the county's wellness program.
Scott Wagner proposed raising the incentive by five percentage points—moving the employee premium credit from 10% to 15% and the spouse credit from 5% to 10%—saying the change is intended to encourage preventative health behavior and reduce downstream insurance costs. "I'd like everybody to wake up in the morning and say, what's best for my health today?" Scott Wagner said as he outlined the rationale for the program.
Council members and staff discussed historically low participation—reported as under 10% in recent years—and compared the county’s approach with a local utility that offers cash rewards rather than premium credits. A council member noted uncertainty about the program's total cost because payout amounts will depend entirely on how many employees and spouses participate.
Supporters said even a limited increase in participation could produce long‑term savings in reduced sick days and health costs. Opponents or skeptics in the discussion urged caution, noting the county cannot precisely predict participation or the program’s fiscal impact this year.
The council voted to adopt the revised incentive structure and directed human resources to monitor participation and return with updates next year. The change takes effect with the next applicable payroll cycle and will be evaluated by staff for budgetary effects.
