Health screenings

Health screenings check cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, body mass index, and waist measurement. Individual health screening results are not shared with Hennepin County or PreferredOne.

Wellness points

• You earn 500 wellness points toward the health incentive.
• You earn points either for an on-site screening or at your doctor's office.
• You can earn points for a screening once per year.

For a health screening at your doctor

• You and your doctor fill out the Virgin Pulse provider form.
• Get the form from your Virgin Pulse account (select Benefits and search "screening").
• You can upload the completed form to your Virgin Pulse account or your doctor can fax it to Virgin Pulse.
• Submit the form by October 15, 2021 for points toward the 2022 co-pay reduction.

On-site events

There are no on-site events scheduled at this time.

Flu shots

Wellness points

• You earn 250 wellness points toward the health incentive.
• You earn points when you document your flu shot completion in your Virgin Pulse account (select Benefits and search "vaccination").
• See where you can get a flu shot at no cost.
• You can earn points for a flu shot or other vaccination up to three times per incentive year.

Trade time for fitness is designed to promote and increase physical activity in employees and their household members.

Summary

• Pay for fitness and wellness expenses with sick leave or paid time off (PTO)
• Expenses can apply to you or your household members
• Expenses can total up to $2,000 per payroll year
• Sick leave or PTO balance must be high enough to cover the claim

Claims and reimbursements

Deadlines for claims

• March 5, 2021: Deadline for submitting claims for purchases made in 2020
• December 3, 2021: Deadline for submitting claims to be applied to the 2021 $2,000 maximum

Submitting claims

• Submit, edit or check status of claims in APEX
• Receipts must be itemized, dated and clearly show that the amount in your claim was paid
• Bank or credit card statements can only be used for monthly health club dues
• Can include multiple receipts for one claim, use date of oldest purchase
• Claims must be equal to or less than the purchase price

Receiving reimbursements

• Reimbursement comes in your regular paycheck and is considered taxable income
• Check your reimbursement balance in APEX or on your most current pay-stub
• Allow up to 3 to 4 weeks to see reimbursement on your paycheck
• If you’re leaving or retiring from the county, submit remaining expenses four weeks before your last working day

Eligible expenses

• Health club memberships
• New and used equipment, equipment maintenance, repair, parts, and warranties
• Exercise fees (e.g., sport league registration, court and rink rental, bike locker, and equipment rental)
• Fitness classes and personal trainers
• Massage (not medically necessary)
• Activity trackers and wearable devices (e.g., Fitbit)
• Behavior modification programs for weight loss (does not include food)
• Day sports camp
• Meditation, mindfulness or stress management apps
• Sporting gear (not clothing, see below) or protective sporting gear
• Fitness purchases from private parties (requires bill of sale with seller's name, address and phone number, equipment purchased, payment information and date, and name of purchaser)
• Sales tax and shipping and handling on these items
• Ergonomic chairs and sit-to-stand desks (must provide documentation with your claim that includes "ergonomic" or "adjustable" in the description)

Non-eligible expenses

• Body weight/composition scales, sleep trackers
• Building equipment for home gyms
• Child care or fun club, camping, clubs social in nature (e.g., country club, golf, bowling, and skiing)
• Clothing (e.g., running shoes, hiking boots, jackets, shorts, uniforms, and swimsuits)
• Fees related to extreme sports such as skydiving, bungee jumping, hang gliding
• Fees (e.g., tanning, park permits)
• Fishing or recreational equipment (e.g., tents, packs, coolers), tracing books or manuals
• Food and supplements even if purchased for a weight loss program
• Health coaching or nutrition counseling
• Items to transport sporting goods that can be repurposed (i.e. duffle bag, gym bag)
• Jogging strollers
• Medical expenses (e.g., lab tests, prescriptions, co-pays, medical equipment, medically prescribed massage) or other items reimbursable through a health savings account
• Reimbursements from health insurance providers (Fitness Advantage)
• Smoking cessation services or supplies (nicotine gum or patches)
• Tips for services
• Water bottles or water hydration packs
• Weapons (e.g., paint ball guns and equipment, air rifles, hunting guns, and archery equipment)

Questions

Contact HealthWorks at healthworks@hennepin.us or 612-348-4628.

Health club discounts

Fitness Advantage health club discount

Employees, family members and retirees covered by the county health plan can take part:

• Earn $10 – $25 per month toward health club membership fees
• Applies to health clubs that participate in the Fitness Advantage program
• Up to two household members can sign up
• Work out 12 times a month and get $25 per month off membership fees
• Work out 8 times a month and get $15 per month off membership fees
• Work out 6 times a month and get $10 per month off membership fees
• If you belong to more than one health club the discount can only apply to one
• You can use trade time for fitness to pay for the rest of your health club fees

Claims and reimbursements:

• Reimbursement comes 30-45 days from the end of the month when you complete visits. For example, if you have 12 visits in January your account is reimbursed in March.
• The reimbursed amount is taxable income and you’ll see this on your paycheck
• Your fitness club decides how to reimburse you (methods can include a reduction in future membership fees or direct deposit)
• You can earn points toward the health incentive and your points automatically go into Virgin Pulse (6 to 8 visits earns you 250 wellness points, 12 visits earns you 500 wellness points)

Enrollment:

• Fill out the Fitness Advantage enrollment form (PDF) and take it to your health club.

Additional health club discounts for county employees

LA Fitness membership rate for county employees and family members

• $29.99 per month (current and new members)
• No enrollment fees
• Enroll up to three immediate family members at employee rate
• Access to all LA Fitness-branded clubs except "Signature" clubs and clubs located in Canada
• Complimentary training consultation
• $49 annual fee per person
• Enroll online or contact Brian Dooley at 612-718-3750 or LAFitnessEmployeeDiscount@gmail.com.

Lifetime Fitness incentives for joining

• No enrollment fees
• My LT Bucks: 100 dollars toward health club items
• Complimentary personal training consultation
• Access to online content and resources, such as Flourish newsletter and Eat Well
• Enroll online

YMCA discounts for county employees

• No enrollment fees
• Workout 6+ times a month and receive a $15 reimbursement towards the following month's membership fees
• Access to 23 fitness and wellness locations
• One week free trial pass for employees and their families
• Call or visit your local YMCA to enroll

Online fitness classes

Live virtual fitness classes

• A variety of virtual fitness classes have been scheduled from February to April 2021, including cardio kickboxing, core strength, stretch & flow, and yoga.
• Classes are live-streamed and include modifications to accommodate all fitness levels.
• Space is limited to the first 100 attendees for each class.
• Attendees must agree to the county's liability waiver.
• This is an eight-week pilot project; ongoing classes are not planned at this time.
• Find classes on the HC Connect or Virgin Pulse events calendars.

Hennepin County informs employees of eligible health club discounts and on-site classes but does not endorse any health club or class.

Health and wellness coaching

• Get personal coaching to work toward your health and wellness goals
• Learn to manage stress, eat better, increase your physical activity or manage chronic conditions
• Health coaching details

Employee assistance program

In-person, video chat or telephonic resources

• You can meet one-on-one with a counselor to discuss money, family, work, legal or personal issues
• Free and confidential
• Four free visits for each issue you want to discuss
• Translation available
• To speak to someone immediately or to make an appointment, contact Sand Creek EAP at 651-430-3383 or 1-888-243-5744.

Online resources: My Life Expert

• Live chat support
• Webinars, online learning modules, podcasts, articles and videos about a variety of topics including health, fitness, financial wellness, childcare, aging, legal information and soft skills
• To create an account: Go to Sand Creek EAP, select My Life Expert, company code Hennepin

County health insurance coverage for mental health

• County health plans offer generous mental health care coverage.
• No copay or deductible for mental health and substance abuse office visits for providers inside or outside of your plan's network.
• No limit of visits for any provider.
• Check your plan for providers and other details.

Mental health support through Learn to Live

• Online programs for anxiety, stress, social anxiety, depression, insomnia, or substance use
• Programs based on principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Free and confidential
• Access to coaches via text, email, and phone
• Referrals for in-person providers
• Visit the Learn to Live website for more information, passcode HENNEPIN

Help quitting tobacco

Health coaching

• Receive one-on-one help from a health coach for a personal path to quitting.
• You’ll earn 250 wellness points per coaching session toward the health incentive.
• Health coaching details

Virgin Pulse Journeys

• Online activities in Virgin Pulse can help you quit tobacco.
• You earn wellness points toward the health incentive.
• You earn 1,500 points for completing a Journey.

Tobacco-related Journeys:

• Consider Quitting
• No Thanks, I Quit
• Prepare to Quit
• Ready, Set, Stop Smoking
• Stay on Track, Stay Quit

Quit for life program

• Preferred One members have free access to a five-month online program
• The program includes phone calls with a quit coach and text messages
• You earn 1,000 wellness points toward the health incentive for completing the program.

• Hennepin 5K
• Step To It Challenge
• Wellness catalog