KENTUCKY (WFIE) -
Today, the Kentucky Employees' Health Plan (KEHP) announced plans to provide all members, nearly 275,000 Kentucky teachers, retirees, state and local government employees and their dependents, free flu shots.
Free flu shots are provided to help protect Kentucky's public employees and those they serve from the onset of the flu. KEHP encourages all members and their family to take advantage of this benefit and get vaccinated early. Co-pays will be waived starting Sept. 15 through Nov. 30 at participating provider locations including doctors' offices, health clinics, retail pharmacies, local health departments and any of the four First Onsite Clinics located in state office buildings in Frankfort.
"This is a great benefit for our members," said Tim Longmeyer, secretary of the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet, which administers the KEHP. "Our objective with every KEHP initiative is to encourage members to live healthier lives. Prevention is a very important aspect of overall wellness, and the best way to protect against the flu is to receive a vaccination."
Last year, nearly 73,000 state health plan members took advantage of this benefit. KEHP is planning on higher utilization this year, due to the launch of a new fully incentivized wellness program, HumanaVitality®. Under the new program, members will be rewarded for getting vaccinated. Those who are 18 and over receive 200 Vitality Points™ and those who range in age from 0-17 receive 100 Vitality Points.
The interactive online wellness program encourages members to take steps to improve their overall well-being through prevention, education, fitness and healthy living. Members increase points for completing different activities throughout the year. Points are used at an online mall to redeem rewards, ranging from gift cards and sports equipment to electronics and hotel stays.
"By providing an incentive and rewarding those who are making healthy decisions, like receiving a flu shot, we are demonstrating our commitment to improving our members overall quality of life and underscoring the importance of preventative care," said Longmeyer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 111 million workdays are lost nationally each year due to the flu. That equals approximately $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity. The CDC recommends a flu vaccine for all individuals older than six months of age, but especially for those who may be at higher risk, such as children, pregnant women, those older than 50 and health care workers.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) urges Kentuckians to get a vaccination as soon as it becomes available from their health care provider. The first lab-confirmed influenza cases for this season have already been reported in Kentucky.
To learn more about KEHP's free flu shot campaign, HumanaVitality and other wellness programs, visit http://Livingwell.ky.gov.
For more information on influenza disease or the availability of flu immunizations, please contact your local health department or visit http://healthalerts.ky.gov.
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