Manulife Financial takes the next step in promoting employee wellness

Manulife and Medisys Health Group offer a wellness program that "walks the talk"

WATERLOO, ON, Feb. 18 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial Group Benefits now offers employers access to a full suite of employee personal health assessments, ranging from executive medicals to a number of worksite employee health screening programs. Health assessments are the next step for employers to better identify and manage health risk factors in their employee population. For the employee, the service is quick, convenient and provides a valuable health profile.

The Personal Health Assessment program was developed with Medisys Health Group, a national provider of customized preventive and diagnostic health care solutions. Participating Manulife employers are referred to Medisys, who will coordinate and conduct the assessments.

"Employers want to maintain or improve the health, productivity and engagement of their workforce. To help do this, they need access to competitive and attractive employee wellness programs that not only help to increase employee satisfaction but also reduce employer disability and drug benefit costs," said Rick Brunet, Executive Vice President, Manulife Group Benefits. "Our exclusive arrangement with Medisys allows us to better provide employees with that first step, in providing innovative, trusted and relevant health information that meets the needs of both plan members and sponsors, with the highest levels of professionalism and patient confidentiality."

"We are honoured and delighted to be partnered with Manulife to deliver a range of innovative health services to their group benefits clients across Canada," said Dr. Sheldon Elman, Founder and Chairman of Medisys Health Group. "We believe that this relationship is a testament to the added value that our executive health and wellness services provide by promoting a reduction in employee health risks and related costs through yearly, preventative, and comprehensive medical evaluations."

Montréal-based Medisys is Canada's leading provider of executive personal health assessments. For more than 20 years, Medisys has delivered customized, comprehensive health management strategies through its national network of offices and health practitioners.

Executive-health and workplace-wellness product suites

Manulife's Personal Health Assessment program offers Executive health assessments as well as Worksite Wellness programs that deliver employee wellness services at the workplace.

"Companies of all sizes are keenly interested in the health and well-being of their senior leadership," said Marilee Mark, Vice President, Marketing, Manulife Group Benefits. Executive program participants undergo comprehensive physical and mental health evaluations, laboratory testing, as well as lifestyle, fitness, nutrition and stress assessments. Afterward, they receive a report containing extensive feedback, including a customized health improvement plan. Notes Ms. Mark, "This program is an excellent tool to help employers help their key people keep or improve their health." Manulife's Executive Personal Health Assessments are conducted at Medisys facilities in Montréal, Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

The Worksite Wellness programs provide on-site health assessment services. Employers can choose from a suite of worksite programs, based on cost, depth of testing and reporting detail. The Worksite Wellness programs assess cardiovascular risk factors, while feedback can be provided individually or through a generalized presentation to employee groups. "These were designed with flexibility in mind, continues Mark. "Any of the Worksite Wellness programs can easily fit into an existing wellness program or can be introduced as part of a new focus on employee wellness objectives". The Worksite Wellness programs provide on-site support at multiple employer locations, regardless of the number of participating plan members, at a reasonable cost to employers.

"The Personal Health Assessment program is an exciting addition to the suite of workplace health and wellness services that we make available to Canadian businesses," said Mr. Brunet. "Introduction of this service demonstrates our ongoing commitment to deliver products and services that round out a comprehensive benefits program, designed to protect and preserve a company's most valuable asset - their employees. And we firmly believe that our continuously expanding suite of workplace wellness initiatives are integral in achieving that goal".

For more details on Manulife's Group Benefits programs, please visit www.manulife.ca

About Manulife Financial

Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 22 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia, and primarily through John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers customers a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn $440 billion (US$ 420 billion) as at December 31, 2009.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

About Medisys Health Group

Medisys Health Group is a leading Canadian provider of healthcare services to corporations and individuals. Through its national network of facilities, including offices in Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, Medisys has been delivering preventive, diagnostic and consultative healthcare services to approximately 4,000 corporations, including 320 companies of the Financial Post 500, since 1987. For more information about Medisys, visit www.medisys.ca.