Health Care Service Corporation Awarded The National Business Group on Health’s Highest Honor in the Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles® Awards Program

CHICAGO, June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the nation's largest non-investor-owned health insurer, has been awarded the National Business Group on Health's highest honor in its annual Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles® awards program. The awards recognize workplace well-being initiatives that have achieved strong engagement leading to improved health outcomes for employees and their families.  This is the third consecutive year that HCSC has been honored as a Best Employer for Healthy Lifestyles.  

HCSC was honored with platinum designation for its broad range of health and wellness initiatives focused on creating a "culture of health," notably, its Blue Role Model employee wellness program which encourages employees to demonstrate to members that taking responsibility for our personal health is important to all. As part of this program, employees are encouraged to take charge of their health and wellness by obtaining a biometric screening and tracking their daily physical activity and dietary choices for 90 days. Employees were also encouraged to participate in volunteer activities and understand the company's business goals. In the program's first year, 70 percent of employees achieved "Blue Role Model" status.

"We are thrilled to be recognized for our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our workforce and their families," said Nazneen Razi, chief human resources officer, HCSC. "At HCSC, wellness is a top priority, as it should be. Ensuring our employees have the tools and resources necessary to support a healthy lifestyle both at home and in the workplace will ultimately help each of us serve as role models for our members." 

HCSC is building on the momentum of last year's success by increasing employee engagement in wellness programs to improve year-over-year health outcomes in two significant areas – overweight/obesity and musculoskeletal disorders. These conditions were selected because they are prevalent, modifiable and impact quality of life, productivity and health care spending. The company offers employees within these targeted groups the opportunity to participate in health and wellness-related educational events and activities that address the causes and effects of being overweight/obese or having a musculoskeletal disorder.

HCSC was among 64 U.S. employers that received the 2015 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles® award at the Leadership Summit sponsored by the National Business Group on Health's Institute on Innovation in Workforce Well-being. Winners of the "Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles" awards were honored in one of two categories: Platinum, for exemplary workplace well-being programs, cultures and results; or Gold, for creating cultural and environmental changes that support employees in their lifestyle and behavior changes.

About Health Care Service Corporation 
Health Care Service Corporation is the country's largest non-investor-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with more than 15 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. HCSC has a rating of AA- (Very Strong) from Standard and Poor's, A1 (Good) from Moody's and A+ (Superior) from A.M. Best Company.  A Mutual Legal Reserve Company, HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.HCSC.com, visit our Facebook page or follow us at www.twitter.com/HCSC.

About the National Business Group on Health®

The National Business Group on Health is the nation's only non-profit organization devoted exclusively to representing large employers' perspective on national health policy issues and helping companies optimize business performance through health improvement, innovation and health care management. The Business Group leads initiatives to address the most relevant health care issues facing employers today and enables human resource and benefit leaders to learn, share and leverage best practices from the most progressive companies. Business Group members, which include 71 Fortune 100 companies, provide health coverage for more than 50 million U.S. workers, retirees and their families. For more information, visit www.businessgrouphealth.org.

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SOURCE Health Care Service Corporation