Aetna’s well-being consultants add people to the platform, but the employer still has to supply the champions.
Aetna says its well-being consultants complement the digital platform with human support. The service helps an employer plan, but it does not run the program for the employer.
What the program is and what members do.
Human support behind the technology
Aetna says great technology gets better with the right people behind it, and that its well-being consultants complement the digital experience. Their job is to help build a strategy designed to support better health outcomes and more manageable costs. They work alongside the employer and are guided by the employer’s goals.
What a consultant can do
Aetna lists three things: offer short-term and long-term well-being strategies, train well-being champions at the employer’s organization, and develop an annual well-being calendar. Aetna adds that this is not the full list. Champions are the employees who promote the program inside the workplace.
The Workplace Well-Being Award
Aetna also runs the Aetna Workplace Well-Being Award, which it says spotlights employers who make well-being part of their workplace culture. It is a recognition program, not a benefit, and it does not change what a plan covers. Employers can read the award criteria in an Aetna PDF.
Eligibility, funding and plan design.
Who gets a consultant
Aetna’s page invites employers to speak with an Aetna representative about Health Your Way. It does not say which group sizes receive a dedicated consultant, or whether consulting is a standard part of the account team. Eligibility varies by plan, funding and employer opt-in.
How it is funded or sold
Aetna does not state whether consulting is included in premiums, in administrative fees or sold separately. Do not assume it is free. Ask for the service level in writing, including how many hours or meetings are committed during a plan year.
Where it fits in a plan design
A consultant is most useful for an employer that wants a structured program but lacks internal wellness staff. It is less useful if the employer will not name champions or set aside time, because the strategy then stays on paper. The consultant supports the plan, and the employer still owns execution.
What to settle before relying on it.
Is a named consultant assigned to our account?
Ask whether the consultant is dedicated, shared across many employers or reached through a general service line. We would also ask how often the consultant meets with the employer and who prepares the annual calendar. A named person with a meeting schedule is worth more than a general promise of support.
Who are our champions and how much time do they need?
Aetna can train well-being champions, but the employer has to choose them. Before committing, decide who in each location could take on the role and whether their manager agrees. Champions with no protected time are the most common reason these programs fade after the first quarter.
What should the strategy be measured against?
Ask the consultant to set targets before launch, such as screening completion or coaching enrollment, and to report against them. Results that Aetna publishes across its book of business do not predict a single employer’s outcome. We would hold the strategy to the group’s own baseline.
Common questions about this program.
What do Aetna well-being consultants do?
Aetna says they offer short-term and long-term well-being strategies, train well-being champions at the employer and develop an annual well-being calendar. The list is introduced as examples, so ask for the full service description.
What is the Aetna Workplace Well-Being Award?
Aetna says it spotlights employers who make well-being part of their workplace culture. It is a recognition program and has no effect on plan coverage or premiums.
Does the consultant run the program for us?
Aetna describes the consultant as a source of strategy, training and planning. Day-to-day promotion and participation still depend on the employer and its champions.
Where these details come from.
This page summarizes what Aetna publishes. Programs change, so confirm current details with the carrier before relying on them.
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