Contact:
Tom Enwright
(608) 216-2530
thomas.enwright@wpsic.com
American Heart Association recognizes employers that encourage physical
activity, provide healthy eating options, and promote a culture of wellness
MADISON, Wis.—March 15, 2016—WPS Health Solutions has achieved gold-level
status as an American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Worksite.
The Fit-Friendly Worksite designation recognizes employers for encouraging employee
physical activity, providing healthy eating options at work, and promoting a culture of
wellness. To qualify for gold-level recognition, a worksite must achieve certain criteria in
each of those three categories, and all initiatives must be in place for at least one year.
In addition, a Fit-Friendly Worksite employer must adhere to a comprehensive tobacco-
free policy that includes access to tobacco cessation resources and treatment options.
“As a health insurer, it’s important for WPS to encourage a healthy lifestyle for our
employees,” said Scott Kowalski, Executive Vice President of WPS Health Insurance.
“It’s an honor to have the American Heart Association recognize WPS for our health and
wellness initiatives. We will continue to encourage employees to manage their health
risks and improve their cardiovascular health.”
Fitness-related initiatives at WPS in the past year include:
-Fitness campaigns for employees throughout the year.
-Fitness tips on the corporate intranet and a wellness portal that provides
information on walking/exercise programs.
-Walking routes on the campus.
-Subsidized on-site group fitness classes and personal training before, during and
after the work day.
-Wellness reimbursement program for eligible employees, up to $100 per year.
Reimbursable items include gym memberships, fitness trackers, personal training,
and Community Supported Agriculture healthy food programs.
-Nutrition facts information in the cafeterias and on the intranet to help employees
make informed decisions.
-The main campus cafeterias provide employees with a salad bar subsidy. Other
subsidized items include prepared salads and veggie cups in the vending areas.
The subsidy encourages employees to consume healthier foods.
-On-site wellness screening available at no cost to employees, along with an online
health risk assessment.
-WPS team for the American Heart Association Heart Walk, along with
educational campaigns to raise awareness of the risk of heart disease and stroke.
-First-responder program that provides training in first aid, cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, and automated external defibrillator (AED) units.
About WPS Health Solutions
WPS Health Solutions is a nationally regarded government contractor and Wisconsin’s
leading not-for-profit health insurer. The WPS Health Insurance division offers
affordable individual health insurance, family health insurance, high-deductible health
insurance, and short-term health plans, as well as flexible and affordable group plans and
cost-effective benefit plan administration for businesses. The WPS Government Health
Administrators division administers Part A and B Medicare benefits for millions of
seniors in multiple states, and the WPS Military and Veterans Health division serves
millions more members who are active in the U.S. military, veterans and their families. In
2016, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical
Companies® for the seventh straight year. For more information about WPS, visit
www.wpsic.com.
