Healthy Challenge Wellness Program

 The Healthy Challenge Wellness Program is a vital part of the city’s overall benefits program. It includes the Health Challenge Cash Payout Program, and partners with Virgin Pulse (formerly SimplyWell) to offer employees premium insurance incentives. It also provides a variety of other programs to help employees be at their physical and mental best every day.

View the Wellness calendar

Healthy Challenge Premium Insurance Incentive

The City of Fort Worth has partnered with Virgin Pulse, a leading health management services provider, to help manage premium incentive requirements that allow employees to save up to $100 per month on next year’s insurance costs. The deadline to complete the following requirements is Aug. 31 of every year.

To participate, employees must do the following:

  • Complete the Health Assessment questionnaire (HA) online through Virgin Pulse 
  • Complete the Tobacco Affidavit (non-user) or the Tobacco Journey (user) (TOB) online through Virgin Pulse 
  • Complete a biometric screening with your doctor and submit the Biometric Screening Form (BSF) to Virgin Pulse  

Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, all employees hired before June 1, 2021 and spouses covered by the city’s health plan are eligible to participate in the Virgin Pulse program; however, only employees are eligible for cash payouts.

Virgin Pulse also offers health and wellness resources, including health coaching, exercise specialists and registered dieticians.

Healthy Challenge Cash Payout

The city’s Healthy Challenge Cash Payout is based on a point system. Participants earn points throughout the year for completing certain program activities, and participants can redeem these points at the end of the year for a cash reward. While employees are eligible for cash payouts, spouses are not. The deadline to earn points for the Healthy Challenge Cash Payout is Dec. 15 of every year, with the payout distributed in January of the following year.

By participating in the program, individuals can earn $150 (15,000 points), $200 (25,000 points), or $250 (40,000 points) by earning a specific amount of points.

To qualify for the Healthy Challenge Wellness Program, employees, retirees, or surviving spouses must first complete the four requirements listed above: the Member Health Assessment (MHA), the Tobacco Affidavit/Tobacco Cessation Program (TOB), receiving a physical and completing the Physician Screening form (PSF), and completing a preventive screening. These activities earn a participant an initial 5,000 points.

Read more details in the Wellness Guide about the program and earning points.(PDF, 1MB)

After a participant’s initial 5,000 points have been earned, additional points can be earned by completing various activities, both onsite and through the VirginPulse online portal.

  • Biometric Screening (Required): 1000 points
  • Member Health Assessment (Required): 1000 points
  • Tobacco Affidavit or Reasonable Alternative (Required): 1000 points
  • Preventive Screening (Required): 1000 points
  • Complete a Fitness Class (400 points each, monthly)
  • Complete 5,000 Steps a Day (50 points each, daily)
  • Complete a Coaching Appointment (250 points each, monthly)
  • Participate in Blood Drive (250 points each)
  • Complete an Annual Event (250 points)
  • Weight Loss Program (500 points)
  • Complete Annual Walk/Run (250 points)

Program Goal for cash payout: 15,000, 25,000 or 40,000 points

Healthy habits classes

Fitness and lifestyle classes are offered by the Healthy Challenge Wellness Program to all employees, retirees and spouses at no cost. Participation will also earn points toward the Healthy Challenge Cash Payout.

Current classes include Fitcamp, Zumba, Full Body Fitness, Total Body Blast, and Yoga. Financial Fitness workshops and classes on managing diabetes are also regularly available. Upcoming Wellness activities can be viewed on the Wellness calendar.

Wellness bucks

Employees can also earn Wellness Bucks if they’re caught by doing something healthy. These Wellness bucks can be cashed in at the Wellness Store in exchange for products like mugs, T-shirts, stress balls, and other items. Contact the Wellness office at 817-392-2623 for more details.

Other Wellness resources

The city offers several other programs to help employees achieve their personal health goals, including:

  • An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in partnership with Resources For Living, provides employer-sponsored counseling and relationship support, legal services, financial services, and identity theft services at no cost to participants and all members of their household. Contact the EAP at 1-866-611-2826.
  • Regular blood drives provide employees with an opportunity to donate blood while earning an hour of vacation time and points toward their Healthy Challenge Cash Payout. Contact the Wellness office at 817-392-8556 for details.
  • Fitness center memberships are available to city employees at a discounted price, including Anytime Fitness, Camp Gladiator, LA Fitness, Vigor Active, Resource Connection Aquatic Center, CERA, and area YMCA locations. Contact the Wellness office at 817-392-8556 for details.

Blue Zones Project

Blue Zones Project is a community-wide well-being improvement initiative to help make healthy choices easier for everyone in Fort Worth. Blue Zones Project encourages changes in the community that lead to healthier options, from worksites and schools to restaurants and grocery stores. These small changes contribute to huge benefits for the entire community, including lowered healthcare costs, improved productivity, and ultimately, a higher quality of life.

The City of Fort Worth currently has 20 Blue Zones Approved Work Sites.

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Contact Us

Phone

817-392-8556

Fax

817-392-8080

Email

wellness@fortworthtexas.gov

Location

City of Fort Worth Benefits Office
200 Texas St
Fort Worth
76102
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Health Plan Information

Wellness

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