Small steps can lead to big results with employee health

Introduction: Uniqueness Is Power is all about saving a company's bottom line. One of the things I love about our guest today, Amy Otto, is that she is with a company that will definitely help people save money and improve productivity. Amy is with a company that I would be willing to bet everyone is familiar with, but we're probably not familiar with what she brings to the table for them. The company is AFLAC, and there are a lot of changes going on today in the world of healthcare and wellness. The is a lot of positioning within the marketplace. Welcome to the show, Amy.

A lot of AFLAC agents don't have a wellness background like Amy Otto. Some of the changes that AFLAC is making are focused on wellnes programs, which is right up Amy's alley. President Barack Obama announced in March that one of the biggest threats to our nation is the skyrocketing price of healthcare. He said that one out of every six dollars spent in the United States goes for healthcare.

AFLAC is taking a unique approach to healthcare by promoting wellness programs. Otto said that in 2006, studies show that $2.1 trillion was spent on healthcare in our country. AFLAC and Otto work with businesses to implement wellness programs called AMPE - Awareness Motivation and Personal Empowerment. AMPE touches employees at least 94 times a year through monthly emailed newsletters, paycheck inserts with healthy tips, breakroom posters, table cards for cafeterias, quarterly health initiatives, lunch-and-learn programs and more.

Otto said that AMPE is free of charge for the first year, and that if a company decides that it doesn't want to continue with the wellness program before the one-year trial is over, there are no obligations. If, however, companies realize the benefit of AMPE and want to continue offering it to employees, the cost is $1.25 per employee per month. AMPE also offers incentives to employees who take part in the wellness program.

AMPE also offers employees 600 only exercise videos, weekly webcasts and more. Otto said that studies have revealed that employers can save as much as $16 for every $1 invested in wellness programs like AMPE. For more information on AFLAC's wellness program, contact Amy Otto at [e-mail] or call 404-310-1777.