National Wellness Month: How Your Health Insurance Can Help You Build Better Habits

National Wellness Month, which promotes holistic health and positive lifestyle changes, is a great time to take advantage of preventive care and start healthier habits. Many preventive care services and programs are covered by your health insurance, which can make improving your lifestyle easier without incurring extensive out-of-pocket costs.

National Wellness Month is observed every August, making it an ideal time to take advantage of preventive health benefits and build healthier daily habits.

If you’re looking to build healthy habits this August, read on to learn more about National Wellness Month, including why wellness is important and what preventive services and programs you might be able to take advantage of.

On This Page

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  What Is National Wellness Month?

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  Why Wellness Matters for Long-Term Health

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  How Health Insurance Supports Your Wellness Goals

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  Preventive Care Services Often Covered by Health Insurance

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  Healthy Habits to Start During National Wellness Month

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  Workplace Wellness Programs and Health Insurance

• 

  Common Wellness Benefits You May Already Have

• 

  National Wellness Month at a Glance

• 

  How To Utilize Your Health Insurance During National Wellness Month

• 

  Frequently Asked Questions

What Is National Wellness Month?

National Wellness Month is an annual observance dedicated to encouraging healthier lifestyles and overall well-being. When it comes to wellness, it’s not just about avoiding sickness or injuries, but actively improving your physical, mental and social well-being, as defined by the World Health Organization.^[1] National Wellness Month encourages people to build healthier routines, whether that means meditating, increasing physical activity, making healthier eating choices or taking other steps to improve their quality of life.

Although wellness has been promoted for decades — dating back to the health and wellness movements of the 1950s and 1960s — National Wellness Month was founded in 2018 by Live Love Spa, a networking and events platform for the health and wellness industry. The observance was created to inspire healthier lifestyle changes and foster stronger connections within the wellness community.^[2]

When Is National Wellness Month?

National Wellness Month takes place every August.^[2] The month-long observance gives people an opportunity to focus on building healthier routines before the busy fall season begins. Whether you've been putting off an annual wellness visit, planning to become more physically active or looking to improve your eating habits, August provides a natural opportunity to establish lasting healthy behaviors.

Because National Wellness Month occurs once each year, it's also a good reminder to schedule preventive care appointments and take advantage of any wellness benefits included with your health insurance.

Why Wellness Matters for Long-Term Health

Taking action to improve your wellness offers a number of long-term health benefits, including:

• Physical health: Regular exercise, healthy sleep habits and a balanced diet can improve your physical well-being and may even help you live longer.^[3]
• Mental and emotional wellness: Managing stress, fostering a positive mindset and developing healthy coping mechanisms can improve your quality of life and help reduce anxiety.^[4]
• Social connections: Building and maintaining strong relationships with friends and family is associated with improved health and overall well-being.^[5]
• Reduced health risks: Preventive care, including regular health assessments with your primary care doctor, can help lower your risk of developing certain health conditions by identifying them early.^[3]
• Economic benefits: Being proactive about your health and wellness may reduce the need for expensive medical treatments while improving workplace productivity, which can contribute to greater earning potential and career opportunities.^[3]

How Health Insurance Supports Your Wellness Goals

Health insurance can support your wellness goals by offering programs and services that reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions, prevent illness, reduce the risk of injury and help you adopt healthier lifestyle habits. Some wellness programs offered by health insurance plans may include:^[6]

• Preventative care services, such as screenings and annual wellness visits
• Smoking cessation programs
• Weight management support
• Discounts at gyms and fitness centers
• Stress management workshops or coaching sessions
• Mental health support through therapy
• Chronic condition management

Preventive Care Services Often Covered by Health Insurance

Most health insurance plans cover a variety of preventive care services at no out-of-pocket cost when you receive care from an in-network provider. Taking advantage of these services can help reduce your overall health care costs over the long term and improve your quality of life.

Annual Wellness Visits

Seeing your primary care physician for an annual wellness visit can include a health risk assessment, a review of your medications and personalized health advice to help prevent future health problems. Unlike an annual physical exam, wellness visits are more about preventive care and a time to speak with your doctor about specific health concerns you may have.^[7]

Preventive Screenings

Various preventive screenings are covered by your health insurance at no copayment or coinsurance cost, even if you haven't yet met your annual deductible. Some of these preventive care benefits for adults include:^[8]

• Blood pressure screening
• Cholesterol screening
• Depression screening
• Type 2 diabetes screening
• Hepatitis B and C screenings
• HIV screenings
• Syphilis screening
• Tuberculosis screening

Some screenings may only be covered if you meet eligibility criteria, such as being a certain age or high risk for the condition being screened for.^[8] Check with your health insurance provider to learn whether you meet any eligibility requirements before scheduling a screening.

Immunizations

Several preventive immunizations are covered by most health insurance plans. Some covered immunizations for adults include:^[8]

• Chicken pox
• Flu
• Hepatitis A and B
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Measles
• Mumps
• Whooping cough
• Rubella
• Shingles
• Tetanus

Doses for covered vaccines can vary, as well as the recommended ages and populations.^[8]

Mental Health Care

Health insurance typically covers a variety of mental and behavioral care services, which are included as essential health benefits to all marketplace plans. Specific benefits can vary between states and health plans, but they typically will cover:^[9]

• Behavioral health treatments
• Mental and behavioral health inpatient services
• Substance abuse treatment

Preventive Counseling

Several forms of counseling as preventive care are typically covered by health insurance for adults, including:^[8]

• Alcohol misuse counseling
• Diet counseling
• Obesity screening counseling

Health Risk Assessment

A health risk assessment is a questionnaire that evaluates your health and lifestyle to better understand your current level of physical, mental and emotional well-being, as well as any potential health risks you may face. Some biometric data, such as blood pressure and glucose levels, may also be used in your health risk assessment. You can review your assessment with your primary care physician to help develop recommendations for improving your health.^[10][11]

Healthy Habits to Start During National Wellness Month

National Wellness Month is the perfect opportunity to start a healthy habit you've wanted to make part of your regular routine. You don't have to make dramatic lifestyle changes to see benefits—even small improvements can support your overall health. If you aren't sure where to begin, consider one of the following ideas:

• Try to get at least 20 minutes of activity every day, whether as part of your commute or as recreation.^[12]
• Incorporate short bursts of movement during your workday. Try walking meetings or use part of your lunch break for a walk or other physical activity.
• Take breaks to stretch during work, especially if you’re regularly sitting down at a desk.
• Stay hydrated throughout the day. Most adults need between 11 and 16 cups of fluids daily.^[13]
• Aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night.^[14]
• Practice gratitude by writing down three things you're grateful for each day to promote a more positive mindset.^[15]
• Prepare meals in advance to make it easier to get good nutrition. You can also simplify the process by preparing the ingredients rather than the full meal, such as pre-chopping vegetables or marinating a protein.^[15]
• Limit screen time by setting boundaries for phone and social media use.

Workplace Wellness Programs and Health Insurance

Workplace wellness programs are often offered as part of your employee benefits package, although some may be offered directly through your health insurance. Not only do these programs help reduce health care costs by improving your wellness and lifestyle, but many workplaces also offer financial incentives for participating, such as gift cards, cash and health insurance discounts.

Employees who participate in workplace wellness programs may also experience greater job satisfaction. In one survey, 70% of participants reported higher job satisfaction.^[1]

Workplace wellness programs can include:^[16]

• Discounted gym memberships
• Smoking and tobacco cessation programs
• Healthy lifestyle coaching
• Diabetes management programs
• Mindfulness programs, such as meditation centers or online meditation

Common Wellness Benefits You May Already Have

If you have health insurance through the Marketplace or your employer, you likely already have access to preventive care, such as annual wellness visits and screenings. Check with your insurance company to see what benefits you qualify for.

Your employer may also offer voluntary workplace wellness programs that you can enroll in for fitness membership discounts and other services. They may also qualify for financial coaching as an employee benefit to improve your budgeting and retirement plans, which can help enhance financial wellness.

National Wellness Month at a Glance

Below is the essential information you should know about National Wellness Month:

• National Wellness Month is a month-long observance in August that promotes physical, mental and emotional well-being.
• Wellness can involve improving your quality of life, staying physically active, reducing stress and practicing mindfulness.
• Many preventive wellness services are covered by health insurance at no out-of-pocket cost when you use in-network providers.
• National Wellness Month can be a great time to take up a healthy habit, such as regular exercise or preparing more nutritious meals.
• Many employers offer workplace wellness programs as part of their employee benefits, which can include discounts on gym memberships and lifestyle coaching.

How To Utilize Your Health Insurance During National Wellness Month

National Wellness Month is an ideal time to take advantage of the preventive care and wellness benefits included with your health insurance. If you haven't had an annual wellness visit this year, consider scheduling one with your primary care provider. You can also contact your insurer to learn about wellness programs, health coaching or other benefits that may already be available through your plan.