Cleveland Clinic health program saves workers cash

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Clinic says employees who haven't taken part in its health-improvement program can avoid part of a 21 percent jump in their insurance premiums if they decide to participate and reach certain goals before the end of 2012.

The Plain Dealer reports about 16,000 of the 29,000 workers in the employee health plan participate in the system's "Healthy Choice" program. The Clinic is trying to persuade the remaining workers to join by offering partial refunds of the insurance premium increases.

Program participants meet with a doctor to discuss their weight and any chronic health conditions and set individualized goals to improve their health.

The medical director of the Clinic's Employee Health Services says the goal isn't to punish people but to help them embrace their health.