SOUTH JORDAN, Utah and DENVER, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Altius Health Plans today announced that they have introduced a new wellness challenge for Utah, Reach for the Peaks™1.  Initially launched in December with its partner, CaféWell™, Reach for the Peaks represents a new, fun and rewarding wellness program for consumers and a valuable new benefit for Utah small to mid-size employers.  Now in full swing, the program has more than 1,500 participants who have walked 208 million steps, or 90,000 miles since December.

Employers and consumers know that getting people better engaged with their health and wellness is critical to addressing the country's growing health problems and maintaining a competitive workforce. Illustrated by a December 2011 Towers Watson study, the trend in wellness programs is increasingly turning toward negative incentives to force behavior. 

"We think there is a better way to positively encourage health and fitness for consumers and employers," said Dr. Dennis Harston, chief medical officer of Altius Health Plans.  "Reach for the Peaks is an entirely new class of wellness programs that leverage the power of the CaféWell social health network to create a fun and rewarding experience for consumers.  From the beginning, we saw that Peaks gets people moving.  With plenty of room for more people in Reach for the Peaks, we are continuing to reach out to eligible participants both directly and through our small employer group clients." 

Consumers' comments demonstrate Reach for the Peaks' impact

"I have been very surprised by how much this program has helped me," said Dorothy Bird of Salt Lake City.  "I get out a lot more than I ever have. I walk all the time and spend more time outside. To see how much I have walked in the last few months is such a motivator to keep going."

Added Tammy Hilleboe of Tooele, "After dinner and dishes are done every night I now go downstairs to my treadmill and walk.  My personal goal is to get over 100,000 steps every week. I started with 3,792 steps on January twelfth.  That is the day I received my pedometer.  So far my best day has been 47,400 steps in a day on April thirtieth.  I know I can keep going.  I am not going to give up!  Everyday I get healthier and better able to just move.  My knees no longer hurt as much and it gets easier every week.  I plan to be around to watch my grandchildren grow and have their own families."

"It is funny how recording it online and seeing others do the same motivates me," noted Floyd Yorgason of Provo.  "I really only have the very early morning hours or late at night to walk.  One Monday night I saw that I needed to walk about 2.5 miles to take over first place.  It was already 10:30 p.m., but seeing the goal in front of me spurred me on to walk, and I took first place for that week's competition."

Adam Johnson of Salt Lake City commented, "I received my pedometer in the mail and, bam, I went from a couch potato to someone who is actually putting up some decent amount of steps. When I first started, getting 2,000 steps seemed tough, now I have had a couple of near 20,000 step days. I have also finished in the top five of my group for the past couple of weeks, which is great because it gets me extra entries into the drawings."

About Reach for the Peaks

Reach for the Peaks is the first of its kind in Utah, leveraging the power of the CaféWell social health network to create a unique wellness program that promotes better health and fitness. Sponsored by Altius Health Plans, this program gives each member a complimentary wireless pedometer and opportunities to participate in fun weekly challenges that offer numerous chances to win prizes.  Participants also can participate in a variety of health, fitness and challenge-related discussions, and can access fitness experts and coaches. 

Consumers sign up for Reach for the Peaks, join challenges and track their progress through the CaféWell social health network.  CaféWell can be accessed through any Internet-connected computer, as well as through the CaféWell mobile application for iPhone and iPad.  

To make Reach for the Peaks easy and fun, participants receive free wireless pedometers that automatically upload their steps and activity to CaféWell through their computers.  Bi-weekly prizes include Amazon.com Gift Cards2, and there is a grand prize of two trips to Hawaii for two.

About Altius Health Plans Inc.

Altius Health Plans Inc. provides health insurance products and services, including HMO, Point-of-Service and Medicare Advantage plans, to employers and individuals throughout the state of Utah and in parts of Idaho and Wyoming. Altius Health Plans is URAC health utilization management accredited. Altius Health Plans is a subsidiary of Coventry Health Care, Inc., one of the country's largest health care companies providing a full range of risk and fee-based health care products and services in all 50 states. For more information, visit Altius Health Plans' website at altiushealthplans.com.

1 No purchase necessary. Promotion starts 12/13/11. Open only to persons who: (1) are legal residents of the state of Utah, (2) received the invitation to participate, (3) are at least eighteen (18) years of age on date of registration and (4) are enrolled members under a fully insured Altius Health Plan, Inc. "small employer" group plan as of December 31, 2011. Void where prohibited. Subject to full Official Rules at http://rewards.cafewell.com/peaks/rules.  Sponsor: WellTok, Inc., 1530 15th Street, Denver, Colorado 80202.

2 Amazon.com is not a sponsor of this promotion. Except as required by law, GCs cannot be transferred for value or redeemed for cash. GCs may be used only for purchases of eligible goods on Amazon.com or certain of its affiliated websites.  For complete terms and conditions, see www.amazon.com/gc-legal. GCs are issued and ©2012 by ACI Gift Cards, Inc., a Washington corporation.  ©,®,™ Amazon.com Inc. and/or its affiliates.

3 For the complete Official Rules, visit: http://rewards.CaféWell.com/peaks/rules/

To view this video on YouTube, please visit: http://youtu.be/lbPoV1d-rt8

Media Contact: Brad Samson, WellTok, Inc., 714-955-3951, brad.samson@welltok.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Altius Health Plans Inc.

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