GREEN BAY (JUNE 18, 2007) -- The Healthy Lifestyles Cooperative of Brown County has selected its current insurance provider, Destiny Health, to serve its second pool of members, who will be insured as part of a three-year contract beginning in 2008.

"At this point, Destiny remains the premier company, combining insurance with wellness/fitness incentives. In addition, we have agreed on single-digit rate caps throughout the life of the three-year contract," said Tim Day, the Co-op's vice president and insurance committee chair. He said his committee continues to meet with and review the progress of other carriers, and encourages them to develop programs that integrate wellness/fitness levels with insurance rates.

"There are advantages to announcing our selection early, including informing prospective members of the plan enhancements. Some of the enhancements will be applied retroactively to our original 2007-2009 pool members as well. We will be able to announce specifics shortly. Another advantage is that we do not have to close membership of our second pool on June 15, as previously announced, but have extended the closing date to Aug. 1. We will also use online applications, which will streamline the process for employers and improve underwriting efficiency," Day continued.

Currently, the Cooperative has 135 companies in its 2007-2009 insurance pool, covering 1,400 employees and 2,900 lives. It also contracts with Bellin Occupational Health Solutions to provide all adults with health risk assessments to inform about their health risk status, with follow-on coaching to improve their health.

Co-op insurance members all participate in incentives to achieve fitness levels that can result in single-digit renewal rate caps. "Co-op members are typically smaller businesses that have historically been subject to significant rate swings and double-digit rate increases," said Jeff Ottum, board member and insurance committee member. "They appreciate both the rate stability that Co-op membership brings, as well as our wellness/fitness mission."

The Cooperative is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide Northeast Wisconsin employers with a health insurance plan that achieves stable premium rates through cooperative purchasing, personal accountability and healthier lifestyles. It is organized around its board and four member-driven committees to develop and provide services for members: Insurance, Wellness Assessment Providers, Comparative Pricing, and Education/Vitality Promotion. "We effectively operate as the Benefits Planning and Negotiating Department that most of our members are too small to have," said Ottum.