UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, has awarded 10 companies its "Well Deserved" award, an honor given to employers who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to improving the health and well-being of their employees.

Award winners were recognized for implementing exemplary wellness programs aimed at improving health risk and prevention among their employee populations. Their commitment to achieving successful wellness programs is evidenced by high-level executive support; the presence of active wellness committees and/or champions; an established wellness budget; and the use of diverse wellness resources such as health assessment tools, biometric screenings, personal health records, direct employee communication, health education and coaching.

The following companies were awarded the "Well Deserved" recognition and have provided the statements below briefly summarizing their programs:

- AmFed Companies, LLC, Ridgeland, Miss. - AmFed achieved best in class for the small-employer category and achieved a high level of employee participation in their wellness program.

- City of Arlington, Arlington, Texas - The city has a dedicated wellness coordinator who works directly with city employees. More than 90 percent of the city's work force are engaged in the wellness program.

- City of Austin, Austin, Texas - The city's inclusive wellness program offers free or low-cost programs and health screenings with a focus on exercise, healthy eating, smoking cessation and prevention of chronic diseases. The city successfully utilizes a network of employee wellness champions who assist with coordination of programs and services.

- Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Tulsa, Okla. - Dollar Thrifty has a worksite wellness program that returned a savings of $3.56 per each $1 spent in 2007. The company offers monthly seminars on a variety of health topics as well as on-site support classes and preventative services.

- Franklin County, Columbus, Ohio - Franklin County developed diverse programs offering health and wellness activities intended for every lifestyle. The wellness program, Journey Toward Your Health, includes flu shots, biometric screenings, health assessments and education.

- Meredith Corporation, Des Moines, Iowa - Meredith Corporation's wellness program has high-level executive support, led by the CEO who plays a main role in communicating the initiative's priority throughout the company and advocating work force involvement. The overall health of employees has increased with improvements in medical trends, disability claims and an ability to control the cost of their health care premiums.

- Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, Ariz. - Mesa Public Schools has implemented creative ways to engage employees, such as an annual Health and Benefits Fair, which has led to achieving high participation levels.

- Shamrock Foods Company, Phoenix, Ariz. - Shamrock has organized active Wellness Committees to create awareness and build participation in programs like biometric screening, on-site wellness coaching, lunch-and-learn seminars, community volunteering and run/walk events. Employees are given incentives to participate in health and wellness programs, including onsite education events.

- State of Rhode Island, Providence, R.I. - The State of Rhode Island developed programs specific to the health and wellness needs of its population. Their engaged wellness champions play a pivotal role in boosting employee participation.

- Texas Mutual Insurance Company, Austin, Texas - Texas Mutual Insurance Company's Healthy Lifestyle Incentive program provides significant incentive for participation in the wellness program and has resulted in employees who proactively manage their health risks through early intervention and lifestyle adjustments. The company promotes the program, including "Fitness Friday," which encourages wellness activities and provides educational information on a variety of health and wellness topics.

"The 'Well Deserved' award winners have developed wellness programs that demonstrate a true commitment to improving their employees' quality of life and reducing health care costs," said Carol Calvin, RN, MS, CPQH and national director of UnitedHealthcare Health and Wellness. "Wellness and preventive health are critical components of improving our health care system."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Adopting healthy behaviors can prevent or control the devastating effects of these diseases.

The "Well Deserved" customer recognition program is a new program sponsored through UnitedHealthcare's Health and Wellness team. This employer-recognition program was designed to demonstrate UnitedHealthcare's support for customers who have implemented successful worksite wellness programs.

Applicants were judged and scored by an external broker review panel on pre-defined criteria established by UnitedHealthcare's Health and Wellness directors. The criteria are based on UnitedHealthcare's mission of helping people live healthier lives.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare provides a full spectrum of consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services to individuals, public sector employers and businesses of all sizes, including more than half of the Fortune 100 companies. The company organizes access to quality, affordable health care services on behalf of more than 26 million individual consumers, contracting directly with more than 570,000 physicians and care professionals and nearly 4,900 hospitals to offer them broad, convenient access to services nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

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