Learn how your healthy goals can turn into financial rewards from United Healthcare

New Years resolutions are rarely followed through with. But now thanks to a new federal reform, following through with your healthy goals may pay off, literally.

United Healthcare‘s Director of Health and Wellness for Southern California, Carrie Krutzer gives tips on how to get paid for following through with these aspirations.

A recent federal health reform law enables employers to make available rewards of up to 30 percent of the cost of coverage for employees participating in a wellness program or meeting certain health measures, such as body mass index, blood pressure or cholesterol.

Some health plans offer gift cards, premium reductions or even direct financial contributions to health savings accounts for employees who engage in wellness activities. These include completing an online health assessment, a telephone-based health coaching program or an at-home health screening kit. In some cases, incentives can annually surpass four figures.

Employees who control their weight can help their employers bottom line. According to the American Journal of Health Promotion, the price of obesity at a company with 1,000 employees is about $285,000 a year in medical costs and absenteeism.

There are also special programs and plans for diabetics, pre-diabetics and smokers. By diabetics following their doctors treatments or smokers kicking the habit, they receive value-based benefits. These incentives help improve health outcomes.

With healthcare costs on the rise, these programs are a win-win for employers and employees.

For more on what you can do to benefit from healthy habits watch this weeks episode of California Life with Heather Dawson or watch the clip below.