CIS Benefits

Click here to apply for a level 1 application, otherwise select the download link to the right for a level 2 application.

 

Grants For CIS Benefits Members

CIS Benefits is committed to partnering with you to develop and promote healthy work cultures and successful worksite wellness programs.  As always, the Benefits Team is available to help you develop your wellness best practices and answer any questions your group has as you begin your wellness grant application. Please note that all of these grant programs are only available to employers that offer medical benefits through CIS, and the funds are intended to be used equitably for the employees on those plans. 

Wellness Grant Overview

CIS Benefits wellness grants continue to be based on best practices.  Grants are intended to provide funding for wellness programs and activities that have the greatest impact for fostering well workplace cultures and encouraging employee healthy lifestyle changes.  

Just like CIS Risk Management incentive programs or premium discounts, groups requesting grant funds are required to have a revised worksite wellness best practice policy in place to qualify for any wellness grant funds.  This policy should evolve each year and be revised each year that it is submitted to CIS for grant funds.

CIS Benefits is committed to partnering with you to develop and promote healthy work cultures and successful worksite wellness programs.  As always, the Benefits Team is available to help you develop your wellness best practices and answer any questions your group has as you begin your wellness grant application.

For 2024, we have two options for applying. Since we are transitioning the new version of the wellness grants (option 1 below), we are offering that. However, since this version was released late in 2023, and not everyone had the chance to get the BeyondWell engagement required, we are still offering the older version (option 2) for one more year. We suggest requesting your BeyondWell Subgroup report first which is step one in option 1. If you are at 40%, apply for Option 1. If not, apply for Option 2.

Wellness Grant Requirements – Option 1

Click here for the overview of each tier and the requirements for each.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 requires engagement in BeyondWell. To request a subgroup report from BeyondWell,

1. 1. click here to open a window with the email.
   2. Copy the message below into the email to send with a copy to your benefits representative.

                           Subject; BeyondWell Subgroup Report Request

                           Body: Please email me a new subgroup report for BeyondWell engagement. I am from _________________ (insert your employer name here). 

 

Tier 2 (Promote) requires that you promote SurgeryPlus. Here is the link to the webinar that you can send out. (Requires login for the CIS learning center). Please let us know if you would like flyers or other promotional materials. CIS Learning Center will track who has participated in watching the full webinar and will be who provides CIS Benefits with that report to validate qualification for the grant.

Wellness Grant Requirements – Option 2

(Please note that after 2024, these options will retire and you will be required to do the grant process outlined above)

 Wellness Policy Requirement for ANY Grant Funding: 

Must have a Wellness Policy in place describing how your workplace fulfills the following three wellness best practices:

1. Top management support of both worksite wellness activities and a well workplace culture.  The policy should address “how” Management supports a well worksite.  Policy examples could include:
   • • Time off or flexibility during a work day for exercise or to attend a wellness event
     • Use of employer intranet to post appropriate wellness messages or events
     • Wellness bulletin boards available throughout the workplace
     • Healthy food choices at meetings or in vending machines
     • Managers & supervisors attend wellness events, etc.

2. An active Wellness Committee (or Coordinator for smaller groups). A Wellness Committee may be blended with a Safety Committee. Policy should address: 
   • • How committee members are selected
     • How often the committee meets
     • Committee goals or responsibilities
     • Time allowed during the work day to meet, etc.

3. Commitment to attend Benefits open enrollment meetings/webinars.  Policy should state at least one key Management/Human Resources staff person attends CIS Benefits open meetings in-person or via webinar. 

Levels of Grant Funding

Level 1: Basic Worksite Wellness Funds

A basic level of funding is available to promote worksite wellness and well cultures.  Programs or other wellness resources offered must apply to and benefit the maximum number of employees possible.  Members decide how to use these funds to best match employee interests and needs.

Funds available are dependent on the number of active employees covered by a CIS medical plan.  Refer to the below chart to determine your group’s Level 1 grant amount.   

Number of employees               Grant Amount       

25 or less                                       $250                       

26-50                                             $500                           

51 and over                                  Minimum of $750, or $3/active employee            

QUALIFYING CRITERIA (must have):

1. Worksite Wellness policy in place and revised each year to indicate the changes implemented from the previous year submission and how the CIS grant funds were used (if applicable); submit at time of application
2. Complete application process
3. Executive Officer/Official for your entity must certify management support of wellness policies and programs as part of the grant process

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Click here to submit your Level 1 Worksite Wellness grant application. Or, visit CIS Benefits Portal Login is required. 

Level 2: Targeted Wellness Programs/Interventions

“Targeted” wellness funds are available for specific “topic” programs or other interventions that are proven to positively affect health care costs, enhance well work cultures, or encourage healthy lifestyle employee choices.  You are encouraged to make use of the variety of free programs and resources available through both CIS and our Benefits partners. 

EXAMPLES of APPROPRIATE USE of LEVEL 2 GRANT FUNDS:

Wellness funds should be used for programs and activities that are of interest and are accessible as possible to all your employees.  When planning your wellness year, please refer to the following list of approved and not approved grant categories.  Please note that CIS will expect some employer cost share for most/all of the “Approved Uses of Grant Funds” listed below.

Potentially Approved Uses of Grant Funds                       Not Approved for Funding

Onsite physical activity classes¹                                         Individual event registrations

Workplace wellness programs/challenges                      Individual onsite massage

Shared gym/pool passes                                                    TV monitors, CD players     

Team registration for employer recognized teams¹          Gym memberships/subsidies

Participation/incentive gifts²                                              Event t-shirts

Lunch/learn speakers³                                                        Individual participant gifts for all

Onsite healthy cooking classes³                                        Food only events

Body mechanics/onsite stretching interventions             Pop/sugared drinks

                                                                                                Ergonomic equipment

                                                                                                Onsite exercise equipment⁴

                                                                                                                                                              Electronic monitoring devices⁵

                                                                                                                                                              Charity/fundraising events⁶

¹CIS required employee cost sharing.  For example, a small employee copay for a 6-week yoga class can help fund participation incentive gifts for all who complete the class series.

²All who participate fully or complete a wellness event should have equal opportunity to win randomly awarded incentive gifts.  Wellness needs to move away from “paying employees for taking the right steps for their personal health.” 

³Lunch/learn speakers or healthy cooking demonstrations can be partnered with food.  However, there must be a strong healthy eating message connected with the food event.  CIS will not pay for celebration events that are focused only on the food itself, even if it’s for the end of a wellness-based campaign. 

⁴Grant funds will not be approved for up-front purchase of onsite exercise equipment such as treadmills, exercise bikes, etc.  However, CIS will support this employee activity by offering a reimbursement grant based on employee cost-sharing.  For example, employees pay a small monthly fee to purchase desired equipment.  CIS will reimburse up to 75% of equipment cost based on employee paid share.  Please contact Heather to discuss this option before implementing it or requesting funds.

⁵ Grant funds will not pay for electronic tracking devices such as FitBits, Fuelbands, etc. and/or their associated tracking applications. 

⁶Grant funds cannot be used to fund local charity and/or fundraising events where the end receivers are not connected with a CIS covered group.  For example, funds cannot be used for a “stuff a backpack” community drive. 

QUALIFYING CRITERIA:

1. Must have a newly revised Worksite Wellness Policy in place.
2. Planned programs and activities were identified with input from the Wellness Committee/Coordinator and/or other employee/management groups.
3. Funding is dependent on: a) your group’s past wellness grant history; b) your overall wellness plan for programs and activities; and c) expected participation levels.
4. Maximum grant amount will be determined based on your overall plan and review by CIS Benefits. 
5. Participation incentives (gift cards, cash, t-shirt, etc.) are all considered taxable under IRS rules.  Employer must report the value of any gift on employee’s W-2 form.  Grant applicants must certify that incentive values will be reported.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Download a Level 2 Application from the CIS Connect CIS Benefits Portal
• Review the overview to make sure that your requests are within the parameters of what might be funded
• Complete application
• Return by email or fax to Heather.

Either grant level may be submitted until December 15, 2024.  To be eligible for maximum funding, early applications are recommended. Available funds are on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

COMING SOON - Wellness Resources HUB

 

CIS Benefits continues to support employee worksite screening to encourage individual involvement in wellness and health management.  Click the link above to read about our Matching Screening Grant program, and to get the application process started.

CIS Benefits supports our members' efforts to increase employee knowledge of wellness resources and services available as part of the employee benefits package.  Click the link above to read about how CIS will support your efforts to have a Health/Benefits fair.  CIS will support member health/benefit fairs with matching grants of up to a $500 maximum every two years.  The application can also be found at the link above.