A survey of employers finds that increasing employee wellnessincentives is the most beneficial aspect of the health reform law.

Lockton Benefit Group conducted their Employer Health Reform study in May, and discovered that 37percent of their clients agreed wellness incentives were the bestelement of health reform.

In 2014, employers will be able to offer an incentive of up to30 percent of an employee's total healthcare premium, if theemployee is doing everything asked to improve his or her health andreduce medical costs. This is an increase from the 20 percentincentive available now. More than 40 percent of Lockton BenefitGroup client-companies responded to the confidential survey, whichexplored the impact of health reform law on group health plans.

"We know that our employer-clients like the opportunity toreward employees that make healthy lifestyle choices," said Dr. IanChuang, Lockton Medical Director and member of the Health ReformAdvisory Practice in a statement. "The difference in cost forhealth insurance for an employee with this incentive can bethousands of dollars annually, depending on the total premium cost.So for the employer, this is a true benefit of the health reform law."

Dr. Chuang said that savvy employers realize they willultimately reduce their health insurance costs by addressing therisks leading to illnesses and claims, which will also improveemployee productivity.

"The incentive program has to be designed to promote health andprevent disease," Chuang said. "Incentives like this are often keycomponents in the overall Health Risk Management strategies we workclosely with our clients to design."

Edward Fensholt, director of Lockton's Compliance ServicesDivision and a member of the firm's Health Reform Advisory Practiceadded, "We expect to see further guidance under health reform thatcould allow employers to raise the incentive to 50 percent inspecial circumstances. We will continue to work with our clients tokeep them informed on the latest legislation and how it impactstheir business."