Diabetes and metabolic syndrome remain two of the most pressing health challenges for employers and employees alike. One in three U.S. adults lives with metabolic syndrome, and more than 38 million have been diagnosed with diabetes — conditions that lead to significantly higher healthcare costs, lost productivity, and reduced quality of life.
In our September Health Risk Management webinar, Maddison Bezdicek, Vice President of Strategic Partnership Solutions at Captive Resources, and guest speaker Kelly Rawlings of Vida Health, explored how employers in group captives can meaningfully engage employees in diabetes and metabolic health programs. The discussion highlighted evidence on incentives, plan design, and behavior change models, alongside real-world examples from captive members who are seeing results.
Research indicates that larger, guaranteed, and more frequent rewards outperform smaller or uncertain ones in driving enrollment and participation. But long-term health outcomes require more than sign-ups; programs must also integrate coaching, medication support, and thoughtful plan design.
Covering preventive screenings and key medications at low or no cost, aligning digital solutions with benefits, and coordinating across vendors can make participation easier and more sustainable.
The COM-B model — Capability, Opportunity, Motivation as three key factors capable of changing behavior (B) — reminds us that timing matters. Motivation often spikes at diagnosis, during annual checkups, or when complications arise — moments when employers can amplify outreach and encourage action.
Tom’s Truck Center, a smaller captive member employer, partnered with Omada Health (a digital health company that delivers behavior change programs for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and behavioral health) to address the risks of diabetes and hypertension. Through a multi-channel campaign — including emails, mailed newsletters, and on-site signage — they quadrupled enrollments, demonstrating the power of consistent, targeted communication.
Due to the collaborative nature and shared ownership structure of the Medical Stop Loss (MSL) group captives we support, members are uniquely positioned to pool resources, share best practices, and leverage data to help members:
When prevention and support are embedded in workplace culture, outcomes improve, costs decline, and employees feel empowered to take charge of their health.
Before guest-hosting this month’s webinar, Rawlings also appeared as a guest on the inaugural episode of Captivating Health Insights, where we explored the promise and pitfalls of GLP-1 medications. Together with Brenda Navin, CEO and Founder of Launch My Health, the discussion examined how GLP-1s are reshaping obesity and metabolic care — and why lasting success requires lifestyle support and personalized coaching.
Listen here on YouTube or subscribe on Apple, Spotify, and other platforms.
This presentation was part of Captive Resources’ Medical Stop Loss Webinar Series — regular installments of webinars to educate medical stop loss group captive members. The thoughts and opinions expressed in these webinars are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect Captive Resources’ positions on any of the above topics.
