Washington Wellness

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My Risks

What Are My Health Risks?

If you're enrolled in a state-sponsored medical plan through the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB), you can get immediate feedback on your health risks by completing a simple questionnaire called a health risk assessment (HRA) in just about 20 minutes. In many cases, your medical plan or health care provider offers programs designed to help you deal with whatever health challenges the HRA may have revealed. For more information, check out our:

HRA Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I take a health risk assessment?

You will receive valuable feedback about your health and your risk factors for chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease. Evidence shows that this individualized response can increase your awareness of your health issues. Awareness is the first step to making healthy changes that can reduce your risk for disease and improve your quality of life.

Why is my employer (the state of Washington) asking me to take a health risk assessment?

Chronic disease, including cancer, heart disease, lower respiratory disease, and diabetes, accounts for 70% of all deaths and 40% of health care spending in the United States. Yet, these diseases are largely preventable by eating healthy and getting regular exercise, or manageable if detected early through preventive screenings.

Did you know that among Washington workers who have health insurance:

  • 44% do not meet recommended guidelines for exercise
  • 6 out of 10 are overweight or obese
  • Nearly 80% don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables

If you take a health risk assessment and begin making changes to improve your health, you’ll win because you’ll feel better, the State will win because employees who are healthier are more productive, and everyone wins if we can put the brakes on health care spending.

How often do I complete a health risk assessment?

You are encouraged to take an HRA once a year. If you took a health risk assessment last year, please take it again sometime this year.

Can I complete a health risk assessment at work?

Because Washington Wellness came out of Governor Gregoire’s initiative to promote health and productivity for state employees and their families, the Governor has requested that agency leaders encourage their employees to participate in the HRAs and allow them to take them online while at work.

Can any other members of my household take the health risk assessment?

Yes! Dependents who are enrolled in a PEBB medical plan are encouraged to take a health risk assessment.

Who has access to my health risk assessment information?

The information you provide in the health risk assessment remains with your medical plan. Similar to your other health information, your medical plan is required by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to keep your personal information confidential.

What will be done with my answers to the HRA?

As an employer, the State will only see a broad picture of employees’ health as a group, assuring anonymity of individuals. This information will help Washington Wellness agency coordinators and staff to identify the major health risks such as lack of physical activity in the population and provide evidence-based programs to address the risks. Washington Wellness will provide online and worksite programs and tools to assist employees who choose to reduce their health risks and improve health status.

No personally identifiable health information will be available, except to the individual taking the HRA.

Does the state or my manager know if I completed the HRA?

No, unless you tell your manager. Only you and your medical plan know if you completed the HRA.

Will the health risk assessment affect my insurance coverage?

No. The health risk assessment will not be used to guide insurance coverage decisions.

Will the health risk assessment affect my healthcare cost-shares or premiums?

No. Completing a health risk assessment will not affect your healthcare cost-shares or premiums.

How long will the health risk assessment take me to complete?

It will take you about 20-30 minutes and you are allowed to do this on work time. You will be asked for some login information before you begin.

Do I need information from my doctor or provider to answer the questions?

If you have high cholesterol value or high blood pressure, you will be asked for your most recent LDL cholesterol and/or blood pressure reading. There are also questions about when you had your last preventive services or health screenings such as: flu shot, blood pressure, cholesterol, Pap test, and mammogram.

What kinds of questions are on the health risk assessment?

There are questions that ask you about your health habits in the following topics: physical activity, food selection, tobacco use, sun exposure, women’s health, chronic conditions, preventive services and health screenings, alcohol use, sexual behavior, and a few others.

Do I have to answer all of the questions?

No, you may skip questions that you do not want to answer. With questions you are comfortable answering, we strongly encourage you to answer them honestly. Your answers are completely confidential and there is no penalty for skipping questions.

Is there an incentive for taking the health risk assessment?

You will get personalized feedback regarding your health risks. If you are a Uniform Medical Plan member, you will also earn points towards a $30 gift card.

HRA Testimonials

"I liked the information about what my plan offers in relation to the survey. Knowing that information can encourage me to go to the doctor without worrying whether it is covered on my plan or not - I already know."

"I think it is really a great idea to have people personally invested in their health and this was a wonderful tool to make it happen. Making them aware of areas for their own personal health will help us all as a society (especially with keeping medical costs low), great idea, great program - keep being innovative in this arena!"

"This survey was very beneficial because it gave me some time just to focus on what I am currently doing with health related issues. Thank you for developing the program."

How do I take my Health Risk Assessment?

Aetna

To take Aetna's Health Risk Assessment (HRA), you'll need to create a separate user ID and password than the one you use for the Aetna Public Employees Plan website. If you need help registering, contact the HRA Web Support Line at 1-866-908-5940, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  1. Go to Aetna's Health Risk Assessment.
  2. Select "Take the Health Risk Assessment."
  3. Log in.
  4. BE SURE TO PRINT YOUR HRA RESULTS! You'll probably want to refer to your results when finding out more about your risks, speaking with your doctor or medical plan about your benefits, or finding related activities in your workplace.
Group Health

To take Group Health's Health Risk Assessment (HRA), you'll need to register with MyGroupHealth, then request a code to upgrade your account (you'll need your subscriber ID number if you are registering for the first time). You'll receive your code by U.S. mail in 2-5 days and then be able to log on and take your HRA.

  1. Go to Group Health's MyGroupHealth.
  2. Log on.
  3. Select "Health Profile" in the left navigation column.
  4. BE SURE TO PRINT YOUR HRA RESULTS! You'll probably want to refer to your results when finding out more about your risks, speaking with your doctor or medical plan about your benefits, or finding related activities in your workplace.
Kaiser

To take Kaiser's Health Risk Assessment (HRA), you'll need to register first if you don't already have a user ID and password (you'll need your Kaiser Permanente health record number to sign up).

  1. Go to Kaiser's Healthy Lifestyle Programs.
  2. Log in.
  3. Select "Get a Personalized Total Health Assessment" (for assistance, call 1-800-556-7677 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday).
  4. BE SURE TO PRINT YOUR HRA RESULTS! You'll probably want to refer to your results when finding out more about your risks, speaking with your doctor or medical plan about your benefits, or finding related activities in your workplace.
Uniform Medical Plan

To take UMP's Health Risk Assessment (HRA), you'll need to create a user ID and password. To do this, go to the Health Counts Home Page, select "Log into Health Counts and Take the eHealth Survey" on the left side of the page and select "register now".

  1. Go to UMP's Health Counts Home Page.
  2. Select "Log into Health Counts and Take the eHealth Survey" on the left.
  3. Log in.
  4. Select "eHealth Survey" on the left.
  5. BE SURE TO PRINT YOUR HRA RESULTS! You'll probably want to refer to your results when finding out more about your risks, speaking with your doctor or medical plan about your benefits, or finding related activities in your workplace.

Now that I know...

You may want to find out more. Listed here are some of the more common risks that can be identified through taking the health risk assessment (HRA).

Diabetes

Diabetes (also called adult onset diabetes, non-insulin dependent diabetes, and "sugar") is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With Type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood.

Heart Disease

Heart disease (also called cardiac disease) is the number one killer in the U.S. and a major cause of disability. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It's the major reason people have heart attacks.

High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure (also called HBP, HTN, and hypertension) usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure. You can control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits and taking medicines, if needed.

High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them. High levels of cholesterol (also called high cholesterol, HDL, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, and LDL) in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease.

Mental Health

Mental health is how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. While everyone will feel worried, anxious, sad, or stressed sometimes, with a mental illness, these feelings do not go away and are severe enough to interfere with your daily life. Mental illnesses (including depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) are common – affecting about one in five families in the U.S. While these disorders are real diseases that cannot be willed or wished away, they are often treatable.

Preventive Health Screenings

Preventive health screenings (also called screenings, health screenings, screening tests, and preventive health) refer to a test or exam done to find a condition before symptoms begin. Screening tests may help find diseases or conditions early, when they are easier to treat. Some conditions that doctors commonly screen for include high blood pressure and cholesterol; breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancer; diabetes; and osteoporosis. Other preventive health measures include getting yearly flu shots.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse (also called alcoholism, drug abuse, and drug addiction) refers to the overindulgence in and dependence on a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical health or mental health, or the welfare of others.

The disorder is characterized by a pattern of continued pathological use of a medication, non-medically indicated drug or toxin, that results in repeated adverse social consequences related to drug use, such as failure to meet work, family, or school obligations, interpersonal conflicts, or legal problems and may lead to addiction or substance dependence.

Tobacco Use

There's no way around it. Smoking (also called cigar, cigarette, pipe, or tobacco smoking) is bad for your health, harming nearly every organ of the body and causing 87% of lung cancer deaths. It is also responsible for many other cancers and health problems including lung disease, heart and blood vessel disease, strokes, and cataracts. Women who smoke have a greater chance of certain pregnancy problems or having a baby die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Your smoke is also bad for other people - they breathe in your smoke secondhand and can get many of the same problems as smokers do.

What if I have other health issues?

If you have other health and/or wellness issues, you can use the "Ask Me 3" questions to better understand your health anytime you see your doctor or other health care provider. Remember, don't be nervous about asking questions! Your medical team wants you to understand your health and any directions you need to follow to take care of yourself.

"Ask Me 3" Questions:

  1. What is my main problem?
  2. What do I need to do?
  3. Why is it important for me to do this?

Be sure to:

  • Listen carefully to what your health professional says. Make sure you understand what you are told about any diagnosis or treatment.
  • Ask questions. If you don't understand something your health professional says, ask for it to be repeated in a different way.
  • Be honest. If your values, beliefs, fears, or concerns may interfere with a treatment that is suggested, talk with your health professional about it. Other treatment options may be available.
  • Take an advocate. Have a family member or friend with you during your appointment, if possible. That person can take notes, ask questions to clarify information, and help you remember what your health professional says.
  • Ask for instructions. Before leaving your health professional's office, make sure you know what you are supposed to do to care for yourself. Ask for written information or instructions.