HumanaVitality helps Baptist Trinity colleague quit 41-year smoking habit

For 41 years, Carol Callahan struggled with her smoking habit, but after being introduced to HumanaVitality, she decided to finally quit for good.

Baptist Memorial Health Care partnered with HumanaVitality in 2013 to launch a structured wellness program for team members and their families on the Baptist health plan. HumanaVitality is modified for each person’s health status; helps users establish health care goals; and provides guidance, support and incentives to reach them.

Originally, Callahan was angry and reluctant to try the new program. However, she said the new increase in insurance premiums for smokers has changed her life.

“This was something I needed and wanted to do, so I had to change my attitude and my mindset,” said Callahan, “I’ve tried quitting before in the past, but something would happen in my life when I just felt like I needed to pick up a cigarette.”

Through HumanaVitality, users can track the progress of their goals and receive Vitality Points, which can be redeemed for fitness equipment, gift cards, electronics and other items.

Callahan decided to participate in 10 standard HumanaVitality courses that focus on tobacco cessation. The course that hit home for her was one featuring Lou Ryan, founder of SelfHelpWorks.

“He said, ‘You taught yourself how to smoke, so now you will teach yourself to stop,’ and that’s when I knew that I could do this and finally quit smoking,” said Callahan.

Callahan said she hasn’t picked up a cigarette since Nov. 22, 2013 at 7:10 p.m., and if it weren’t for HumanaVitality, prayer and support, she wouldn’t have quit smoking.

Team members who reach Bronze status in HumanaVitality by Sept. 1, 2015 will receive a $20 per month ($10 per pay period) discount on their health plan premiums in 2016. All you need to do to get to the Bronze status is complete the HumanaVitality online Health Assessment at Humana.com

Team members who reach Silver status in HumanaVitality by Sept. 1, 2015 will receive a $40 per month ($20 per pay period) discount on their health plan premiums in 2016. There are many ways to move from the Bronze to Silver status. It all depends on how you want to engage in your health and earn points.

Please note, you MUST take your Health Assessment EVERY YEAR, so make sure that you’ve taken it since Jan. 1, 2015 to be at Bronze status. If you’ve taken the Health Assessment previously, all your answers will be stored and you only need to go through and update your answers with any changes that may apply.