title: Effects of an incentive-based online physical activity intervention on health care costs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether participation in an incentive-based online physical activity program for employees was associated with a moderation in health care costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health care claims trends from 2003 to 2005 were analyzed among a matched sample of participants and nonparticipants. Medical and pharmacy costs, hospital inpatient costs, and emergency room costs were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average annual health care costs for participants increased by $291 per year compared with an increase of $360 for nonparticipants (P = 0.09). Higher levels of participation were associated with smaller increases in health care costs. Participants had a significantly smaller increase in inpatient hospital costs (+$20 vs +$119), heart disease costs ($-8 vs $46), and diabetic costs (+$1 vs +$16) compared with nonparticipants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in an online employee physical activity intervention was associated with smaller increases in health care costs compared to nonparticipants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Kinesiology, University of Michigan Health Management Research Center, Ann Arbor, Mich 48104-1689, USA.
authors.forename: Chifung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Alyssa B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sill
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Joyce M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Dee W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Edington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012201:Reward; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface