2010 Retiree Health Empowerment Program Survey

In February 2011, approximately 7,000 retirees were electronically surveyed to assess the value and effectiveness of the 2010 Retiree Health Empowerment Program. A total of 1,683 retirees and spouses participated in the survey.

Overview

The Retiree Health Empowerment Program continues to hold high value for retirees. Retirees are responding positively to the program's mission to empower retirees to engage in health-promoting behaviors and to become informed health care consumers.

Overall value of the program remains consistent from the 2009 survey:

Approximately 80% agreed that the program adds long-term value to their wellbeing and helps them feel like a valued member of the Dow family.
68% agreed that the program helps them effectively manage healthcare costs.

Value of 2010 Activities/Programs

(Note: In response to retiree comments on the 2009 survey, "Did not participate" was added to the list of responses for each activity/program. For purposes of comparison to previous years, these responses were withheld from the overall analysis.)

Perceived value of the activities and programs offered during 2010 rose an average of 19 percentage points over 2009.
The proportion who responded "Not Valuable" decreased by about half vs. 2008 (This metric rose in 2009 as awareness improved significantly).
Perceived value of program communications (E-News, DowFriends.com/Healthy Living) averaged 85%.

Retirees were asked to indicate "why" these services were of value to them. The top three responses were:

Helps me to be a more informed health care consumer – 55%
Provides accurate health information – 45%
Motivates me to do something good for myself – 41%

Less than 10% found no value in the program services.

Retirees were also asked what barriers they perceived to using/participating in these services:

No barriers – 50%
Receive health information/services elsewhere – 19%
Not enough personal time/Not a priority for me – 15%

Less than 6% expressed concerns about the quality of the service or confidentiality of using/participating in a Dow-related service.

Behavior Change – Preventive Care Day

In October 2010, a series of weekly e-mail articles focused on the value of recommended screenings and vaccinations for older adults. In the survey, retirees were asked which articles they had read (if any). Those who indicated that they had read at least one of the articles were then asked whether reading the article(s) influenced their preventive care decisions.

Of the 948 who had read the articles, 48% reported that they had already planned to have a recommended screening and/or vaccination. However, 44% reported that the articles influenced them to have a recommended screening or vaccination.

2010 Retiree Health Empowerment Survey Results