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Spousal Participation Incentives

Meaning

Spousal participation incentives are the financial or non-monetary rewards offered by an employer to encourage the spouse or dependent of an employee to engage in the company’s wellness program, such as completing a health risk assessment or a biometric screening. While intended to promote a culture of health across the family unit, these incentives must be carefully structured to ensure compliance with privacy laws like HIPAA and GINA. Critically, the incentive must be limited in value and not conditioned on the spouse achieving a specific health outcome, preserving the voluntary nature of their participation.