When the study looked at specific health areas, it found that incentives increased the probability of meeting biometric targets:

• BMI less than 30 – 36 percent improvement

• Total cholesterol less than 240 – 11 percent improvement

• Blood pressure less than 140/90 – 47 percent improvement

Cigna reported that incentives helped reduce health coverage costs for those 50 years of age and older, or those with multiple chronic conditions, by 10 percent.

The cost of failing to participate in such basic wellness plan engagement as undergoing biometric screenings comes with a high price tag, the study found. Cigna reported:

• "Those who have not had a biometric screening of their blood pressure values on average have total health costs which are $2,064 higher per year, and $400 more in out-of-pocket costs, than those who have verified that their blood pressure is lower than 140/90."

• "Those who have not had a biometric screening of their blood glucose values on average have total health costs which are $1,332 higher per year, and $266 more in out-of-pocket costs, than those who have verified that their blood glucose is lower than 100."

"Employers are increasingly rewarding employees who identify and address their potential health risks, by discounting the employee's health plan premiums or adding funds to their health spending account to lower their annual out-of-pocket expenses," said Cigna's Chief Nursing Officer, Mary Picerno. "In 2014 Cigna distributed more than $80 million in rewards to Cigna group health plan customers who completed 1.6 million health goals. In the first eight months of 2015, Cigna customers have earned $93,814,080 in awards through their employer incentive programs."