FAQ
Eligibility and enrolling
Who is eligible for the Ardent benefit program?
When can I enroll for benefits?
How do I enroll for benefits?
How do I verify my dependents are eligible for coverage?
What happens if I don’t enroll?
Can I make changes to my benefits during the year?
Bravo Wellness Program
Who conducts the screening? Where are the screenings held?
What tests are done as part of the health screening?
What are the target ranges for the health screening tests?
What are the medical premium savings for participation and wellness points?
Where can I get more information about weight loss and BMI?
If I had a physical in the last six months, can I provide those results in lieu of participating in the screening?
Is it mandatory for employees to participate?
Do spouses and dependent children need to be screened?
What should I do before, during and after my screening?
How will I receive my results?
Will Ardent see my results?
What should I do with the results? What if my results aren’t in the normal range?
What can I do to improve my health?
What if I don’t agree with my test results? Can I appeal them?
How do I contact Bravo?
Does the program punish people who don’t have healthy results on their screening?
How did Ardent determine what qualifies as the target, or healthy range, for the health screening tests?
What if I’m pregnant or my health professional says that these guidelines don’t apply to me for other medical reasons?
If I take medication that allows me to achieve the goals, do I still qualify for wellness points?
How often does the wellness screening take place?
What if I forget to bring the Provider Form when I screen with my doctor?
Eligibility and enrolling
Who is eligible for the Ardent benefit program?
You are eligible if you are a full-time or regular part-time employee working at least 20 hours per week. You become eligible on the first of the month following 30 days of continuous active employment.
Your dependents are eligible for medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, dependent life insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) coverage and the Health Advocate program. Dependents include your spouse, domestic partner, your children and your domestic partner’s children under age 26.
Learn more about dependent eligibility, including detailed instructions on how to enroll your dependents for benefits.
When can I enroll for benefits?
You may enroll for benefits as a new hire or during the yearly Annual Enrollment period.
How do I enroll for benefits?
To enroll in your health care and insurance benefits, log on to the enrollment website.
To enroll in the 401(k) Savings Plan, log on to the Transamerica website or contact Transamerica at 888-976-8159.
How do I verify my dependents are eligible for coverage?
Learn more about eligibility, including the step by step process to verify eligibility for dependent coverage.
What happens if I don’t enroll?
As a new hire, if you don’t enroll within 31 days of your date of hire, you will receive only the company-provided life and LTD benefits and your next opportunity to enroll will be the Annual Enrollment period (typically in November).
If you did not elect benefits during the Annual Enrollment period in November, you and your family will not have medical, dental or vision coverage in that year.
Can I make changes to my benefits during the year?
The benefit elections you make during Annual Enrollment remain in effect for the entire plan year (January 1 through December 31).
You may change coverage only due to a Qualified Life Event, and you must do so within 31 days of the event. Any benefit changes must be consistent with the life event. For example, if you have a baby, you can add a dependent to your medical plan.
Bravo Wellness Program
Who conducts the screening? Where are the screenings held?
Bravo Wellness contracts with health professionals and coordinates all of the arrangements for the health screenings. They will take place at Ardent’s main locations. Special accommodations are made for individuals in small locations and out-of-area employees. You also have the option to screen with your doctor.
What tests are done as part of the health screening?
The health screening includes a blood draw to determine cholesterol and nicotine use. The screening also measures your blood pressure, height and weight (to determine Body Mass Index, or BMI) and waist measurement. A complete list of the blood results you’ll receive can be viewed when you register.
While wellness points are not awarded for blood pressure or LDL cholesterol, you still need to have them measured at your screening to be eligible for the discounts as a participant. It’s important that you know your numbers so you’ll understand your health status and know if you are at risk for chronic medical conditions.
What are the target ranges for the health screening tests?
What are the medical premium savings for participation and wellness points?
Where can I get more information about weight loss and BMI?
It only takes a minute to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). If losing weight is one of your wellness goals, you’ll want to learn more about BMI and find the healthy weight range for your height.
If I had a physical recently, can I provide those results in lieu of participating in the screening?
Yes, if the screening was completed after August 1, 2018.
Is it mandatory for employees to participate?
No. Participation is completely voluntary. However, if you do not participate, you will not receive any discounts on your medical premiums.
Do spouses and dependent children need to be screened?
All covered spouses may participate in the health screening.
What should I do before, during and after my screening?
What to do before the screening
- Stay hydrated one week prior to your screening.
- Limit your intake of salt and high-cholesterol foods 24 hours prior to your screening.
- Fast from all food for 12 hours prior to your screening; this will give you the most accurate results. Drink only water or black, decaffeinated coffee (no sweeteners or creamers) 12 hours prior to your screening.
- If you are diabetic or hypoglycemic, follow your doctor’s instructions regarding fasting. Take all medications as prescribed.
- Drink 6–8 oz. of water at least one hour before your screening. Staying hydrated will help ensure a smooth blood draw.
- Don’t smoke or chew tobacco one hour prior to screening.
- Don’t exercise or engage in strenuous activity 24 hours prior to your screening.
What to do when you arrive
- Arrive five minutes before your appointment; this allows screeners to answer any questions or concerns you have and to stay on schedule.
- Bring a photo ID.
What to do after the screening
- If you feel dizzy or light-headed, notify an on-site examiner immediately.
- Don’t exercise or engage in strenuous activity immediately following your screening.
- Be aware that it’s normal to feel some pain and/or have redness/soreness at the needle-insertion site.
How will I receive my results?
You will receive information from Bravo Wellness in confidential mailings. If you complete the online questionnaire, you will receive a detailed health risk report. After your health screening, you will receive a Wellness Screening Results Report. Throughout the year, you may also receive wellness information on programs being offered through Bravo Wellness and Ardent to help you get healthy and stay healthy.
Will Ardent see my results?
No, Ardent will not see your individual test results. Bravo will give Ardent and our benefits administrator a summary of the number of wellness points each employee received as a result of the health screening, without providing information on the categories employees “passed” or “failed” or any specific lab results. This allows Ardent and our benefits administrator to determine your medical premiums.
What should I do with the results? What if my results aren’t in the normal range?
You are encouraged to share your results with your health professional for a more in-depth discussion about your health. It’s even more important to schedule an office visit with your health professional if your results are not within the healthy ranges, because you could be at risk for chronic health conditions.
Your health professional has a more complete picture of your overall health and can better interpret your results as well as create a plan for reducing any risks that are identified.
What can I do to improve my health?
Ask your health professional to help you set health and wellness goals. If your results didn’t meet the target for a certain test, ask your health professional what steps you can take to improve so you can earn wellness points next year. Also take advantage of the programs being offered through Bravo Wellness and your medical plan carrier.
What if I don’t agree with my test results? Can I appeal them?
You can submit an appeal to Bravo Wellness with supporting documentation within 30 days of the date of your health screening results report. Any retesting will be at your expense.
- Blood pressure may be retested by a qualified health professional and/or you may provide four readings taken within the past four months from a qualified health professional.
- Cholesterol may be retested by a certified laboratory.
- BMI may be retested by a qualified health professional.
- Tobacco/nicotine use may be retested by a certified laboratory.
How do I contact Bravo?
You can get more information about the Bravo Wellness Program by logging on to the Bravo website or calling 844-529-5547.
Does the program punish people who don’t have healthy results on their screening?
By far, the largest incentive is for participating in the program. Anyone who completes a health screening will receive a credit to help offset medical plan rate increases—even if they “fail” every test. This reward is offered because if you discover you’re at risk for a chronic health problem, you are more likely to take action to improve your health.
Additional discounts are available if you “pass” the health screening tests. These rewards acknowledge the fact that if you are within the healthy ranges, you present less risk to the plan and have fewer health care costs during the year. Discounts for coverage that includes your spouse and/or other dependents are even greater.
How did Ardent determine what qualifies as the target, or healthy range, for the health screening tests?
The National Institute of Health (NIH) sets target ranges for health metrics including those tested in the Bravo Wellness Program: Body Mass Index (BMI) and tobacco/nicotine use. Ardent reviewed these ranges and set goals for our employees. Ardent took a moderate approach—making our goals slightly easier to reach than those set by the NIH.
What if I’m pregnant or my health professional says that these guidelines don’t apply to me for other medical reasons?
If your physician verifies that the Bravo Wellness Program goals are medically inadvisable or unreasonably difficult due to a medical condition, you will be offered an alternative way to qualify for wellness points in the applicable categories. Contact Bravo for more information.
If I take medication that allows me to achieve the goals, do I still qualify for wellness points?
Yes. For example, if you have a pre-existing condition of high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you can receive wellness points if you are following the prescribed treatment for your condition and are within the target ranges.
How often does the wellness screening take place?
Ardent plans to offer the health screening through Bravo Wellness once a year, prior to Annual Enrollment. New hires will be able to participate when they are hired, within 60 days of their date of hire. You must participate each year in order to continue receiving the discounts.
What if I forget to bring the Provider Form when I screen with my doctor?
You’ll need to download the personalized form from http://www.bravowell.com/ardent and take it to your doctor. Just be sure it’s returned to Bravo by your screening deadline.