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Earn Carpenters Rewards for Your Biometric Screening

Carpenters Rewards is back by popular demand with some major improvements. For starters, the incentive amount has been doubled to $200. It's a simpler program, too–-four activities will qualify for the incentive and help you improve your health.

New to the lineup this year is the requirement for a health exam and biometric screening. Note the word requirement. This activity is worth 75 points, and without it participants cannot achieve the 200 points required for a $200 gift card. But if you think the gift card is the only payoff, you're missing the point.

A biometric screening can add years to your life and life to your years. It's a simple blood test you can get in your physician's office to measure cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. The test is usually performed as part of a health exam, when blood pressure, height and weight are measured. Collectively, these measurements (also known as biometrics), create a highly accurate snapshot of your current health. More important, they can be early warning signs for serious but preventable diseases and health conditions. For example...

  • High cholesterol often indicates high risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

  • High triglycerides are a red flag for heart disease and diabetes.

  • High glucose (blood sugar) is a warning sign for diabetes, which contributes to nearly 225,000 deaths in the U.S. every year.

  • High blood pressure suggests an elevated risk for heart attack, heart disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes.

  • Height and weight are used to calculate body mass index (BMI), a convenient way to gauge risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory problems (such as sleep apnea) and certain cancers.

Recognizing these early warning signs allows you to take action before they become serious health issues. Like getting your vehicle inspected, changing its oil and checking fluids, a health exam and biometric screening are some of the best preventive maintenance money can buy – and even more so if you have benefits for preventive care. Never mind the fact that the Carpenters Rewards incentive effectively pays you to get it done.

To be eligible for Carpenters Rewards, a Biometric Screening Form must be completed, signed and faxed no later than Sept. 30, 2012. Be sure to follow instructions. Visit carpentersbenefits.org for information and answers to frequently asked questions about biometric screenings and other requirements for Carpenters Rewards.

Carpenters Rewards is available to active and retired (non-Medicare) carpenters, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children ages 19-15. To enroll, log on to EmbodyHealth and click My Rewards.