{"id":2817,"date":"2020-01-02T08:57:46","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T15:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/?p=2817"},"modified":"2026-03-11T12:52:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:52:35","slug":"employee-wellness-program-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does An Employee Wellness Program Cost?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#What_does_an_employee_wellness_program_typically_cost\" >What does an employee wellness program typically cost?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#What_additional_costs_should_employers_consider\" >What additional costs should employers consider?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#What_alternative_approaches_can_reduce_wellness_program_costs\" >What alternative approaches can reduce wellness program costs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#How_can_becoming_a_wellness_reseller_lower_program_costs\" >How can becoming a wellness reseller lower program costs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#What_does_a_sample_employee_wellness_budget_look_like\" >What does a sample employee wellness budget look like?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#Why_is_worksite_wellness_a_long-term_investment\" >Why is worksite wellness a long-term investment?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#Are_employee_wellness_programs_cost-effective\" >Are employee wellness programs cost-effective?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#What_should_be_included_in_an_employee_wellness_program\" >What should be included in an employee wellness program?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#What_conclusions_should_employers_draw_about_wellness_program_costs\" >What conclusions should employers draw about wellness program costs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote executive-summary is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:1px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-size:17px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p style=\"font-size:20px\"><strong>Executive Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group executive-summary\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>How much does an employee wellness program cost?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"executive-summary\" style=\"font-size:16px\">The cost of an employee wellness program varies based on program scope, tools used, and level of support, but effective programs can be implemented at almost any budget. Basic programs may cost only a few dollars per employee per month, while more comprehensive programs with technology, incentives, and expert guidance cost more. What matters most is not how much is spent, but how strategically the program is designed and managed. Well-designed wellness programs often offset their costs by reducing health risks, healthcare expenses, and productivity losses.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-an-employee-wellness-program-typically-cost\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_an_employee_wellness_program_typically_cost\"><\/span><strong>What does an employee wellness program typically cost?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To get a positive return on investment, especially with wellness program cost, worksites must implement wellness programs that are comprehensive. A comprehensive wellness program is going to include a health risk appraisal, incentives, culture change, and behavior change campaigns and challenges. It can also include biometric screening and individualized health coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"643\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-to-have-a-workplace-wellness-program-1024x643.jpg\" alt=\"cost of corporate wellness programs, corporate wellness pricing models, wellness program budget example, who bears the cost of employee wellness programs, do workplace wellness programs save employers money, how much do companies pay for wellness programs, employee wellness and retention\" class=\"wp-image-2855\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-to-have-a-workplace-wellness-program-1024x643.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-to-have-a-workplace-wellness-program-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/reasons-to-have-a-workplace-wellness-program-768x482.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The answer to the question of how much it costs, it really depends on how much you want to offer your employees. I have carefully reviewed all of the results of the published employer surveys and research articles on what the typical cost of an effective wellness program looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surveys found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.employeebenefitadviser.com\/news\/employers-spend-742-per-employee-for-wellness-program-incentives\">here<\/a>, <a href=\"from:&nbsp;https:\/\/healthpayerintelligence.com\/news\/employees-like-wellness-programs-but-dont-use-them-much\">here<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20221006105554\/https:\/\/www.healthcarefinancenews.com\/news\/employer-wellness-programs-spend-record-693-worker\">here<\/a> report that the total cost of wellness program is between $150 and $1200 per employee per year. Obviously, this is a huge range. The reason for the large range has to do with which wellness program options an employer wants to include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me explain all this a little differently. Many wellness vendors (including WellSteps) are offering a comprehensive wellness program that uses a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/11\/01\/wellness-platforms-and-wellness-portals\/\">proprietary wellness platform<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/wellsteps-solution\">These programs<\/a> typically cost between $3 and $7.5 per employee per month ($36 -$90\/ year). This typically includes a mobile app and website that can offer a health risk appraisal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/17\/wellness-incentive-management\/\">incentive management<\/a>, online resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/ws-checklist-to-change\">culture change<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/18\/wellness-challenges-wellness-challenge-ideas\/\">wellness campaigns and team challenges<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/13\/wearables-and-wellness-programs\/\">integration of fitness devices<\/a>. Occasionally this cost will also include some money for simple incentives like gift cards or T-shirts.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/APP.png\" alt=\"cost of corporate wellness programs, corporate wellness pricing models, wellness program budget example, who bears the cost of employee wellness programs, do workplace wellness programs save employers money, how much do companies pay for wellness programs, employee wellness and retention\" style=\"width:518px;height:180px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>WellSteps has over 400 worksites that we currently work with and most of them are getting a comprehensive wellness program for around $36-$90 per employee per year, depending on the size of the company. The larger the company, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/29\/free-workplace-wellness-programs\/\">smaller the cost<\/a> per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-additional-costs-should-employers-consider\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_additional_costs_should_employers_consider\"><\/span>What additional costs should employers consider?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This does not include the cost of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/11\/how-to-do-biometric-screening\/\">biometric screening<\/a>, health coaching or benefits based incentives. These are not automatically included because they are the most expensive parts of any wellness program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-bordered table-striped\" style=\"width: 668px; height: 116px;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Wellness Options:<\/th>\n<th>Cost<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Biometric screening (blood draw and analysis)<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">$40-$75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Health coaching (6 sessions)<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">$140-$165<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Benefits-based incentives<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">$200-$800 per employee per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>An effective employee wellness program can cost between $36 and $90 per employee per year. Add <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/11\/how-to-do-biometric-screening\/\">biometric screening<\/a>, telephonic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/09\/corporate-health-coach-companies\/\">health coaching<\/a>, and robust incentives including&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/01\/wellness-program-incentives\/\">benefits-based incentives <\/a>and you can see how the cost grows dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have found that great participation happens if the employers will establish a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/01\/wellness-program-incentives\/\">benefits-based incentive plan<\/a>. Benefits-based wellness incentive programs typically include the incentive of a discount on insurance premiums, paid time off, a contribution to an HSA or HRA, or a lower co-pay or deductible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Benefits-based incentives have a big impact on employee engagement. Some WellSteps clients offer a $50\/month discount off the cost of an insurance premium. That\u2019s $600 per year per qualifying employee. Other companies spend more and some spend less than this. According to the Washington Business Group on Health, some employers are now spending $742 per employee per year on incentives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-alternative-approaches-can-reduce-wellness-program-costs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_alternative_approaches_can_reduce_wellness_program_costs\"><\/span>What alternative approaches can reduce wellness program costs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If establishing a benefits-based incentive is too bold for your worksite consider purchasing other incentives that are not tied to your benefits. &nbsp;Many of our Wellsteps clients have a small wellness budget dedicated to purchasing rewards or incentives for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/04\/08\/wellness-program-engagement-the-complete-guide\/\">program engagement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"508\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Wellness-Incentives-1024x508.jpg\" alt=\"cost of corporate wellness programs, corporate wellness pricing models, wellness program budget example, who bears the cost of employee wellness programs, do workplace wellness programs save employers money, how much do companies pay for wellness programs, employee wellness and retention\" class=\"wp-image-818\" style=\"width:467px;height:230px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Wellness-Incentives-1024x508.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Wellness-Incentives-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Wellness-Incentives-768x381.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Wellness-Incentives.jpg 1234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you are not careful your wellness program can get very expensive very quickly. The more money you spend on the program the less likely you are to get a positive return on investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We encourage all worksites to do biometric screening at least once.&nbsp; We also know that the programs with the best outcomes always offer some type of benefits-based incentive.&nbsp; Unfortunately, spending a lot on incentives may not produce the most cost effective outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The high cost of coaching is also why there are no published studies that show a positive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/ig-coaching\">return on investment for health coaching<\/a>. There is also no evidence of a positive return on investment for wellness programs that have an on-site fitness facility. The cost of these wellness options is difficult to recoup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-becoming-a-wellness-reseller-lower-program-costs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_becoming_a_wellness_reseller_lower_program_costs\"><\/span><strong>How can becoming a wellness reseller lower program costs?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Large employers, insurance companies, and brokers who wish to provide wellness programming to many people can reduce the cost by becoming a reseller. Large employers can get access to a robust wellness platform for as little as $10 per employee per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of hiring wellness coordinator or WellSteps guide to help you manage your wellness program, you can become a reseller. As a reseller you can get trained to use a robust wellness platform without any professional help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reseller model is less expensive because you are agreeing to do all of the heavy lifting and day-to-day management of the wellness program yourself. You can read more about becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/21\/resell-wellness-as-a-wellness-reseller\/\">wellness reseller here<\/a>. This is a very cost-effective method for those who are delivering wellness to large groups of people.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"725\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/wellness-platform-and-app.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-101847\" style=\"width:316px;height:313px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/wellness-platform-and-app.jpg 725w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/wellness-platform-and-app-300x297.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/wellness-platform-and-app-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/wellness-platform-and-app-60x60.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-a-sample-employee-wellness-budget-look-like\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_a_sample_employee_wellness_budget_look_like\"><\/span><strong>What does a sample employee wellness budget look like?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With this information you can now create a very accurate budget of what your wellness program will cost. First, you have to answer a few questions. Do you want to offer biometric screening to all your employees? Do you want to make health coaching available to all your employees or just a subset?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you going to implement a benefits-based incentive plan? These are important questions that you will need to answer before you can complete your budget. Here are some more really important questions you must consider before you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/11\/start-a-wellness-program-2-2\/\">start your wellness program<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>number of employees= 350<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wellness platform cost per employee per year= $30<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>$30 x 350 = $10,500<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Add in any additional costs for biometric screening, health coaching, incentives, or a benefits-based incentive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-worksite-wellness-a-long-term-investment\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_worksite_wellness_a_long-term_investment\"><\/span><strong>Why is worksite wellness a long-term investment?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With an expanding need for employee wellness programs, it makes sense to look at the reasoning behind these kinds of programs and the cost of having one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are three reasons why employee wellness programs are going to continue to grow in popularity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1) There is a strong economy where wellness programs flourish.<br>2) There is more obesity and diabetes now than in any other time in world history.<br>3) The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/07\/health-and-wellness-in-the-workplace\/\">increasing cost of healthcare is only going to get worse<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if the US economy stumbles, the obesity epidemic and cost of medical care will continue to drive the need for wellness programs. At the present time, there is not sufficient political and cultural interest to do much about either one of these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Virtually all large corporations and many mid-sized companies already have some form of employee wellness in place. These worksites will continue to provide wellness while the real growth in wellness programs will come from small businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of size all worksites will need to ask these questions;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What are the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/16\/reasons-to-have-a-wellness-program-benefits-of-wellness\/\">benefits of having a worksite wellness program<\/a>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What questions should we ask before we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/11\/start-a-wellness-program-2-2\/\">start a wellness program<\/a>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How much should a wellness program cost?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do I need help to run an effective wellness program?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-employee-wellness-programs-cost-effective\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_employee_wellness_programs_cost-effective\"><\/span>Are employee wellness programs cost-effective?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are hundreds of published research studies that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/do-wellness-programs-work\/\">prove wellness programs<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Help employees eat healthy and be active<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduce elevated employee health risks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduce the need for medical care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve employee morale<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase employee productivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve employee recruitment and retention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-should-be-included-in-a-wellness-program\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_be_included_in_an_employee_wellness_program\"><\/span>What should be included in an employee wellness program?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Comprehensive wellness programs include medical screenings, incentives for healthy behaviors, behavior change interventions, health coaching, fitness, nutrition, and weight loss programs, social support, gamified wellness challenges and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/03\/employee-wellness-program\/\">much more<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-conclusions-should-employers-draw-about-wellness-program-costs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_conclusions_should_employers_draw_about_wellness_program_costs\"><\/span>What conclusions should employers draw about wellness program costs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Poor employee health has a direct impact on productivity, morale, and health care costs. Wellness programs improve health. When making the decision to finance a wellness program it is always a good idea to consider the cost of doing nothing. Most companies have found that having a good wellness program will produce a positive ROI and quickly become an important business strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/demosignup\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-1024x450.png\" alt=\"wellsteps cta\" class=\"wp-image-2233\" style=\"width:514px;height:226px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-1024x450.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-768x338.png 768w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents-1140x500.png 1140w, https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Wellsteps-50-cents.png 1576w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773255042761\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What factors impact wellness program cost the most?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">When HR asks what drives wellness program cost, the biggest factors are platform features, participation tracking, incentives, biometric screenings, and program customization. Larger organizations may pay more based on the number of employees participating.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773255057113\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What\u2019s a realistic wellness program cost for small or mid-size companies?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">For most organizations, a fair wellness program cost ranges from a few dollars per employee per month to higher tiers for more robust support.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773255057700\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do digital wellness platforms affect wellness program cost?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Digital tools help reduce administrative overhead, so choosing the right platform can actually lower your overall wellness program cost while improving engagement.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773255058332\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Should incentives be included in the wellness program cost estimate?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes\u2014if you want meaningful participation, incentives should be part of your wellness program cost calculation.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1773255059287\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can companies forecast their long-term wellness program cost?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Companies should calculate adoption rates, participation-based rewards, and support hours. Tools like WellSteps Pricing can help build a clear, predictable wellness program cost projection.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does an employee wellness program typically cost? To get a positive return on investment, especially with wellness program cost, worksites must implement wellness programs that are comprehensive. A comprehensive wellness program is going to include a health risk appraisal, incentives, culture change, and behavior change campaigns and challenges. It can also include biometric screening&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How Much Does An Employee Wellness Program Cost?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[81,580,12,79,522,19,11,63],"tags":[1487,1485,1484,1482,1483,1486,1481],"class_list":["post-2817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-corporate-wellness-companies","category-corporate-wellness-programs","category-employee-wellness","category-wellness-portal","category-wellness-programs","category-workplace-wellness","category-worksite-wellness","category-worksite-wellness-program","tag-cost","tag-cost-of-a-corporate-wellness-program","tag-cost-of-corporate-wellness-programs","tag-cost-of-implementing-a-wellness-program","tag-cost-of-wellness-programs","tag-how-much-does-a-wellness-program-cost","tag-wellness-program-budget-example"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Much Does An Employee Wellness Program Cost?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here are accurate wellness program cost estimates to help you create a wellness budget. Estimate the cost of your program.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Much Does An Employee Wellness Program Cost?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Executive Summary How much does an employee wellness program cost? The cost of an employee wellness program varies based on program scope, tools used, and\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/02\/employee-wellness-program-cost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/WellSteps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-01-02T15:57:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-11T18:52:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.wellsteps.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/coastal-landscape-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Steve Aldana\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@wellsteps\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@wellsteps\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dr. Steve Aldana\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dr. Steve Aldana\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5a665881fbbbd2658e8b0fab9a2f701e\"},\"headline\":\"How Much Does An Employee Wellness Program Cost?\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-02T15:57:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-11T18:52:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1572,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/coastal-landscape-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"cost\",\"cost of a corporate wellness program\",\"cost of corporate wellness programs\",\"cost of implementing a wellness program\",\"cost of wellness programs\",\"how much does a wellness program cost\",\"wellness program budget example\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Corporate Wellness Companies\",\"corporate wellness programs\",\"employee wellness\",\"Wellness portal\",\"Wellness programs\",\"workplace wellness\",\"worksite wellness\",\"worksite wellness program\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Much Does An Employee Wellness Program Cost?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/02\\\/employee-wellness-program-cost\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.wellsteps.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/coastal-landscape-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-01-02T15:57:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-11T18:52:35+00:00\",\"description\":\"Here are accurate wellness program cost estimates to help you create a wellness budget. 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