State of Montana Success Stories
Weight Watchers Reimbursement Criteria
Once every two years, members of the State of Montana health care plan who are age 18 or over may be eligible for a $75 reimbursement* on the enrollment fees they have paid to weight watchers.
*Cash reimbursements are a taxable benefit. Reimbursements to active employees will be processed as an off-cycle check, separate from the bi-weekly pay checks and included in your taxable income as reported by the State of Montana on your W-2. Reimbursements to members of the State of Montana plan who are not active employees are 1099 eligible, which means the recipient must claim it as income when they file their taxes.
Criteria
For reimbursement, members of the State of Montana health care plan who have participated in Weight Watchers Program (Traditional, At-Work, or Online) must meet the following 3 criteria to qualify for the $75 reimbursement.
1st Criteria - Weight
You must show that you have met the goal of losing 10% of your starting weight. For example, if your starting weight was 200 pounds, then you must lose 20 pounds to be eligible for the reimbursement. This can take any form that shows the required weight loss-10% weight loss certificate or first and last pages of your membership book/log/online journal that show starting and "ending" weight. You do not need to provide a copy of your entire book/log!
2nd Criteria - Payment Record
You may only claim reimbursement once you have paid Weight Watchers dues, and may only claim reimbursement once every 2 years. This documentation can take any form; an example would be a copy of the receipt you received when you paid your dues. You may not claim reimbursement for Weight Watchers dues if they have already been reimbursed via another source.
If you lose 10% of your starting weight and meet the other criteria but did not pay the full $75, you are still eligible for the amount you have paid. For example, if a person lost 10% of their starting weight in the first four weeks, paid $39.95, and chose not to attend anymore, they would still be eligible for $39.95. Remember that you may only submit one (1) request for reimbursement every two years.
3rd Criteria - Exercise
Provide documentation of regular exercise. Exercise may be whatever form you and your doctor decide is best, but at least three days per week of exercise is required. Documentation of your exercise routine can take any form, from a copy of a typical week from your exercise log to a written and signed statement of what you do each week. You do not need to provide a copy of your entire book/log!
To Claim Reimbursement
After you have met the 3 criteria listed above and you want to submit your request for payment, complete the Weight Watchers Reimbusement form and send the form and a copy of the documentation to the State of Montana Healthy Employee Lifestyle Program (SOMHELP) at PO Box 200130 Helena, MT 59620;(everything will be kept confidential).
You will be reimbursed within 90 days of submitting all the required documentation.
For More Information
For more information on active "at-work" sessions:
- At the Capitol Complex: Jere-Ann Nelson at 444-5395. Thursdays at 11:45am.
- At the Montana State Prison: Cynthia Davenport at 846-1320 ext. 2229.
- Montana State Hospital on Wednesdays 11:30 am in the PSB Classroom A. Contact Cristi Boyd at 693-7024.
- If you are interested in starting up a group, you need a minimum of 15 people to start. To start your own Weight Watchers at Work Program, contact Weight Watchers at (800) 487-7577 or jan.krumrey@weightwatchers.com, or visit the Weight Watchers Web site at http://www.weightwatchers.com/
For general information on the Weight Watchers benefit:
Health Care and Benefits Division
benefitsquestions@mt.gov
(406) 444-7462 or toll free (800) 287-8266
