Employees: Join the MCC Fitness Centers - no cost!

Did you know employees can use the MCC Fitness Centers at no cost? Visit any of the campus fitness centers, complete and sign a waiver, and you become a member. It’s that simple! You are not restricted to the campus in which you work. Utilize all of them or one thata's convenient for you. Click here to find a location best for you.


After you work out, don't forget to log your success on the Points-to-Blue incentive program. For other wellness information visit the InfoEx here.

Here’s the details:

Full-time and flexible part-time employees are eligible to join the MCC fitness centers at no cost. These benefit eligible employees will need to go through the normal screening process by answering a series of questions concerning such things as chest pain, blood pressure, asthma, fainting spells, etc. This screening is conducted on-site at the appropriate fitness center. If there is no problem with the screening, employees will be allowed to use the center. If there is a problem, employees will need to get a release from their doctor before being allowed to use the center.

Spouses may be added for a cost of $10 per month, families may be added for $15 per month; and dependent membership is contingent upon the same wellness screening process administered to employees. Every two years, employees and their dependents would need to be screened again. Dependent children will be eligible until age 24, regardless of student status.

Part-time faculty and temporary part-time (1000 hour) staff who wish to join the fitness centers must go through the screening process as detailed above for benefit eligible employees. Once they are cleared to use the center, they too will be eligible for free membership. Since this is a benefit for part-time faculty and temporary part-time (1000 hour) staff employees only, there is no discount for dependents, however, there would be some financial benefit because the employee would already be a member (i.e. – a spouse could join at a single member rate instead of the couple rate).

Points-to-Blue puts money in employees’ pockets

Since the launch of the Points-to-Blue (PTB) program in April 2010, approximately $32,000 of gift cards have been paid out to MCC employees. And that’s not the whole story – thousands more dollars worth of points have been banked, but not yet redeemed.


Tomorrow is the last day to redeem any points banked in 2010. Points banked during 2010 that have not been redeemed will expire on March 31, 2011.

MCC employees love the PTB program. From gift cards as gifts, to treating themselves to a little something special, there is something for everyone. Some employees purchased well deserved spa time, while others tried new restaurants and department stores.

“I redeemed mine at a new store,” said Leawna Parker, module leader for enrollment services. “There’s nothing to lose. It’s like free money for things I’m already doing.”

The PTB incentive program is provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. The program rewards employees for making healthy choices by providing tools to track participation in activities that improve health or keep employees healthy, while allowing them to choose their own rewards.

Once an employee records 25,000 points or more in their bank, they can redeem those points towards gift cards to more than 350 retail, restaurant, travel and entertainment providers. Gift cards start at $25 and increase in $5 increments.

*Note: due to high volume this time of year, processing of gift cards may take up to 6 weeks.

Employees: Banked points from 2010 Points to Blue will expire March 31

Don't forget to reward yourself for hard work and healthy choices made last year in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Points to Blue (PTB) program. Any previous points banked during 2010 that have not been redeemed will expire on March 31, 2011. If you have 25,000 or more banked points from 2010, redeem them by either clicking the Redeem button or the My Rewards button on your PTB account and choose Redeem My Points.


Points to Blue is the reward system offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City which allows employees to track healthy behavior and choose the rewards in a gift card format.

Employees - start your 2011 Points to Blue bank today

Start logging activity and earning points for your 2011 Points to Blue bank!
Employees can still redeem points remaining in your bank from 2010, and can enter any activity for 2010 through March of this year.

Click on the link for a refresher on how to log your points.

Points to Blue – post your activities by the end of December

Points to Blue, the reward system offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (BCBS), will close the first year with MCC at the end of December. The program allows employees to track healthy behavior, perform activities that are appropriate at your stage in your good health journey and choose the reward (in a gift card) that is right for you.

Those employees participating in the program must have all their entries posted on the Points to Blue site by Dec. 31. You will not be able to post any activity for 2010 beginning January 2011.
All points earned during 2010 must be redeemed by March. Watch your email inbox for notification from BCBS about your account.

Note: The Points to Blue website will be temporarily unavailable due to scheduled maintenance from 10 p.m., Dec. 17 until 7 a.m. Dec. 18.

Employee Wellness Program Off to a Good Start-Points to Blue earns dollars for you

In April of this year, MCC implemented a new wellness program for employees funded by MCC’s health insurance carrier, BlueCross/BlueShield (BCBS).

Jenny Edwards, health enhancement coordinator, has been meeting with employees on the MCC Wellness Committee to discuss developing and implementing wellness program activities and assist employees with their health and fitness objectives districtwide.

One tool Edwards is using is a BCBS program, called A Healthier You (AHY).One feature of AHY is the Points to Blue Incentive program.

Points to Blue rewards employees who participate in health and wellness activities. Employees earn points for participating in health risk assessments, screenings, classes and contacting a health coach. Points can be redeemed each year for a payout of up to $250.

One way points can be earned is participating in wellness webinars. Each month, Edwards emails information about all the webinars available for that month (watch your email inbox for A Healthier You announcements).

“I signed up for the Cultivating a Stress Resilient Life webinar,” said one employee. “With everything that was going on with me that week, I was glad I signed up. It really helped get me through the week. I also earned 25,000 points towards my $250.”

To sign up for Points to Blue, register at http://www.bluekc.com/ . For more information, email jenny.edwards@mcckc.edu

MCC Introduces Employee Wellness Program!

Beginning April 1, MCC implemented a robust wellness program for employees enrolled in the medical plan to utilize. The program, funded completely by BlueCross/BlueShield (BCBS), is a turn-key operation provided by MCC’s health insurance carrier.

The program provides MCC with a health enhancement coordinator from St. Luke’s Health System, Jenny Edwards, whose position is also included in the funding. Edwards has over 12 years experience in training and athletics and holds a masters in higher education and physical education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Edwards’ part-time time position allows her to be at MCC full days on Wednesdays and
Thursdays and a half day on Fridays. As the health enhancement coordinator, she is responsible for developing and implementing wellness program activities and assist employees with their health and fitness objectives.

“One goal is to create a stand-alone program that utilizes the wellness products provided
through BlueCross,” said Edwards.

The BCBS program, called A Healthier You (AHY), has been successfully used by other BCBS
clients, and includes many features such as:
• health risk assessments
• onsite classes
• biometric screenings
• health coaching
• weight management program

“One great benefit for employees is the Points to Blue Incentive Program,” said Brandi Fockler,
benefits manager at MCC. “Points to Blue rewards employees who participate in health and wellness activities.”

In the Points to Blue Incentive Program, employees are able to earn points for participating
in health risk assessments, screenings, classes and contacting your health coach. Points can be redeemed each year for a cash payout of up to $250. If giving is what you have in mind, choose from a list of 350 charities to donate your payout to, including the MCC Foundation.
This benefit adds no additional cost to employee insurance premiums. The incentive program
could actually reduce premium costs in the long run, if employees utilize the program and become healthier.