Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), wellness is one element of health care reform that is taking center stage.
Generally, health plans may not discriminate based on a health factor against individual participants with regards to eligibility, benefits, or premiums (health factors include health status, medical condition, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical history, genetic information, evidence of insurability, and disability). However, an exception to this rule allows for premium discounts, rebates, or modifications to otherwise applicable cost sharing in return for adherence to certain programs of health promotion and disease prevention, otherwise known as wellness programs.