FAQs about the Hoos Well Portal and Rewards

FAQs: Hoos Well Portal and Rewards


Browse answers to frequently asked questions about the Hoos Well Portal and opportunities to earn rewards. Click the links below to jump to the section that interests you.

Earning rewards Receiving rewards in your paycheck Technical specifications of the portal Features of the portal Eligibility and registration Your health information and privacy

To read FAQs related to reward-eligible activities, click the links below to jump to the section that interests you.

Well checks Health Assessment Journeys Challenges Hoos Well-sponsored webinars Flu vaccine

FAQs: Earning rewards

FAQs: Receiving rewards in your paycheck

FAQs: Hoos Well portal technical specifications

FAQs: Features of the Hoos Well portal

  • WHAT IS A NEXT-STEPS CONSULT?

    A Next-Steps Consult is a concierge-like service is a one-time conversation with a Health Guide provided by Virgin Pulse. Health Guides help you understand the results of your health assessment and navigate the resources available through Hoos Well during a 15-minute telephone conversation. Your Health Guide can also connect you with a certified health coach to assist with goal setting and provide long-term support.

  • WHAT IS LIVE HEALTH COACHING?

    A live health coach can help you formulate a plan to improve your personal health and well-being. All eligible employees and their spouses will have the opportunity to work with a certified health coach. Unlike a Next-Steps Consult, coaching is an ongoing relationship whereby the dedicated coach is supporting your pursuit of a personal well-being goal. 

  • What's the Difference between Next-Steps Consult and Health Coaching?

    Employees are encouraged to schedule a Next-Steps Consult. Next-Steps Consults, a concierge-like service, are one-time conversations with a Health Guide provided by Virgin Pulse. Health Guides help you understand the results of your health assessment and navigate the resources available through Hoos Well. There is no goal setting or long-term support, however, your guide can connect you with a live Health Coach who is able to help you formulate a plan and execute measures to improve your personal health and well-being.

    All eligible employees and their spouses will have the opportunity to work with a certified Health Coach. Unlike a Next-Steps Consult, coaching is an ongoing relationship in which a dedicated coach supports your pursuit of a personal well-being goal. 

  • WHAT IS THE TRIPLE TRACKER?

    The Triple Tracker is a feature in the portal that enables members to engage in and track healthy behaviors. Eligible employees and spouses can participate in the Triple Tracker activity beginning each month and earn $25 by completing 15 minutes of physical activity or 15 “workout” minutes, or by logging 7,000 steps for 20 days throughout the calendar month. Participation in the monthly Triple Tracker activity begins on February 1, 2024 and concludes November 30, 2024.

    Learn more and read FAQs about the Hoos Well Triple Tracker.
  • WHAT ARE HEALTHY HABITS AND HOW CAN THEY BE TRACKED?

    The Healthy Habits feature facilitates the adoption of healthy behaviors through customized activities generated by your responses to the Health Assessment and interests you have selected. Report Healthy Habits for 20 days over a period of one calendar month to earn a reward.

    Visit your Healthy Habits page in the portal
  • WHAT IS THE NUTRITION GUIDE?

    The Virgin Pulse Nutrition Guide is a comprehensive tool within the portal that offers practical guidance, nutrition improvement tips, evidence-based sample nutrition programs, and healthy recipes.

    Visit your Nutrition Guide
  • WHAT IS THE SLEEP GUIDE?

    The Virgin Pulse Sleep Guide helps you improve sleep and establish sleep goals. You can track and monitor sleep metrics, including quality and duration.

    Visit your Sleep Guide
  • CAN FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS PARTICIPATE?

    Yes. You can invite up to 10 non- Health Plan family members or friends to participate. Though invited participants can enjoy many of the portal’s features, they are ineligible to earn rewards.

FAQs: Eligibility and registration

  • WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO EARN REWARDS?

    All UVA employees and spouses on the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan are eligible to earn $500 each for completing actions toward good health. You must be enrolled in the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Plan as a subscriber or spouse and actively earning a paycheck at the time of payout. All rewards will be paid quarterly into the Health Plan subscriber’s paycheck. All rewards are considered taxable income. Retirees, grant funded post-doctoral fellows, COBRA enrollees, and child dependents are not eligible for rewards.

  • I AM A NEW EMPLOYEE AT UVA. WHEN AM I ELIGIBLE FOR HOOS WELL REWARDS?

    Employees must have elected their benefits, and be enrolled in the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan to be eligible to earn Hoos Well rewards. If you are a new employee, or have recently elected Health Plan coverage and benefits, it can take 30 days from the date you submit your health benefits election for your information to be recognized in the portal. Contact Hoos Well at hooswell@virginia.edu or AskHR at 434.243.3344 if you have questions about your eligibility or benefits enrollment.

  • DO I NEED TO CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT?

    If you created a new account in any of the last 3 years (2021 - 2023), you will not need to re-register in order to participate in 2024. You will need to create a new account if you did not register in 2021, 2022 or 2023.

    Create a new Virgin Pulse account
  • DOES MY SPOUSE NEED TO CREATE A SEPARATE ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE?

    Your spouse will need an individual account in order to participate in activities and earn up to $500. If your spouse created a new account in any of the last 3 years (2021 - 2023), they will not need to re-register in order to participate in 2024. Your spouse will need to create a new account if they did not register in 2021, 2022 or 2023.

    Create a new Virgin Pulse account
  • WHY AM I NOT SEEING MY SPOUSE’S INFORMATION IN MY ACCOUNT?

    In an effort to protect your privacy and offer a secure tracking portal, you will only be able to see your own personal information and progress in the portal. In order to participate, your spouse must create an account and sign in separately from your account. Our system will recognize him/her as your spouse when they submit their details. Encourage your spouse to participate to earn additional rewards if they are eligible!

    All rewards earned by the spouse on the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan is taxable income and will be deposited into the Health Plan subscriber’s paycheck (See more details under the "Receiving rewards in your paycheck" section on this page.)

FAQs: Your health information and privacy

FAQs: Well checks

  • WILL YOU BE VERIFYING MY WELL CHECK VISIT?

    All information is subject to validation and audit from Virgin Pulse and/or the UVA Hoos Well Program.

  • WHEN CAN I COMPLETE MY WELL CHECK TO EARN REWARDS?

    We understand that you may have recently had a well check or have a regular time period in which you visit your Primary Care Provider for a yearly physical exam. We will accept any visit between December 1, 2023 and November 30, 2024. 

  • WHAT TYPE OF VISIT WILL COUNT TOWARD A “WELL CHECK”?

    A well check or exam (sometimes called a check-up), is a preventative measure ensuring you get your key health numbers measured. It is also a time for communication with your physician. Some examples include a general physical exam, a women’s well exam, and an OB/GYN visit.

  • I DON’T HAVE A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, WHAT DO I DO?

    Check with your Health Plan Administrator (Aetna or Anthem) to identify in-network providers near you. Please be aware that if you establish care with a new physician, you may incur a fee.

  • WHAT IS THE COST OF A WELL CHECK? WILL I HAVE TO PAY A CO-PAYMENT OR COINSURANCE?

    Both the UVA Health Plan and the UPG Anthem Health Plan cover in full one annual preventive well check or general physical exam at 100%. Any discussion of symptoms, procedures performed during the visit, or any follow-up visits will be paid according to the copay and cost-sharing provisions of your particular plan. To ensure that you are not billed for a medical office visit, please schedule your appointment as a preventive “annual physical” or “wellness check.” Please be aware that if you establish care with a new physician, you may incur a fee.

FAQs: Health Assessment

FAQs: Journeys

FAQs: Challenges

  • WHAT TYPES OF CHALLENGES WILL BE OFFERED IN 2024?

    In 2024, there are three reward-eligible challenges:

    1. the 20-Day Triple Tracker physical activity challenge (monthly)
    2. the 1% Challenge in the eM Life mindfulness website and app (early fall 2024)
  • What is the Triple Tracker?

    The Triple Tracker is a feature in the portal that enables members to engage in and track healthy behaviors. Eligible employees and spouses can participate in the Triple Tracker activity beginning each month and earn $25 by completing 15 minutes of physical activity or 15 “workout” minutes, or by logging 7,000 steps for 20 days throughout the calendar month. Participation in the monthly Triple Tracker activity begins on February 1, 2024 and concludes November 30, 2024.

    Learn more and read FAQs about the Hoos Well Triple Tracker
  • What is the 1% Challenge?

    Simply practice mindfulness for 1% of the day - just 14 minutes - for 30 days to learn how to meditate, build healthy habits, and rewire your brain for better focus, mood, and resilience. This year's 1% Challenge, offered by our mindfulness partner eM Life, will begin in September 2024.

    Participation is simple, quick, accessible, and open to UVA employees and spouses on the UVA or UPG Health Plan. UVA participants in the 1% Challenge have reported a 21% reduction in their perceived stress.

    Please note: eM Life offers a 1% Challenge each January that is open to everyone, with separate rewards provided through eM Life. UVA's 1% Challenge that is eligible for a $50 Hoos Well reward will begin in September 2024. Stay tuned to our eM Life webpage for more information. 

    Learn more about the free eM Life mindfulness website & app
  • CAN I DO CHALLENGES AND JOURNEYS AT THE SAME TIME?

    Yes! You can participate in both at the same time. The choice is yours – pick what is most meaningful to you!

FAQs: Emotional, financial, and physical well-being webinars

FAQs: Flu vaccine

  • HOW DO I REPORT IT?

    In 2024, employees and spouses enrolled on the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan can earn a $25 reward for getting your annual flu vaccine—a simple way to reduce the risk of flu-associated illness, doctor’s visits and hospitalization. Receive your flu vaccination between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024. Record the date and location of your vaccination in the Hoos Well portal to receive the reward.

  • WHAT IF I HAVE A MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOR GETTING A FLU SHOT?

    There are many other ways to earn rewards in the Hoos Well portal. Choosing not to get a flu vaccine will not impact your ability to earn up to $500 in rewards by participating in the other healthy activities listed above.