GiftCard Partners Blog

Heart disease remains the #1 cause of death in the United States and creates an enormous burden for people, communities, and healthcare providers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 655,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, which is 1 in every 4 deaths (Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, 2020).  

Medicaid and Medicare payers and accountable care organizations (ACOs) strategize all year about how to get members to attend their annual health screenings. However, due to employment commitments, lack of transportation, fear of contracting COVID-19, and even lack of education on the importance of yearly screenings, many members need to be incentivized to schedule and attend annual screenings and preventive care check-ups.

We’re on the precipice of what is being called a “twindemic,” the possibility that we’ll be managing both the spread of influenza and a new wave of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Such a scenario has the potential to put patients at higher risk for infection, as well as put hospitals at risk for becoming overwhelmed.

The cash vs. gift card debate in the reward and incentive world has a common misconception that cash is more appealing, therefore more motivating, to someone receiving it. However, studies show that gift cards are not only more intrinsically appealing, but also more effective at creating positive associations and changing behavior.

Today, nurses are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the world, putting both their physical and mental health in jeopardy to help patients and at-risk populations. Saying thank you to nurses and healthcare workers is more important now than ever. One way we can help them in this time of need is by spreading awareness of their outstanding efforts and providing them with resources they need to help them take care of themselves as they care for patients.