The Claim
The presence of a surcharge component in incentive programs is associated with higher completion rates of Personal Health Assessments (P < 0.001).
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Incentive programs that include a financial penalty are linked to more people completing Personal Health Assessments.
See the scientific wording
The presence of a surcharge component in incentive programs is associated with higher completion rates of Personal Health Assessments (P < 0.001), indicating that financial penalties may play a role in motivating preventive health behavior.
When people face a financial penalty for skipping a health checkup, their brain treats it like a threat. This activates fear circuits that push them to act to avoid loss, and strengthens their ability to resist skipping the task, making them more likely to complete it.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: The Association Between Incentive Designs and Health Assessment or Biometric Screening Completion
When companies make employees pay a fee if they don’t get a health checkup, more people do it—this study found that for a huge group of workers, the threat of a penalty worked better than just offering rewards.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.