COEUR d'ALENE - Sandy Maitland doesn't spend her lunch hour sitting down.

Instead, Maitland, an employee at the Kootenai County Commissioners Office, invests her hour burning calories at Coeur d'Alene Athletic Club.

"It's just because I've always exercised," explained Maitland, 51, who is also training for a triathlon. "It's for my health and fitness."

Besides benefiting her, the regimen also helps the county, as her lifestyle prevents health problems and reduces the need for insurance claims.

County commissioners would like to see more county employees do the same.

Like Bonner County, Kootenai County is looking into beefing up its employee wellness program to entice more to participate and save more in the long term.

"We're looking at a program that incentives wellness, in order to control costs," said Commissioner Dan Green.

Ideally, a program that rewards employees for pursuing healthful practices would result in fewer insurance claims and, over time, lower insurance premiums for the county.

The commissioners have only had a preliminary meeting on the subject, Green said.

"I can't tell you exactly (what it would look like)," he said, adding that a consultant and Blue Cross will be presenting ideas in upcoming weeks.

Some possibilities, Green said, include lowering premiums for employees who participate in health programs.

"For example, if you're a smoker and you went to a no-smoking class," Green said. "Or if you made sure you got your wellness checked each year and were proactive in addressing medical conditions."

Currently the county, which is self insured through Blue Cross, has a voluntary wellness program.

According to county records, 195 of the 792 employees participate in the Exercise Incentive Program, where participants exercise at least 30 minutes within three hours of work.

There are incentives, technically, in the forms of free water bottles, tote bags and gift cards.

The county also offers smoking/tobacco cessation classes, provided free by Panhandle Health.

Between 2005 and 2009, 16 attended the classes and 10 have remained tobacco free.

Employees can also learn about health tips from newsletters and occasional guest speakers.

Commissioner Jai Nelson said she would call the current program incentives symbolic.

"I think what we're proposing would be something a little more significant," she said. "Let's say you quit smoking, you might get some additional funds. That's what we asked the consultant to do. Come up with creative ideas to give true incentives, more monetary than these little gifts, to get our employees up and moving."

Nelson pointed out that insurance premiums are a significant part of the county budget.

The county currently pays $132.94 per employee per month for insurance, and between $90,000 and $95,000 a year for all employees.

Blue Cross increased the county's insurance cost by 4 percent this last contact year, according to county Human Resources.

Proper nutrition and exercise can prevent potentially expensive problems, Nelson added.

"You can reduce (the number of people with) diabetes and meds and blood pressure and cardiac risk factors," said Nelson, also a registered nurse. "And I think evidence shows you have higher morale, higher retention, less illness."

Maitland, who has participated in the county's wellness program for 12 years, said she would exercise regardless of incentives.

She would love to see rewards that prompted many to pursue active lifestyles, she said.

"I just think it might help people get up and start getting information about health and fitness," Maitland said.

Josh Jordan, spokesman for Blue Cross, said it's likely a more incentivized program could reduce insurance costs over time.

"On a high-level, grand scheme of things, absolutely," Jordan said. "If we are healthier as a society, the fewer health care resources we have to (use), that will reduce premiums."

County employees contribute $37.50 monthly for insurance, which includes medical, dental and vision. Those with one dependent contribute $105 per month, and employees with a family contribute $180.

The county employee deductible is $400, and $800 for an employee's family.

Commissioner Todd Tondee said it's premature to predict how a different wellness program would affect employees' deductibles or county costs.

"It just depends on what it is, and what we're able to do," Tondee said. "We don't know what the outcome will be yet."

The county reviews its insurance policy every year, Tondee added.

"It (a more incentivized program) is something that hasn't been brought forward before," he said.

The commissioners will decide how to renew the county insurance policy this summer.

Nelson added that the commissioners have also asked the consultant to present new ideas on the county's insurance program overall.

"This (wellness program) is one piece of what we're looking at," she said.

Bonner County is considering adopting an insurer-sponsored employee wellness program where employees would earn lower deductibles, depending on their participation in health assessments and making lifestyle changes.

Green said there could be many benefits to rewarding healthy living.

"It promotes personal responsibility," he said. "And it keeps our employees healthy."