Comprehensive Guide To Healthcare Worker Benefits And Free Resources In Colorado

Healthcare workers in Colorado have access to a variety of free resources, discounts, and support programs designed to acknowledge their contributions and support their wellbeing. This article provides an overview of the available benefits, including state-specific programs, retail discounts, food and beverage offers, professional services, and lifestyle benefits that recognize the essential work of healthcare professionals.

State-Specific Health and Wellness Programs in Colorado

STATE OF Health Program

The State of Colorado offers STATE OF HEALTH, a no-cost, year-long program designed to support the health and wellness goals of state employees. This virtual platform provides comprehensive wellbeing resources including:

• Personalized health coaching
• Collaborative development of individual health plans and goals
• Activities and referrals to community-based resources
• Skill groups covering nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep improvement, goal setting, and other wellness topics
• A fitness portal featuring on-demand and live fitness classes

Participants receive a $20 per month wellness credit for joining and completing the program, resulting in $480 in medical premium savings over two years. The discount appears on employee pay stubs. After completing the first year, participants can reenroll in the same pathway or choose another. Some participants may be invited to become STATE OF HEALTH champions who promote the program and mentor new participants.

Mental Health Resources

Colorado healthcare workers have access to several mental health resources:

• Cigna offers free mental health care options for high deductible plan members, including 3 mental health sessions per issue/concern and access to wellbeing support tools like iPrevail and Happify. Unlimited access to free mental health care is available to Cigna Copay Plan members, including both in-person and telehealth appointments, with access to wellbeing tools like Ginger, LiveMD, MeruHealth, and TalkSpace.

• Everside Health (formerly Paladina Health) provides primary care knowledgeable about mental health to Cigna members across Colorado, including those in rural areas.

• State fire professionals may qualify for assistance with out-of-pocket behavioral health expenses and other screening or preventative out-of-pocket expenses through the Colorado Firefighter Trust.

University Employee Assistance Programs

Several Colorado universities offer free counseling and wellbeing services to their faculty and staff:

• CU Anschutz Faculty and Staff Mental Health Clinic: Improves access to mental health care for faculty and staff employed at CU Anschutz.

• CU Boulder Faculty and Staff Assistance Program: Dedicated to serving the emotional and psychological needs of the campus community, with services free to all CU Boulder faculty and staff members.

• CSU Employee Assistance Program: Provides all CSU employees with access to free counseling and a variety of other services.

• Fort Lewis College Employee Assistance Program: Offers free counseling and other wellbeing benefits through Profile EAP. Employees can call 970-764-3760 or visit the Profile EAP website (Company Code: FLC).

Peer Support Resources

Colorado healthcare workers can access peer support resources through various channels. For more information, healthcare professionals can visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's peer support resources page.

Retail Discounts for Healthcare Workers

Clothing and Footwear

Several major brands offer significant discounts to healthcare workers:

• Adidas: Offers 40% off to healthcare professionals, first responders, and members of the military. Professional verification is required via ID.me.

• Asics: Provides 60% off any full-priced product to medical professionals and first responders. Interested individuals must create an Asics account and use their professional email.

• Crocs: Offers free shoes to healthcare workers, though they have a daily limit, requiring interested parties to "stand in line" to claim a pair.

• Yeti: Provides 30% off water bottles or insulated coolers to medical personnel including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians.

Electronics and Communication Services

• AT&T: Offers three free months of phone service to healthcare workers.

• Vitamix: Medical personnel including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians can receive 20% off. Interested individuals should email a photo of their medical badge to [email protected].

Other Retail Discounts

• Dollar General: Offers 10% off for healthcare workers, first responders, and activated Guardsmen.

• Owala: Provides a 50% healthcare worker discount to all responders, as well as anyone retired from those industries.

Food and Drink Offers

Several food and beverage establishments offer discounts or free items to healthcare workers:

• Cumberland Farms: Healthcare workers, first responders, and military personnel including police officers, firefighters, active military, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital and medical staff, and medical researchers can get a free cup of coffee.

• Dave & Busters: Provides 10 Game Cards to all first responders and healthcare professionals.

• Fazolis: Offers deals that vary between franchises for healthcare workers.

Services and Professional Benefits

Home Services and Improvement

Several companies offer discounts on home services to healthcare workers:

• BigDogMowers: Provides 10% off to healthcare workers.
• All Seasons Air Conditioning & Heating (NC): Offers free service calls for air conditioning, heating, or electrical services.
• LakeSide Renovation & Design: Provides 10% off all financing for healthcare workers.

Laundry and Cleaning Services

Several Colorado-based cleaning services offer free or discounted services to healthcare workers:

• Arizona: Free PPE laundering at Sparkle Cleaners.
• California: Free cleaning of scrubs at Chateau Cleaners, View Cleaners offers free lab coat and scrub cleaning and free dry cleaning from Dutch Girl Dry Cleaners.
• New York: Wesselmann Dry Cleaners in Buffalo offers free washes, pickup, and delivery. In Port Washington, Spectrum Suds offers free laundry service.
• Ohio: Free laundry at Whitehall Laundry.

Personal Care and Beauty Services

Salons, beauty services, and spas around the country offer free or discounted prices to healthcare workers:

• The Classic Man in Lake Balboa, CA: Free haircuts.
• Fox and Jane Salon in NYC: Free haircuts.
• Many local establishments have joined in offering discounts to frontline healthcare workers.

Mental Health and Wellness Services

Several companies offer free or discounted mental health and wellness services:

• Coaches4Good: Offers free 30 minutes of life coaching to healthcare workers.
• P.volve: Healthcare workers can get monthly streaming for $4.99, as well as 30% off equipment.
• Pro Teeth Guard: All frontline workers are eligible for $100 off custom dental guards.
• Simple Habit: Email Simple "Habit" at [email protected] to receive free access to its premium membership.
• Speeko: Healthcare and public health professionals are eligible for a free Speeko Plus subscription.
• Talkspace: Provides free resources and 1,000 free months of therapy for healthcare workers.
• Theragun: Offers 20% off any regularly priced Theragun device or TheraOne CBD product.
• Thrivetalk: Provides free telehealth services for essential health care workers and first responders.

Entertainment and Lifestyle Benefits

Healthcare workers across the country can visit museums, botanical gardens, theme parks, and golf courses for either free or discounted admission. While specific Colorado venues aren't mentioned in the source material, these types of offers are commonly available to healthcare workers nationwide.

Conclusion

Healthcare workers in Colorado have access to a wide range of benefits and resources designed to support their wellbeing and recognize their contributions. These include state-specific programs like STATE OF Health, various mental health resources, retail discounts, food and beverage offers, professional services, and lifestyle benefits. Healthcare workers are encouraged to explore these options and take advantage of the resources available to them, both through their employers and directly from companies offering special recognition programs.

Sources

1. Colorado State of Health Wellbeing Benefits & Resources
2. List of Freebies for Nurses During the COVID-19 Crisis & Nurses Week 2020
3. 101 Healthcare Worker Freebies and Discounts
4. Freebies and Discounts for Healthcare Professionals