Wellness Exams & Surcharges
Be Proactive with Your Wellness & Avoid SurchargesWellness at Michaels
Good health improves virtually every aspect of our personal and professional lives, and that’s good for you and for Michaels.
Our wellness programs focus on more than just your physical health: they challenge you to be mentally, emotionally, and financially healthy, too. Whether your goal is to lose weight, be more proactive with your health, eat healthier, or save more, we’ve got you covered.
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Wellness Exam Requirement
If enrolled in a Michaels medical insurance plan, full-time Team Members and their spouse/domestic partner are subject to an annual preventative wellness exam requirement, with the potential to waive wellness surcharges and lower annual medical insurance premium costs.
Surcharge Rate
The wellness surcharge is $30 per person, per paycheck, totaling $780 per person. If the wellness exam requirement is not satisfied by June 30, 2026, this fee will be paid via a payroll deduction from each paycheck for the next plan year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).
How the Surcharge Can Be Waived
To satisfy this year’s wellness exam requirement and waive the wellness surcharge for the next plan year, you (and if applicable, your enrolled spouse/domestic partner) must* complete an annual physical exam between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
For step-by-step instructions based on your medical plan provider, follow the next steps outlined below. Remember, you’ll need to complete your wellness exam requirement each year you are enrolled in a Michaels medical plan.
*If you began your full-time position July 1, 2025 or later, please refer to the information below regarding exceptions for new hires/promotions.
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Next Steps for BCBSTX Plan Members
- First, complete your annual physical exam between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, either by scheduling an appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) or using the no-cost Catapult Health Virtual Checkup® Home Kit.
- Your wellness exam claim will automatically be processed by BCBSTX after your appointment.
- Once processed, your exam completion status will be reflected in the Well onTarget section of the Blue Access for Members portal.
- Then, your wellness surcharge will be waived for the next plan year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)!
- Wellness exam not found? Ensure it is captured through the US Wellness Attestation Form. Print a copy of this form to provide to your PCP/Physician to sign and date, then upload the signed form to the US Wellness portal by June 30, 2026. Receipt of your form will be confirmed within two (2) business days to the email address provided at the time of upload.
Refer to the job aid below for instructions on how to log in to the Blue Access for Members portal to confirm the status of your wellness exam requirement.
Job Aid: How to Confirm the Status of Your Wellness Exam Requirement – Desktop | Mobile App
If you have any questions regarding wellness completion within the BCBSTX portal, please contact BCBSTX customer service at 1-877-269-1180.
Next Steps for Kaiser Plan Members
- First, schedule your annual physical exam appointment with your primary care provider (PCP) between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
- Once you have scheduled your appointment, log in to the US Wellness portal to print a copy of the Physician/PCP Form and take it with you to your appointment.
- After your appointment, upload the completed Physician/PCP Form to the US Wellness portal by June 30, 2026. Receipt of your form will be confirmed within two (2) business days to the email address provided at the time of upload.
- Then, your wellness surcharge will be waived for the next plan year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)!
Refer to the job aid below for instructions on how to print your Physician/PCP Form and upload your completed form in the US Wellness portal in order to satisfy your wellness exam requirement.
Job Aid: How to Download/Print the Physician Form & Complete Your Wellness Exam Requirement
For assistance with this process, email US Wellness at support@uswellness.com or call 888-926-6099 ext. 900.
Exceptions for New Hires/Promotions to Full-Time
There are exceptions to the wellness exam requirement for Team Members who begin their full-time employment with Michaels after the current plan year has already begun. This exemption depends on your benefits effective date, which is the first day of the month following your date of hire or promotion.
If your benefits effective date was March 2, 2026 or later:
- You are exempt from completing the wellness exam requirement for the current plan year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) and your wellness surcharge will automatically be waived for the upcoming plan year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).
- This exemption also applies to your spouse or domestic partner, if enrolled as your dependent.
- You will be subject to the wellness exam requirement beginning with the upcoming plan year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).
Example: With a hire/promotion date of Feb. 15, 2026, your benefits would be effective on April 1, 2026. You (and if applicable, your enrolled spouse/domestic partner) would not be required to complete the wellness exam requirement until the upcoming plan year, between July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Wellness Requirement Verification
If you have received notice from Michaels that you and/or your spouse/domestic partner (if enrolled) have not completed the wellness exam requirement and will be subject to the wellness surcharge for the next plan year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), but you believe our records are incorrect, please follow the link below to request further review.
Helpful Resources
Example of the Wellness Exam Requirement Timeline
You complete your annual physical exam on Nov. 2, 2025, and completion of your exam is confirmed by your insurance on Jan. 12, 2026. As a result, you have satisfied this year’s wellness exam requirement and your wellness surcharge is waived for the next plan year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), lowering your 2026-2027 annual premium cost.
| Current Plan Year | Next Plan Year | |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 | July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 | |
| Nov. 2, 2025 | Jan. 12, 2026 | Surcharge Waived (No wellness surcharge on medical premium) |
| Complete an Annual Physical Exam | Exam Completion Confirmed | |
Important Note
If you think you might not be able to meet a wellness standard, resulting in a surcharge being added to your annual medical premium, you may qualify through other means. For further assistance, please call 1-855-432-MIKE (6453) and we will work with you – and if you wish, with your doctor – to find a reasonable alternative.