Women working out at gym.Photo by Meghan Holmes on Unsplash

Health and Wellness Support Beyond Medical Coverage

In this season of thanks and giving, the Business Health Trust (BHT) wants to remind you that we care about your health, nutrition, and fitness. That’s why Premera Blue Cross, the medical carrier for the BHT’s Industry Health Trusts, offers special perks through its Member Discounts Program.

The program is separate from your medical benefits plan. These member discounts are just another way Premera supports the health of you and your family beyond providing medical coverage.

Popular discount categories include:

  • Diet, nutrition, and supplements
  • Eye care services and hardware
  • Fitness clubs and gyms
  • Health products and devices
  • Hearing aids and screenings
  • Newborn services and products

You and your covered dependents can take advantage of discounts that stretch your dollar and meet a variety of health needs—vitamins and supplements, electric toothbrushes, products to baby proof your home, weight loss programs, and more.

Go to premera.com/discounts for more details. Offers might not be available in all locations. Please check with the company offering the discount before making your purchase.

Five Lifestyle Factors Lower Diabetes Risk

November is American Diabetes Month

A recent study found that a combination of 5 healthy lifestyle factors may help reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, even if family history puts you at risk for the disease.

People with diabetes have too high levels of glucose, a type of sugar, in their blood. Over time, high levels of glucose can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, and other problems.

Several lifestyle factors can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease. A research team led by Dr. Jared Reis of NIH studied 5 factors:

  • having a healthy diet,
  • keeping an ideal body weight,
  • being physically active,
  • not smoking, and
  • minimizing alcohol use

The team used data collected in the mid-1990s from more than 200,000 older adults. They then looked to see who had developed diabetes over the next decade.

The analysis showed that the more healthy lifestyle factors adopted, the lower the risk for diabetes. Men with all 5 healthy lifestyle factors had a 72% lower risk of developing diabetes. Women had an 84% lower risk.

A family history of diabetes is strongly linked to type 2 diabetes. But these results show that you may still be able to prevent or delay the disease by leading a healthy lifestyle.

“Not being overweight or obese led to the greatest protection,” Reis says. “However, we found that overweight or obese adults with a greater number of the other healthy lifestyle factors had a lower risk of developing diabetes. This is good news because it suggests that overweight or obese adults can benefit by adopting other healthy lifestyle behaviors.”

Source: National Institutes of Health, Five Lifestyle Factors that Lower Diabetes, https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2011/10/five-lifestyle-factors-lower-diabet…, retrieved 11/6/2018

Explore Common Misconceptions About Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association published a list of common diabetes myths and corresponding facts that debunk them. Access the resource published on their website, via this link.

Are You at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?

Take a simple assessment to find out if you are at risk for diabetes. If your results indicate you may be a risk, talk to your health care provider about a plan to help you stay healthy. Access the assessment here.

Deep Dive Into Diabetes

If you would like to learn more about diabetes, explore the resources provided by the National Institutes of Health. Learn the basics of what it is, the different types, associated health problems, symptoms and causes, managing the disease, information on prevention, and more. These resources can be accessed via this link.

If you would like to access your Wellspring EAP benefits, go to WellspringEAP.org; or to purchase Wellspring EAP services, connect with us at BusinessHealthTrust.com/contact-us.

Stamp out your smoking habit

Want a healthier smile AND better overall health?  Kicking your smoking habit is a great start.   

Quitting your smoking habit is a great start to enjoying a lifetime of good oral and overall health.

How quitting benefits your body:

  • 20 minutes later, your heart rate drops
  • 1 year later, you’ve cut your added risk for heart disease in half
  • 10 years later, your oral cancer risk is almost the same as a non-smoker

How quitting benefits your smile:

  • Fresher breath
  • Whiter, less sensitive teeth
  • Lower risk of gum disease and oral cancer

Giving up an addiction can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone.  Discuss smoking cessation options with your doctor or dentist. They’ll help get you on the path to a lifelong, healthy you.

View your dental coverage and find an in-network dentist near you with MySmile®. Register now

* Delta Dental of Washington, 2018

Choosing the right plan for you

You have choices when selecting a health plan during open enrollment. That’s a good thing, but it does mean you need to take action to find the right options for you and your family.

Try these 3 strategies to make sure you get the right coverage for you:

  • Call your favorite family doctors. Do they work with the plan you are considering? If not, are you willing to choose a new doctor?
  • Compare the different types of plans. One way to help you compare them is to look for a summary of benefits, which highlight plan differences.
  • Consider prescription coverage. Are your regular medications covered? Can you save on generic versions or by receiving prescriptions by mail?

 Tip: Sleep on it. If possible, allow yourself at least one night to mull over your choices. That way, you’ll be more confident you made the right call.

— Premera Blue Cross

Common Health Plan Terms

Health plans can be confusing. But they make a lot more sense when you know a few basic terms.

Deductible
A deductible is the amount you pay each year for covered healthcare services before your health plan starts to pay. For example, if your plan has a $2,000 deductible: You pay the first $2,000 of covered services. After you meet the deductible, you and the plan each pay part of the cost of healthcare services. Your part of the cost is called either coinsurance or copayment.

Coinsurance
A coinsurance is the percentage of covered expenses you pay after you have paid your deductible. For example, if your health plan has a 20% coinsurance and the cost for an office visit is $100: You pay $20 and your health plan covers the rest.

Copayment/Copay
A copayment is a fixed amount you pay for each healthcare service. Copays can vary for different services, and they do not count toward meeting your deductible.

Out-of-pocket maximum
The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you would have to pay for covered services in a plan year. Your out-of-pocket maximum includes the amounts you spend on deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. When you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays 100% for the rest of the plan year.

Tip
You will generally pay less when you receive healthcare services from an in-network provider.