Do You Love the Sun? TENNderCare. your health download. Myths & Facts About the Sun. Myth: If it s cloudy and cool, Myth: Getting a tan isn t

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1 TENNderCare 2nd Quarter 2014 your health download Do You Love the Sun? Myths & Facts About the Sun Myth: If it s cloudy and cool, I don t need sun protection. Fact: Even if it s cool and cloudy, you still need protection. Ultraviolet rays, not the temperature, do the damage. Clouds do not block ultraviolet rays. Myth: Getting a tan isn t dangerous. Fact: Sunburns increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Your skin tans when it has been damaged. Myth: I can t get sunburned in a car. Do you know the risk factors for getting skin cancer? Previous sunburns A lighter natural skin color Skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily Blue or green eyes Naturally blond or red hair Family history of skin cancer Sun damage can begin within 15 minutes of sun exposure. Protect yourself by: Putting on a thick layer of sunscreen and always seek shade when possible Choosing loose fitting long sleeved pants and shirts help block some sun rays Always wearing a hat to protect your face and ears Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes All of these will help keep you and your skin healthy! Source: basic_info/prevention.htm features/skincancer/ Fact: Long car rides can cause sunburns. Put sunscreen on your hands, forearms, and face before hitting the road M_Tenncare 2ndQ14.indd 3

2 Just Want to Have Fun with Your Friends? Have you thought of sneaking pills, drugs, or alcohol? Using pills, drugs, or alcohol to fit in with your friends or to have fun may be more risky than you think. It can lead to increasing use, which can damage many parts of your life like your: Grades Friendships Future jobs Trust by others Self-confidence Help is nearby! If you or someone you know has problems with misuse of pills, drugs, or alcohol, seek help! These issues can be treated. Please talk to a trusted adult. For more help, call your personal doctor or the phone number on the back of your member ID card for Mental Health or Substance Abuse services. For additional resources: Go to: Go to: (National Institute of Drug Abuse for Teens) TALK ( ) TTY ( ) for hearing impaired. Source: Teen prescription drug abuse; Teen Prescription drug abuse prevention (PEERx); Facts on prescription and over-the-counter drugs (NIDA for Teens) Richardson, Laura. Mental Health Disorders linked with long-term Opioid Use in Adolescents and Young Adults with Chronic Pain, Journal of Adolescent Health, June 2012; 50: Prevention starts with you in your home: H O Hear the trusted adults in your life. bserve directions carefully and O only take medications prescribed to you. Be aware that all medications can have side effects! M Monitor for changes in your emotions. E Encourage communication with your family. For More Information, Visit These Helpful Resources. For teen resources from the state of Tennessee, visit: yourhealth.html. For accurate information that helps you better understand your sexual health, visit: index.htm. For suicide prevention information, visit: If you need help, you can call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide 10695M_Tenncare 2ndQ14.indd 4 Prevention Lifeline at TALK ( ). Have questions about Fitness, Disease, Peer pressure, Nutrition or other teen topics? For games, teen challenges, activity calendar, and more, visit: Need Help to Quit Smoking? Call: U-QUIT or This line is open Monday Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Help is available in Spanish and English.

3 The 101 on Tobacco and Your Teeth! Using tobacco and smoking is bad for your health. Also, tobacco use (cigarettes, cigars, and chew) is very harmful for your mouth. It is hard to quit smoking once you start because tobacco contains nicotine that is addictive. There are a lot of famous people who seem to use tobacco in movies, music videos, and TV commercials. Don t be fooled into thinking that using tobacco is cool. Some people start using tobacco because they see family members or friends using it. According to research, about 400,000 teens become daily smokers every year. Most adults who started smoking during their teens never thought that they would become addicted. However, 88 percent of adults, who smoke daily, reported that they began smoking by 18 years old2. Smoking and tobacco use can lead to cancer of the mouth, throat, and gums. Tobacco use can also cause: Cavities Bad breath Mouth sores Shrinking gums Decreased sense of taste and smell Bone loss Gum disease Hairy tongue Stained teeth Using tobacco? STOP! Get help. Talk to your parents, relatives, dentist, or doctor. A HEALTHY mouth and PRETTY smile = NO tobacco or smoking. Visit your dentist for regular checkups. Teens on TennCareSM can receive dental services until they turn 21 years old. These services include free regular six month checkups, fluoride treatments, and sealants. Need help finding a dentist? Call DentaQuest at or TTY/TDD Also, you can visit DentaQuest s website at Source: M_Tenncare 2ndQ14.indd 5

4 Smoking Burns Your LIFE... Nicotine is the drug in cigarettes that leads to addiction. It is also in other forms of tobacco. Nicotine exposure produces very harmful effects on your body. You are still developing and smoking can ruin your health. Many teens show signs of addiction even at low levels of tobacco use. If you already smoke, you can take steps to QUIT. Smoking affects your body immediately: Brain. It can slow the growth of important sections of your brain. Heart. It raises your blood pressure and heart rate. It makes your heart have to work harder. Lungs. It causes shortness of breath. Your lungs will be smaller and weaker if you smoke. And effects of smoking can be lifelong: Brain. It causes permanent damage that impairs memory and your ability to pay attention. Heart. It weakens your heart and puts you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Lungs. It scars your lungs permanently. And can lead to cancer. Do you want to quit and don t know how? Reach out for support. Talk to your family and friends. Call the Quitline. When you call QUIT-NOW, your quit coach will work with you to develop a plan and provide you with information that will help you quit tobacco. QuitSTART App is a resource for you to help you achieve smoke-free goals. It is a free smartphone app, available for ios and Android. Remember, there are NO benefits to smoking. Not only does smoking impact your health now, but it also affects the direction your life and health take in the future. Are you choosing to smoke? It's up to you. Source: Protect yourself and your baby If you re pregnant, talk to your doctor about the Tdap shot. It protects you and your baby against whooping cough and two other serious illnesses. Whooping cough is very catching. You wouldn t want to pass it along to your baby. Tdap resources: downloads/f_preg.pdf Publications/Committee_Opinions/ Committee_on_Obstetric_Practice/Update_ on_immunization_and_pregnancy_tetanus_ Diphtheria_and_Pertussis_Vaccination 10695M_Tenncare 2ndQ14.indd 6 Protect yourself and your baby from the flu No one wants the flu. But if you re pregnant, it can be very harmful. Talk with your doctor about getting the flu vaccine to protect yourself and your baby. Flu resources downloads/f_preg.pdf pregnancy/influenza-and-pregnancy. aspx Whoop Whooping Cough The Tdap shot protects against three serious diseases: Tetanus, a disease affecting muscles Diphtheria, an infection Whooping cough If you re pregnant, the shot should be given between 27 and 36 weeks. Talk with your doctor about what s right for you. Source: downloads/f_preg.pdf %20Publications/Committee%20Opinions/ Committee%20on%20Obstetric%20Practice/ Update%20on%20Immunization%20and%20 Pregnancy%20Tetanus%20Diphtheria%20 and%20pertussis%20vaccination.aspx

5 Preventing HPV Is as Easy as 1, 2, 3! As you are becoming an adult, you need to do everything that you can to protect your health. Getting vaccinated for HPV is one very important way to protect yourself! HPV is short for Human Papilloma Virus. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Are you at risk for HPV? Anyone who is having (or has ever had) sex can get HPV. HPV is a virus passed from one person to another during skin-to-skin sexual contact. It can lead to health problems such as cancer and genital warts. HPV vaccines offer protection for both girls and boys. The HPV vaccination is recommended for preteen girls and boys at age 11 or 12 years. HPV vaccine is also recommended for females ages 13 through 26 years and for males ages 13 through 21 years, who have not yet been vaccinated. Is the vaccine safe? Yes! The HPV vaccine is given in three doses over six months. For best protection, it is very important to complete all doses long before sexual activity begins! At your TENNderCare checkup, ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine! Need help making an appointment? Just call us at We ll be glad to help! Source: Are You Dealing with Abuse? Abuse of children can take many forms. All forms of abuse are serious. It may be emotional, sexual, verbal, or physical. You deserve to live your life free from abuse of any kind. To report suspected child abuse, call If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You do not have to have proof that abuse has occurred. Each concern will be reviewed on a personal basis. Definitions resources: childsafety/cah.html#what Teen Mental Health Being a teenager is hard. You re under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with your family, and make big decisions. These are typical teen pressures. Worrying about them is normal. But feeling very sad, hopeless, or worthless could be warning signs of a mental health problem. Mental health problems are real, painful, and sometimes severe. Mental health problems can be treated. Where to Find Help If you or someone you care about is in crisis, please seek help immediately: Talk to your parents or an adult you trust. Call 911. Visit a nearby emergency department or your health care provider s office. Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at TALK ( ) M_Tenncare 2ndQ14.indd 1 3/10/14 3:58 PM

6 Stay Healthy! Get Your Checkup! It is important to get your well-care TENNderCare checkup every year. Remember, if you are a United Healthcare Community Plan member under age 21, these checkups are free. Stay healthy and get your TENNderCare or wellness checkup! If you get your checkup in 2014, you still have time to be entered into a monthly drawing for a set of premium headphones! You can t beat that! Hurry! Don t miss your chance! Primary Care Tracker My next checkup is due. Not sure when it is due? Call your Primary Care Provider (PCP) and ask. Not sure who your Primary Care Provider is? To find out, call your health plan at Be prepared for your check-up. Write down questions for your PCP. One question I have for my Primary Care Provider is: OR Something my Primary Care Provider needs to know about me is: We do not allow unfair treatment in TennCare. No one is treated in a different way because of race, color, birthplace, religion, language, sex, age, or disability. Do you think you ve been treated unfairly? Do you have more questions or need more help? If you think you ve been treated unfairly, call the Family Assistance Service Center for free at In Nashville, call TennCare no permite el trato injusto. Nadie recibe un trato diferente debido a su raza, color de la piel, lugar de nacimiento, religión, idioma, sexo, edad o discapacidad. Cree que lo han tratado injustamente? Tiene más preguntas o necesita más ayuda? Si piensa que lo han tratado injustamente, llame gratis al Centro de Servicio para Asistencia Familiar al En Nashville, llame al Habla español y necesita ayuda con esta carta? Llámenos gratis al If you have a hearing or speech problem you can call us on a TTY/TDD machine. Our TTY/ TDD number is 711. Si tiene problemas de audición o del habla, puede llamarnos a través de una máquina de TTY/TDD. El número de TTY/TDD es 711. Need help in another language? You can call UnitedHealthcare Community Plan for assistance in any language at or the numbers below. Interpretation and translation services are free to TennCare members. Foreign Language Lines Call if you need help and need to speak with someone in one of these languages: (Arabic) (Bosnian) (Kurdish-Badinani) (Kurdish- Sorani) (Somali) Espanol (Spanish) (Vietnamese) need a ride? If you need a ride to your doctor or health department, call Do you need help with this information? Is it because you have a health, mental health, or learning problem or a disability? Or, do you need help in another language? If so, you have a right to get help, and we can help you. Call Customer Service at for more information. Necesita ayuda con esta información? La necesita porque tiene una discapacidad o un problema de aprendizaje, de salud mental o una enfermedad? O acaso necesita ayuda en otro idioma? Si es así, usted tiene derecho a obtener ayuda, y nosotros podemos brindársela. Llame a para más información. Do you have a mental illness and need help with this information? The TennCare Advocacy Program can help you. Call them for free at Tiene usted una enfermedad mental y necesita ayuda con esta información? En la línea telefónica de TennCare Advocacy pueden ayudarle. Llámelos gratis al To report fraud or abuse to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) you can call toll-free or go online to www. state.tn.us/tenncare and click on Report Fraud. To report provider fraud or patient abuse to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), call toll-free Para reportar fraude o abuso a la Oficina del Inspector General (Office of Inspector General, OIG) nos puede llamar gratis al O visítenos en línea en y haga clic en Report Fraud (Reportar fraude). Para reportar frau Unit, TBIMFCU), llame gratis al UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc M_Tenncare 2ndQ14.indd 2