spring 2015 You re in Charge and our online tools can support you - We protect your privacy - avoid high-risk medication - How to manage diabetes Y0010_mk15179 accepted 03/15/2015
OnE to OnE Let s Make Healthcare Simpler at blue cross of idaho, we re always looking for new ways to make your life easier. That s why we re adding online tools to help you make the most out of your health coverage. Turn to page four to read about three reasons you should visit our WellConnected wellness portal. You can also read tips for people living with diabetes (page six) and information about the many discounts and benefits available to you through our Blue Extras! added value program (page seven). Our goal is to make using your insurance and maintaining your health easier. Please take a moment to check out all the ways you can make the most of your coverage. Blue Cross of Idaho Care Plus is a PPO, HMO or HMO POS health plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue Cross of Idaho Care Plus depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefi ts, provider network, premium and/or copayments may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your part B premium. thinkstock blue cross of idaho 2
We Protect Your Data One of the biggest trusts members place in us is protecting their personal information thinkstock Recently, Anthem, Inc., an independent Blue Cross Blue Shield carrier in 14 states, discovered a very sophisticated external cyber-attack targeting their members records. Blue Cross of Idaho is an independent insurance company separate from Anthem. As soon as we learned of the Anthem attack, we began a thorough investigation of our own systems. There is no indication that our systems were impacted. The security of our members personal health information is one of our highest priorities. Our Information Security Department is on high alert to protect against an attack similar to Anthem s, or any other attack that could impact our members. We take every possible precaution to ensure against these types of attacks by employing several advanced security measures. Blue Cross of Idaho constantly scans our network using enhanced security tools to identify any malware, viruses or security threats. We have deployed an advanced firewall to monitor network traffic and block unauthorized traffic from entering our network. We have also hired professional security experts to attempt to breach our systems and to identify potential vulnerabilities. Additionally, we require all employees accessing our systems from outside of our facilities to use multi-factor authentication to gain remote access to our systems. So, just knowing a user name and password isn t enough to gain access. Please be aware that attacks like the one against Anthem increases the chance of email scams to members. No entity other than Blue Cross of Idaho or Anthem will notify our members if they have been impacted by the recent Anthem attack. To learn more about the recent attack on Anthem, Inc., visit anthemfacts.com. blue cross of idaho 3
Health Tools to Help You Take Charge Three reasons you should visit www./members and our WellConnected wellness portal. Health insurance isn t just about treating ailments. At Blue Cross of Idaho, we re equally concerned with helping our members maintain health. That s why we offer online wellness services designed to help you reach your health goals. Whether you want to lose weight, stop smoking or keep other health concerns in check, our WellConnected web portal offers easy-to-use tools to help you on your journey. 1. WellConnected is a covered service with your insurance. (Yes, that means free!) The wellness portal is available to all members at no cost. The health assessment, online workshops, daily health tips and food trackers are all free. 2. WellConnected is personalized. Once you complete a health assessment in the WellConnected wellness portal, you ll receive an extensive health summary report and wellness score. You ll even get personalized recommendations for improving your health. 3. WellConnected is convenient. With a variety of online tools and resources and even a mobile app the wellness portal is easy to incorporate into your daily life. Track your health with logs for blood pressure, blood sugar and weight. Log your daily activity or food consumption. It s easy to make the portal a habit when you re traveling or at home. Log in to www./ members select Well Connected in the center of the page to start exploring your wellness options. Start Here: Register at www./members to open the door to many online resources and information. It only takes a few minutes to sign up. thinkstock blue cross of idaho 4
thinkstock Medication Safety Tips Prescription medications are commonly used to manage chronic conditions and treat short-term ailments. Taken as directed, they can help you manage your health and feel better. However, as we age, our bodies process drugs differently. Also, older adults are often taking more than one medication, and these drugs may interact and cause problems. There are also medications considered high-risk by experts. High-risk medications can harm patients, even when used as intended. They include drugs that are considered inappropriate for older adults to use. Examples of high-risk medications for seniors - Zolpidem tartrate (Ambien): used for insomnia - Amitriptyline HCL (Elavil): used for depression - Digoxin: used to treat chronic heart failure - Nitrofurantoin: an antibiotic - Cyclobenzaprine HCL (Flexeril): a muscle relaxant often used for back pain - Glyburide: used to treat diabetes What Can You Do? Take your medication as directed and tell your doctor or pharmacist about any side effects. Also, keep a list of the medications you re taking over the counter and prescription and share it with your doctor and pharmacist, especially if you re being prescribed a new medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about alternatives if you believe you re taking a high-risk medication. Do You Have Questions? Our online pharmacy benefits portal is a great place to start. We ve partnered with our pharmacy benefits manager, CVS Caremark, to provide lots of information about your pharmacy benefits and medication details. To get to the portal, you need to be registered on www./ members. Then find Pharmacy Benefits in the Insurance Tools section. After initial login, the Pharmacy Benefits portal will be part of your ongoing online experience. Then you can: - Learn more about medications you re taking and possible interactions by selecting the Learn About Medications tab. - Contact a pharmacist by email. - Find the exact cost of your medication in the Understand My Plan and Benefits tool. You can also call Customer Service at 1-888-494-2583 with questions. We are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. tty users can call 1-800- 377-1363. blue cross of idaho 5
Diabetes, By the Numbers The best time to manage your diabetes is today. The best time to manage your diabetes is today. Diabetes can seem complex and even overwhelming, but it s important to manage the condition every day. We ve gathered a few key numbers to help you understand the condition better: LESS THAN 9% Some people with diabetes measure their blood glucose (blood sugar) every day and also have a regular A1C test ordered by their physician. Daily checks may be done one to four times a day, depending on the physician s instructions. A1C tests are usually done two to four times a year. These can alert you to potential challenges with diabetes management. General goals for daily checks are 70 to 130 ml/dl before meals and below 180 ml/dl two hours after eating. An A1C goal will be set with your doctor based on your health, but should be below 9% during routine blood draws throughout the year. UNDER 140/90 MMHG Diabetes affects your whole body. It s good for your heart and kidneys to keep your blood pressure under control. Blood pressure should be kept under 140/90 mmhg for diabetics who are 60 to 85 years old. LESS THAN 200 MG/DL Heart disease can be a big concern for diabetics. Low cholesterol diets and medications help keep the circulation and the heart healthy. A typical goal for total cholesterol is less than 200 mg/dl. Partner with a doctor to set specific goals for these numbers. Also, keep a record of daily blood glucose and blood pressure to bring to appointments. How to stay healthy with diabetes Eat a healthy diet, exercise on most days and take your medications as directed. blue cross of idaho 6
Use your Blue to save some green We partner with vision and hearing providers to help you save money. With our Blue Extras! program, you get savings on everything from fi tness club membership to vision care services. this valueadded program is free to Blue cross of idaho members, and it will not impact your premiums or cost share. How Does It Work? in most cases, you simply show your Blue cross of idaho identifi cation card to get the discount. For products and services offered through mail-order or the internet, you ll need to complete the specifi c requirements for that service before receiving the discount. What Discounts Are Available? Blue Extras! gives you exceptional discounts on products and services including: - LAsik (laser vision correction surgery) - hearing aids - Over-the-counter drug store items - Vision services and supplies - Massage therapy - Medical alert services View the complete list by requesting a Blue Extras! brochure from customer service or by visiting www./members. select Health & Wellness on the top menu bar. choose Discount Programs from the drop-down menu, and it will take you to Blue Extras! information. the products and services described here are neither offered nor guaranteed under our contract with the Medicare program. in addition, they are not subject to the Medicare appeals process. Any disputes regarding these products and services may be subject to the Blue cross of idaho grievance process. use your Blue Cross of idaho membership to receive Blue extras! discounts on hearing aids and laser vision correction. Depending on the vendor and location, you could save around 50 percent on hearing aid systems and around 25 percent on LAsik surgery. blue cross of idaho 7
Silver & Fit Has Something for Everyone Did you know that as a Silver&Fit member, you can go to a fitness club or exercise center for only one copay of $50 per year? It s true! Some clubs offer classes designed especially for older adults. Many of them offer classes and swimming pools as well. The Silver&Fit Exercise & Healthy Aging Program also provides members: - Hhealthy aging materials online or on DVD - Tthe Silver Slate newsletter four times a year - Other web tools like a facility search, health articles and more Your Next Move 1. Go to SilverandFit.com. 2. Register to use the website. 3. Cchoose a fitness facility or sign up for the Home Fitness Program. 4. Pay your $50 fitness facility fee or $10 Home Fitness Program fee online. 5. Iif you prefer, you can call 1-877- 427-4788 (tty 1-877-710-2746), Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mountain time. 3000 E. Pine Ave. Meridian, ID 83642 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID One to One IS Published by McMurry/TMG, LLC. 2015. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement not take the place of the recommendations of your healthcare provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or healthcare regimen. McMurry/TMG, LLC makes no endorsements or warranties regarding any of the products and services included in this publication or its articles. cover: leland howard/idaho stock images