Health TALK FALL 2018 VOLTEE PARA ESPAÑOL! Plan to quit. Every November, the Great American Smokeout asks everyone to quit smoking. You can quit for just that one day. Or it could be the fi rst day of a permanent, healthy change. There is no way to safely use tobacco. Make a plan to quit on November 15. Ask your provider for help quitting. Or call 1-866-784-8454 or visit quitnow.net to learn more. Heart smart. Know your cholesterol numbers. Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood. HDL is called good cholesterol. LDL is the bad kind. Keeping your cholesterol levels healthy is a great way to keep your heart healthy. High cholesterol raises your risk for heart disease and stroke. Ask your doctor about the right levels for you. Ideal numbers are based on your gender and heart disease risk factors. People with diabetes need to pay close attention to their LDL levels. You can control your cholesterol. A healthy diet and exercise can keep it low. Medication can help lower it if it is too high. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan 14141 Southwest Freeway, Suite 800 Sugar Land, TX 77478 Get tested. The American Heart Association recommends all adults age 20 or older have their cholesterol checked every 4 to 6 years. People with diabetes or other risk factors should get tested each year. CSTX18MC4253059_002 AMC-048-TX-ABD
Respecting elders. Know the warning signs of elder abuse. An estimated 5 million seniors are abused or neglected each year. Risk of death for elders who have been abused is 3 times as high when compared with elders who have not been mistreated. Disabled people can also be victims. Elder abuse can affect men or women of any race. Abuse can be verbal, physical, emotional, financial or sexual. It can involve exploitation, neglect, abandonment, or deprivation of food, medication or other needs. It can happen at home or in hospitals or long-term care facilities. Abusers can be anyone. Many elderly or disabled people who are abused suffer in silence. Warning signs of abuse and neglect may include a pattern of: Why test for A1c? If you re diabetic, you know how important it is to check your blood sugar often. That little finger prick gives you a good idea about how well you are controlling your diabetes. But it only tells you about your blood sugar at that moment. Bruises, sores or other injuries. Withdrawal or depression. Sudden change in financial situation. Bedsores, poor hygiene or unexplained weight loss. Frequent arguments with caregivers or loved ones. There is a test your doctor does that gives a more complete picture. It s called A1c, and it provides an average of your glucose over a 6- to 12-week period. It s important to keep your blood sugar controlled over the long term to prevent serious complications. For people without diabetes, normal A1c results are between 4 percent and 6 percent. For people with diabetes, a good A1c result is under 7 percent. You should get this test 2 to 4 times per year to make sure your diabetes is under control. Do you have diabetes? We have programs to help people with diabetes and other chronic conditions. Call Member Services toll-free at 1-888-887-9003, TTY 711, to learn about these programs. 2 HEALTH TALK
Members only. Are you due for a Pap test? Cervical cancer usually does not have any symptoms. The way to find out if you have it is with a Pap test. This is a quick and simple test that looks for early signs of cancer. Your doctor uses a brush or swab to collect some cells from your cervix. A lab looks at the cells under a microscope. The American Cancer Society recommends Pap screening for women every three years between ages 21 and 29, then Pap and HPV tests every five years between ages 30 and 65. Testing can end at age 65 for women with a history of normal Pap results. Are you at risk? Talk to your doctor about your risk factors for cervical cancer. Ask if you should begin screenings at a younger age or get them more often. You can get important information about your health plan anytime at myuhc.com/communityplan. At this secure site, you can view your ID card, fi nd a provider, take a health assessment, learn about your benefi ts and more. Register today and start getting more from your benefi ts. It s quick and easy: 1. Go to myuhc.com/communityplan. 2. Click on Register Now. You will need your member ID card, or you can use your Social Security number and date of birth to register. 3. Follow the step-by-step instructions. Once you re logged in, you can take a health assessment. The health assessment tells us which services can help you. By answering just a few questions, you can be matched with the right programs for you. We ask new members to take a health assessment within 60 days of joining the plan. If you have been a member for longer, it s not too late. Is it a stroke? Strokes happen when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or is blocked. This prevents oxygen from getting to the affected part of the brain. Cells in that area of the brain then begin to die. Depending upon which brain areas are affected and how long it was before treatment began, stroke survivors may suffer mild to severe disabilities. There are three simple tasks that can help you determine if someone is having these symptoms. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, ask him or her to: 1. Smile. 2. Raise both arms. 3. Coherently speak a simple sentence. If he or she has trouble performing any of these tasks, call 911 right away. FALL 2018 3
Bring it down. 6 tips to lower your blood pressure. Controlling your blood pressure can help you prevent heart disease. If you have hypertension (high blood pressure), these tips can help you lower it. If your blood pressure is normal, these tips can help keep it that way. Resource corner. Member Services: Find a doctor, ask benefit questions or voice a complaint, in any language (toll-free). 1-888-887-9003, TTY 711 Our website and app: Find a provider, read your Member Handbook or see your ID card, wherever you are. myuhc.com/communityplan Health4Me NurseLine SM : Get 24/7 health advice from a nurse (toll-free). 1-877-839-5407, TTY 711 1. Maintain a healthy weight. Lose weight if your doctor says you should. 2. Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity a day. 3. Eat well. Eat more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Reduce saturated fat. Read labels on packaged foods. 4. Reduce sodium. Choose spices other than salt to add flavor to foods. Limit processed and restaurant foods. 5. Limit alcohol. One drink a day for women or 2 for men is a moderate amount. Or, don t drink any alcohol. 6. Take your medicine. If your doctor prescribes blood pressure medicine, take it as directed. Use notes, alarms or phone calls to help you remember. Get checked. A healthy blood pressure is 120/80 or lower. High blood pressure is 130/80 or higher. Ask your doctor if you should have your blood pressure checked at your next visit. Service Coordination: Get help for special needs (toll-free). 1-800-349-0550, TTY 711 Behavioral Health: Get mental health or substance use treatment (toll-free). 1-866-302-3996, TTY 711 MyHealthLine TM : Don t have a mobile phone? Call Member Services to learn more about Lifeline, a no-cost federal phone program. 1-888-887-9003, TTY 711 QuitLine: Get free help quitting smoking (toll-free). QuitNow.net 1-800-227-2345, TTY 711 National Domestic Violence Hotline: Get 24/7 support, resources and advice (toll-free). 1-800-799-SAFE, TTY 1-800-787-3224 thehotline.org 2018 United Healthcare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 HEALTH TALK
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan does not treat members differently because of sex, age, race, color, disability or national origin. If you think you were treated unfairly because of your sex, age, race, color, disability or national origin, you can send a complaint to: Civil Rights Coordinator UnitedHealthcare Civil Rights Grievance P.O. Box 30608 Salt Lake City, UTAH 84130 UHC_Civil_Rights@uhc.com You must send the complaint within 60 days of when you found out about it. A decision will be sent to you within 30 days. If you disagree with the decision, you have 15 days to ask us to look at it again. If you need help with your complaint, please call Member Services toll-free at 1-888-887-9003, TTY 711, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Online: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html Phone: Toll-free 1-800-368-1019, 1-800-537-7697 (TDD) Mail: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201 If you need help with your complaint, please call the toll-free member phone number listed on your member ID card. We provide free services to help you communicate with us such as letters in other languages, large print materials, auxiliary aids and services, materials in alternate formats, at your request. Or, you can ask for an interpreter. To ask for help, please call Member Services toll-free at 1-888-887-9003, TTY 711, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CSTX15MC4256373_001 TX_1557Insert
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan no da un tratamiento diferente a sus miembros en base a su sexo, edad, raza, color, discapacidad u origen nacional. Si usted piensa que ha sido tratado injustamente por razones como su sexo, edad, raza, color, discapacidad u origen nacional, puede enviar una queja a: Civil Rights Coordinator UnitedHealthcare Civil Rights Grievance P.O. Box 30608 Salt Lake City, UTAH 84130 UHC_Civil_Rights@uhc.com Usted tiene que enviar la queja dentro de los 60 días de la fecha cuando se enteró de ella. Se le enviará la decisión en un plazo de 30 días. Si no está de acuerdo con la decisión, tiene 15 días para solicitar que la consideremos de nuevo. Si usted necesita ayuda con su queja, por favor llame gratis a Servicios para Miembros al 1-888-887-9003, TTY 711, de lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a.m. a 8:00 p.m. Usted también puede presentar una queja con el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos. Internet: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf Formas para las quejas se encuentran disponibles en: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html Teléfono: Llamada gratuita, 1-800-368-1019, 1-800-537-7697 (TDD) Correo: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201 Si necesita ayuda para presentar su queja, por favor llame al número gratuito para miembros anotado en su tarjeta de identificación como miembro. Ofrecemos servicios gratuitos para ayudarle a comunicarse con nosotros, tales como cartas en otros idiomas, materiales en letra grande, ayudas y servicios auxiliares, y materiales en formatos alternativos, a su solicitud. O bien, puede solicitar un intérprete. Para pedir ayuda, por favor llame gratis a Servicios para Miembros al 1-888-887-9003, TTY 711, de lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a.m. a 8:00 p.m.