When to call your doctor. Do you know when to call your doctor to report a problem? Here are a few red flag warning signs you should pay attention to: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Are you short of breath even when resting or while sleeping? Have you recently started coughing up more mucus than normal? Do you have a persistent cough that produces white or pink blood-tinged mucus? Do you wake up with a consistent headache or dizziness? Have you noticed swelling in your legs or feet? Do you constantly feel tired or exhausted with Have you lost weight without trying? Diabetes Are you thirsty more than usual? Has your need to urinate noticeably increased? Have you noticed any unexpected weight gain or weight loss? Do you constantly feel tired or exhausted with Do you experience tingling or numbness in your hands or feet? Is your vision blurry compared to normal? Have you noticed cuts or bruises that take longer to heal? If you answered yes to any of these questions, call your primary care physician right away. Also, find your nearest urgent care center in case your PCP recommends immediate attention. It s important to recognize warning signs and take action quickly. Authorization notification with Monarch s Interactive Voice Response. When your primary care doctor orders a referral to a specialist for medical equipment or other services you will receive a call from an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to let you know it has been approved. IVR technology allows us to authorize services faster than U.S. mail. The system will have you identify yourself by your birth year. Then it will give you the name, address and phone number of the referral. What happens if you miss the call: Monarch HealthCare, part of OptumCare, will try to reach you up to three times. The system will leave a call-back number and give you at least two days to return the call. If you don t respond, Monarch will then mail your authorization. The company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in health programs and activities. We provide free services to help you communicate with us. Such as, letters in other languages or large print. Or, you can ask for an interpreter. To ask for help, please call 1-888-767-2222. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español (Spanish), hay servicios de asistencia de idiomas, sin cargo, a su disposición. Llame al 1-888-767-2222. 請注意 如果您說中文 (Chinese) 我們免費為您提供語言協助服務 請致電 1-888-767-2222. OptumCare, a leading health care delivery organization that is reinventing health care to help keep people healthier and feeling their best. 12478_09.29.2017_MC.MS.KS.BH Patient Press Monarch HealthCare Mail Station 17 11 Technology Drive Irvine, CA 92618 Return service requested Fall 2017 Depression during the holidays How to dispose of unused and outdated medications Your fall newsletter is here. See inside! 5 ingredient chicken soup Exercises you can do while watching TV Tell a friend. When to call your doctor Open enrollment is October 15 - December 7 Open enrollment is October 15 - December 7 Do you know someone who could benefit from being a member of Monarch HealthCare? Perhaps they feel health care is too complicated. Maybe they could use care and guidance on how to best use their medical resources. Or they could be looking for ways to be healthier so they can stay independent. Good news! Open enrollment, Oct. 15 - Dec. 7, is the time when many people on Medicare take a closer look at health plan options in their county. If you have friends looking for resources about Medicare, ask them to contact us at 1-844-819-0419 to find out where they can learn more. We can provide them with health plan numbers, a schedule of nearby meetings. If requested, access to trusted licensed insurance agents can also be provided. To contact agents, go to MonarchHealthCare.com/licensed-sales-agents For convenient meeting dates and locations, go to MonarchHealthCare.com/guest/event-calendar
Depression during the holidays How to dispose of unused and outdated medications make holiday less stressful by focusing on family and friends. Spending quality time with those you love will create lasting memories. Nobody will remember whether or not your holiday centerpiece was the perfect shade of red or if you even had a centerpiece at all. Cut back on commitments There is no shortage of things to do and gatherings during the holiday season. Just because you can attend another holiday party doesn t mean you have to. Try not to overcommit yourself and remember to schedule time for self-care. Grab a blanket and a book and take some time to unwind. Beat the holiday blues The holiday season is a time to celebrate, relax and reflect with loved ones. The holidays can also cause feelings of stress, loneliness and depression. Here are some tips to help with symptoms of the holiday blues this season. Get moving Workouts often fall to the bottom of our to-do lists during the holiday shuffle. This is when exercise is very important to our well-being. Exercise can ease stress, improve our mood and help to keep off those extra pounds over the holidays. Volunteer Volunteering is a great way to ease depression and increase feelings of happiness. It provides us with the chance to shift our focus from ourselves to those in need. You can serve at a local soup kitchen or wrap gifts at a nearby store, and help to make others smile. This is a surefire way to leave you feeling joyful. Pass on perfection The holiday season often brings pressure to be perfect. Instead of aiming for perfection, help to Talk about your feelings One of the best ways of dealing with feelings of depression is to talk about those feelings with a professional or a loved one. Talking through feelings of stress or sadness can help to sort things out. It can also be comforting to know that there is support and that we are not alone. Fight the flu. Get a flu shot. Fever, chills, body aches, and a stuffy nose. Flu season is just around the corner. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 49,000 people die each year from the flu in the United States. You can reduce your chances of getting the flu by getting your yearly flu shot. Schedule yours today for your best chances of keeping the flu away. Call your primary care physician and schedule an appointment to get vaccinated. You can also find flu clinics at drug stores, hospitals, County Public Health clinics or by visiting vaccinefinder.org/. Source: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/dealing-with-holiday-depression-108018.htm Exercises you can do while watching TV Get in a workout while watching TV Some medications can be flushed There are some medicines that may be fatal if accidentally swallowed by someone else. For dangerous drugs, such as opioids, flushing down the toilet is one way to get rid of them. Flush a medication if there is no other way to get rid of it. Make sure to do it the right way. When you no longer need a medication or it has expired, it s important to dispose it correctly. By getting rid of it the right away, you will reduce the chances of misuse by others or taking a medication that is not okay for you. Return unused medication to your pharmacy The Drug Enforcement Administration allows pharmacies and hospitals to take back your unused medications. You can locate an authorized collector near you by going to the Diversion Control page of the DEA s website or calling 1-800-882-9539. Mail medication to a collection site Costco, CVS and Rite-Aid pharmacies sell postage-paid envelopes so you can mail prescription to a disposal facility. Disposal in household trash If no medicine take-back programs are available in your area. You may need to dispose of medication in the trash if no other option is available. First, mix them with something that makes the medication less recognizable. For example, hide them in coffee grounds, sawdust or kitty litter. Then seal in a plastic bag before throwing in the trash. Care is at your fingertips. Download the Monarch CareFinderTM app. The Monarch CareFinder app makes it easier than ever to find physicians, urgent care centers, laboratories and radiology centers, pharmacies or hospitals in your area. The app also gives driving directions and other important information, like hours of operation, services offered and one-touch calling capability are also available. Here s how it works: Download the app to your iphone or AndroidTM device. Select the type of service you want to search for and tap GO. Make appointments with ease by clicking on the phone number inside of the app. Get 24-hour nurse advice lines offered by your health plan. For more information, call Monarch at 1-877-GO-MONARCH. 5-ingredient chicken soup Make this easy soup to keep you warm on a chilly fall evening. Ingredients: 6 cups chicken broth 3 cups leftover diced rotisserie chicken or baked chicken breasts 2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, drained 2 cups salsa verde 1 teaspoon ground cumin Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Garnish - optional Chopped fresh cilantro leaves Avocados Sour cream 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Collection center locator: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1 Source: https:/www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/ safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm Heat a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir in chicken broth, chicken, beans, salsa verde and cumin. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately, garnish with cilantro, avocados and sour cream if desired. You don t have to be a bodybuilder that s in the gym 7 days a week just to stay healthy. A good workout can be achieved in as little as 30 minutes a day. It can also be done right in your own home without fancy gym equipment. What s important is to make sure you are including some aerobic activity, strength training, balance exercises and stretching in your routine. Here are some exercises that you can do while watching your favorite television sitcom. Pillow crunches Strengthen your core using just two pillows stacked at the foot of your bed or sofa. Lie flat on your back with your feet resting on the pillows and arms crossed over your chest. Inhale to pull your core in, then exhale as you lift your upper body towards your feet. Slowly lower your body back down and repeat 10 times. Leg circles Lie on your back and extend your legs out in front of you. Squeeze your legs together as if they were tied at the ankles and lift them up about three inches off of the floor. Draw a circle in the air with your toes. Do this 20 times in one direction, and then switch to do 20 in the other direction. Knees to chest Sit on the edge of the bed or couch. Squeeze your legs together as if they were glued and bring your knees up to your chest. Lean back as you extend your legs out straight to a 45-degree angle. Your body should be in the shape of a V. Hold that position for a few seconds, then return to starting position. Do this 15 times to tone your inner thighs and lower abdominals. Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
Depression during the holidays How to dispose of unused and outdated medications make holiday less stressful by focusing on family and friends. Spending quality time with those you love will create lasting memories. Nobody will remember whether or not your holiday centerpiece was the perfect shade of red or if you even had a centerpiece at all. Cut back on commitments There is no shortage of things to do and gatherings during the holiday season. Just because you can attend another holiday party doesn t mean you have to. Try not to overcommit yourself and remember to schedule time for self-care. Grab a blanket and a book and take some time to unwind. Beat the holiday blues The holiday season is a time to celebrate, relax and reflect with loved ones. The holidays can also cause feelings of stress, loneliness and depression. Here are some tips to help with symptoms of the holiday blues this season. Get moving Workouts often fall to the bottom of our to-do lists during the holiday shuffle. This is when exercise is very important to our well-being. Exercise can ease stress, improve our mood and help to keep off those extra pounds over the holidays. Volunteer Volunteering is a great way to ease depression and increase feelings of happiness. It provides us with the chance to shift our focus from ourselves to those in need. You can serve at a local soup kitchen or wrap gifts at a nearby store, and help to make others smile. This is a surefire way to leave you feeling joyful. Pass on perfection The holiday season often brings pressure to be perfect. Instead of aiming for perfection, help to Talk about your feelings One of the best ways of dealing with feelings of depression is to talk about those feelings with a professional or a loved one. Talking through feelings of stress or sadness can help to sort things out. It can also be comforting to know that there is support and that we are not alone. Fight the flu. Get a flu shot. Fever, chills, body aches, and a stuffy nose. Flu season is just around the corner. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 49,000 people die each year from the flu in the United States. You can reduce your chances of getting the flu by getting your yearly flu shot. Schedule yours today for your best chances of keeping the flu away. Call your primary care physician and schedule an appointment to get vaccinated. You can also find flu clinics at drug stores, hospitals, County Public Health clinics or by visiting vaccinefinder.org/. Source: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/dealing-with-holiday-depression-108018.htm Exercises you can do while watching TV Get in a workout while watching TV Some medications can be flushed There are some medicines that may be fatal if accidentally swallowed by someone else. For dangerous drugs, such as opioids, flushing down the toilet is one way to get rid of them. Flush a medication if there is no other way to get rid of it. Make sure to do it the right way. When you no longer need a medication or it has expired, it s important to dispose it correctly. By getting rid of it the right away, you will reduce the chances of misuse by others or taking a medication that is not okay for you. Return unused medication to your pharmacy The Drug Enforcement Administration allows pharmacies and hospitals to take back your unused medications. You can locate an authorized collector near you by going to the Diversion Control page of the DEA s website or calling 1-800-882-9539. Mail medication to a collection site Costco, CVS and Rite-Aid pharmacies sell postage-paid envelopes so you can mail prescription to a disposal facility. Disposal in household trash If no medicine take-back programs are available in your area. You may need to dispose of medication in the trash if no other option is available. First, mix them with something that makes the medication less recognizable. For example, hide them in coffee grounds, sawdust or kitty litter. Then seal in a plastic bag before throwing in the trash. Care is at your fingertips. Download the Monarch CareFinderTM app. The Monarch CareFinder app makes it easier than ever to find physicians, urgent care centers, laboratories and radiology centers, pharmacies or hospitals in your area. The app also gives driving directions and other important information, like hours of operation, services offered and one-touch calling capability are also available. Here s how it works: Download the app to your iphone or AndroidTM device. Select the type of service you want to search for and tap GO. Make appointments with ease by clicking on the phone number inside of the app. Get 24-hour nurse advice lines offered by your health plan. For more information, call Monarch at 1-877-GO-MONARCH. 5-ingredient chicken soup Make this easy soup to keep you warm on a chilly fall evening. Ingredients: 6 cups chicken broth 3 cups leftover diced rotisserie chicken or baked chicken breasts 2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, drained 2 cups salsa verde 1 teaspoon ground cumin Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Garnish - optional Chopped fresh cilantro leaves Avocados Sour cream 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Collection center locator: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1 Source: https:/www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/ safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm Heat a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir in chicken broth, chicken, beans, salsa verde and cumin. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately, garnish with cilantro, avocados and sour cream if desired. You don t have to be a bodybuilder that s in the gym 7 days a week just to stay healthy. A good workout can be achieved in as little as 30 minutes a day. It can also be done right in your own home without fancy gym equipment. What s important is to make sure you are including some aerobic activity, strength training, balance exercises and stretching in your routine. Here are some exercises that you can do while watching your favorite television sitcom. Pillow crunches Strengthen your core using just two pillows stacked at the foot of your bed or sofa. Lie flat on your back with your feet resting on the pillows and arms crossed over your chest. Inhale to pull your core in, then exhale as you lift your upper body towards your feet. Slowly lower your body back down and repeat 10 times. Leg circles Lie on your back and extend your legs out in front of you. Squeeze your legs together as if they were tied at the ankles and lift them up about three inches off of the floor. Draw a circle in the air with your toes. Do this 20 times in one direction, and then switch to do 20 in the other direction. Knees to chest Sit on the edge of the bed or couch. Squeeze your legs together as if they were glued and bring your knees up to your chest. Lean back as you extend your legs out straight to a 45-degree angle. Your body should be in the shape of a V. Hold that position for a few seconds, then return to starting position. Do this 15 times to tone your inner thighs and lower abdominals. Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
Depression during the holidays How to dispose of unused and outdated medications make holiday less stressful by focusing on family and friends. Spending quality time with those you love will create lasting memories. Nobody will remember whether or not your holiday centerpiece was the perfect shade of red or if you even had a centerpiece at all. Cut back on commitments There is no shortage of things to do and gatherings during the holiday season. Just because you can attend another holiday party doesn t mean you have to. Try not to overcommit yourself and remember to schedule time for self-care. Grab a blanket and a book and take some time to unwind. Beat the holiday blues The holiday season is a time to celebrate, relax and reflect with loved ones. The holidays can also cause feelings of stress, loneliness and depression. Here are some tips to help with symptoms of the holiday blues this season. Get moving Workouts often fall to the bottom of our to-do lists during the holiday shuffle. This is when exercise is very important to our well-being. Exercise can ease stress, improve our mood and help to keep off those extra pounds over the holidays. Volunteer Volunteering is a great way to ease depression and increase feelings of happiness. It provides us with the chance to shift our focus from ourselves to those in need. You can serve at a local soup kitchen or wrap gifts at a nearby store, and help to make others smile. This is a surefire way to leave you feeling joyful. Pass on perfection The holiday season often brings pressure to be perfect. Instead of aiming for perfection, help to Talk about your feelings One of the best ways of dealing with feelings of depression is to talk about those feelings with a professional or a loved one. Talking through feelings of stress or sadness can help to sort things out. It can also be comforting to know that there is support and that we are not alone. Fight the flu. Get a flu shot. Fever, chills, body aches, and a stuffy nose. Flu season is just around the corner. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 49,000 people die each year from the flu in the United States. You can reduce your chances of getting the flu by getting your yearly flu shot. Schedule yours today for your best chances of keeping the flu away. Call your primary care physician and schedule an appointment to get vaccinated. You can also find flu clinics at drug stores, hospitals, County Public Health clinics or by visiting vaccinefinder.org/. Source: https://www.agingcare.com/articles/dealing-with-holiday-depression-108018.htm Exercises you can do while watching TV Get in a workout while watching TV Some medications can be flushed There are some medicines that may be fatal if accidentally swallowed by someone else. For dangerous drugs, such as opioids, flushing down the toilet is one way to get rid of them. Flush a medication if there is no other way to get rid of it. Make sure to do it the right way. When you no longer need a medication or it has expired, it s important to dispose it correctly. By getting rid of it the right away, you will reduce the chances of misuse by others or taking a medication that is not okay for you. Return unused medication to your pharmacy The Drug Enforcement Administration allows pharmacies and hospitals to take back your unused medications. You can locate an authorized collector near you by going to the Diversion Control page of the DEA s website or calling 1-800-882-9539. Mail medication to a collection site Costco, CVS and Rite-Aid pharmacies sell postage-paid envelopes so you can mail prescription to a disposal facility. Disposal in household trash If no medicine take-back programs are available in your area. You may need to dispose of medication in the trash if no other option is available. First, mix them with something that makes the medication less recognizable. For example, hide them in coffee grounds, sawdust or kitty litter. Then seal in a plastic bag before throwing in the trash. Care is at your fingertips. Download the Monarch CareFinderTM app. The Monarch CareFinder app makes it easier than ever to find physicians, urgent care centers, laboratories and radiology centers, pharmacies or hospitals in your area. The app also gives driving directions and other important information, like hours of operation, services offered and one-touch calling capability are also available. Here s how it works: Download the app to your iphone or AndroidTM device. Select the type of service you want to search for and tap GO. Make appointments with ease by clicking on the phone number inside of the app. Get 24-hour nurse advice lines offered by your health plan. For more information, call Monarch at 1-877-GO-MONARCH. 5-ingredient chicken soup Make this easy soup to keep you warm on a chilly fall evening. Ingredients: 6 cups chicken broth 3 cups leftover diced rotisserie chicken or baked chicken breasts 2 (15-ounce) cans Great Northern beans, drained 2 cups salsa verde 1 teaspoon ground cumin Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Garnish - optional Chopped fresh cilantro leaves Avocados Sour cream 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Collection center locator: https://apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1 Source: https:/www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/ safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm Heat a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir in chicken broth, chicken, beans, salsa verde and cumin. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately, garnish with cilantro, avocados and sour cream if desired. You don t have to be a bodybuilder that s in the gym 7 days a week just to stay healthy. A good workout can be achieved in as little as 30 minutes a day. It can also be done right in your own home without fancy gym equipment. What s important is to make sure you are including some aerobic activity, strength training, balance exercises and stretching in your routine. Here are some exercises that you can do while watching your favorite television sitcom. Pillow crunches Strengthen your core using just two pillows stacked at the foot of your bed or sofa. Lie flat on your back with your feet resting on the pillows and arms crossed over your chest. Inhale to pull your core in, then exhale as you lift your upper body towards your feet. Slowly lower your body back down and repeat 10 times. Leg circles Lie on your back and extend your legs out in front of you. Squeeze your legs together as if they were tied at the ankles and lift them up about three inches off of the floor. Draw a circle in the air with your toes. Do this 20 times in one direction, and then switch to do 20 in the other direction. Knees to chest Sit on the edge of the bed or couch. Squeeze your legs together as if they were glued and bring your knees up to your chest. Lean back as you extend your legs out straight to a 45-degree angle. Your body should be in the shape of a V. Hold that position for a few seconds, then return to starting position. Do this 15 times to tone your inner thighs and lower abdominals. Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
When to call your doctor. Do you know when to call your doctor to report a problem? Here are a few red flag warning signs you should pay attention to: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Are you short of breath even when resting or while sleeping? Have you recently started coughing up more mucus than normal? Do you have a persistent cough that produces white or pink blood-tinged mucus? Do you wake up with a consistent headache or dizziness? Have you noticed swelling in your legs or feet? Do you constantly feel tired or exhausted with Have you lost weight without trying? Diabetes Are you thirsty more than usual? Has your need to urinate noticeably increased? Have you noticed any unexpected weight gain or weight loss? Do you constantly feel tired or exhausted with Do you experience tingling or numbness in your hands or feet? Is your vision blurry compared to normal? Have you noticed cuts or bruises that take longer to heal? If you answered yes to any of these questions, call your primary care physician right away. Also, find your nearest urgent care center in case your PCP recommends immediate attention. It s important to recognize warning signs and take action quickly. Authorization notification with Monarch s Interactive Voice Response. When your primary care doctor orders a referral to a specialist for medical equipment or other services you will receive a call from an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to let you know it has been approved. IVR technology allows us to authorize services faster than U.S. mail. The system will have you identify yourself by your birth year. Then it will give you the name, address and phone number of the referral. What happens if you miss the call: Monarch HealthCare, part of OptumCare, will try to reach you up to three times. The system will leave a call-back number and give you at least two days to return the call. If you don t respond, Monarch will then mail your authorization. The company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in health programs and activities. We provide free services to help you communicate with us. Such as, letters in other languages or large print. Or, you can ask for an interpreter. To ask for help, please call 1-888-767-2222. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español (Spanish), hay servicios de asistencia de idiomas, sin cargo, a su disposición. Llame al 1-888-767-2222. 請注意 如果您說中文 (Chinese) 我們免費為您提供語言協助服務 請致電 1-888-767-2222. OptumCare, a leading health care delivery organization that is reinventing health care to help keep people healthier and feeling their best. 12478_09.29.2017_MC.MS.KS.BH Patient Press Monarch HealthCare Mail Station 17 11 Technology Drive Irvine, CA 92618 Return service requested Fall 2017 Depression during the holidays How to dispose of unused and outdated medications Your fall newsletter is here. See inside! 5 ingredient chicken soup Exercises you can do while watching TV Tell a friend. When to call your doctor Open enrollment is October 15 - December 7 Open enrollment is October 15 - December 7 Do you know someone who could benefit from being a member of Monarch HealthCare? Perhaps they feel health care is too complicated. Maybe they could use care and guidance on how to best use their medical resources. Or they could be looking for ways to be healthier so they can stay independent. Good news! Open enrollment, Oct. 15 - Dec. 7, is the time when many people on Medicare take a closer look at health plan options in their county. If you have friends looking for resources about Medicare, ask them to contact us at 1-844-819-0419 to find out where they can learn more. We can provide them with health plan numbers, a schedule of nearby meetings. If requested, access to trusted licensed insurance agents can also be provided. To contact agents, go to MonarchHealthCare.com/licensed-sales-agents For convenient meeting dates and locations, go to MonarchHealthCare.com/guest/event-calendar
When to call your doctor. Do you know when to call your doctor to report a problem? Here are a few red flag warning signs you should pay attention to: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Are you short of breath even when resting or while sleeping? Have you recently started coughing up more mucus than normal? Do you have a persistent cough that produces white or pink blood-tinged mucus? Do you wake up with a consistent headache or dizziness? Have you noticed swelling in your legs or feet? Do you constantly feel tired or exhausted with Have you lost weight without trying? Diabetes Are you thirsty more than usual? Has your need to urinate noticeably increased? Have you noticed any unexpected weight gain or weight loss? Do you constantly feel tired or exhausted with Do you experience tingling or numbness in your hands or feet? Is your vision blurry compared to normal? Have you noticed cuts or bruises that take longer to heal? If you answered yes to any of these questions, call your primary care physician right away. Also, find your nearest urgent care center in case your PCP recommends immediate attention. It s important to recognize warning signs and take action quickly. Authorization notification with Monarch s Interactive Voice Response. When your primary care doctor orders a referral to a specialist for medical equipment or other services you will receive a call from an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to let you know it has been approved. IVR technology allows us to authorize services faster than U.S. mail. The system will have you identify yourself by your birth year. Then it will give you the name, address and phone number of the referral. What happens if you miss the call: Monarch HealthCare, part of OptumCare, will try to reach you up to three times. The system will leave a call-back number and give you at least two days to return the call. If you don t respond, Monarch will then mail your authorization. The company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in health programs and activities. We provide free services to help you communicate with us. Such as, letters in other languages or large print. Or, you can ask for an interpreter. To ask for help, please call 1-888-767-2222. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español (Spanish), hay servicios de asistencia de idiomas, sin cargo, a su disposición. Llame al 1-888-767-2222. 請注意 如果您說中文 (Chinese) 我們免費為您提供語言協助服務 請致電 1-888-767-2222. OptumCare, a leading health care delivery organization that is reinventing health care to help keep people healthier and feeling their best. 12478_09.29.2017_MC.MS.KS.BH Patient Press Monarch HealthCare Mail Station 17 11 Technology Drive Irvine, CA 92618 Return service requested Fall 2017 Depression during the holidays How to dispose of unused and outdated medications Your fall newsletter is here. See inside! 5 ingredient chicken soup Exercises you can do while watching TV Tell a friend. When to call your doctor Open enrollment is October 15 - December 7 Open enrollment is October 15 - December 7 Do you know someone who could benefit from being a member of Monarch HealthCare? Perhaps they feel health care is too complicated. Maybe they could use care and guidance on how to best use their medical resources. Or they could be looking for ways to be healthier so they can stay independent. Good news! Open enrollment, Oct. 15 - Dec. 7, is the time when many people on Medicare take a closer look at health plan options in their county. If you have friends looking for resources about Medicare, ask them to contact us at 1-844-819-0419 to find out where they can learn more. We can provide them with health plan numbers, a schedule of nearby meetings. If requested, access to trusted licensed insurance agents can also be provided. To contact agents, go to MonarchHealthCare.com/licensed-sales-agents For convenient meeting dates and locations, go to MonarchHealthCare.com/guest/event-calendar