| How Smoking Affects Heart Health |
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 Learn About the Risks of Smoking and Cardiovascular Diseases
Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. It accounts for nearly 440,000 deaths each year, of which more than 135,000 are due to smoking related cardiovascular diseases. Cigarette smokers are two-to-three times more likely to die from coronary heart disease than nonsmokers. 1Click here to continue reading. |
| Readership Survey |
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| As promised at the launch of Member Focus in August, we have set up a very brief online survey. We want this publication to reflect your interests and request your suggestions on how we can better serve your needs. Please let us know how we're doing by completing this confidential survey. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Your feedback is very important to help us make Member Focus more useful for you. Thank you for participating!
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| Pilot Program Lowers the Cost of Generic Cholesterol-lowering Medications |
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 You may not realize how important it is to take your medications as prescribed. For those with high blood cholesterol, taking the correct medications is crucial to preventing an increased risk of heart disease. The high cost of prescriptions can be a barrier to your taking cholesterol medications regularly, exactly as prescribed. The State Health Plan's pilot cholesterol-lowering medication program is designed to encourage you to take your cholesterol medications consistently. The new copay for all generic cholesterol-lowering medications is $4 for a 1-month supply, or $10 for a 3-month supply. Click here to read more. |
| Coverage for Bariatric Surgery (Gastric bypass or Lap band) |
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If you are planning to have bariatric surgery on or after July 1, 2010, please make sure your physician is affiliated with a Blue Distinction Center (BDC). The BDCs are facilities that have met national standards for quality outcomes and have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality health care, as certified by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
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| Coordination of Benefits with Medicare for Members on Disability |
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 Have you recently received notice that you were approved retroactively (going back to a certain date) for disability and that you are eligible for Medicare? If the answer is yes, it is important to understand how your State Health Plan benefits will coordinate with Medicare (a federal program). |
| Member Tip of the Month |
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 How to Get Claims Records for Your Health Care Flexible Spending AccountMany State Health Plan members are enrolled in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account, where you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for medical, dental or other health care expenses not reimbursed by your health plan. You have until March 31, 2010 to submit eligible health care expenses incurred during the 2009 plan year. Do you know how to print your medical claims information from the State Health Plan's Web site? Click here to continue reading. |
| Quitline Success Stories |
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Many State Health Plan members have successfully quit  using tobacco products. Having the advice and support of trained Quit Coaches through the NC Tobacco Use Quitline can make all the difference. Studies show that people like talking to Quit Coaches over the phone. Many even like phone sessions better than face-to-face coaching. Studies show that talking with a Quit Coach and using the nicotine patch, tobacco users are four times more likely to quit than trying on their own. |
