| Prevention 101: Immunization | | Check out Prevention 101, our ongoing wellness series. Click below for this month's guide.
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| About Us | |
A not-for-profit ministry of
Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust Inc.
Church of the Brethren Insurance Services provides ancillary coverage for ministers and other employees of congregations, districts, and camps. Medical and ancillary plans are available to Brethren-affiliated employer groups.
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Contact Us
1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
800-746-1505
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| Brethren Insurance Services
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Greetings!
Brethren Insurance Services is pleased to announce the first edition of its monthly newsletter, Insurance Update. Each month, we will be bringing you information about your Medical and ancillary plans, tips for maximizing your benefits, wellness information, and more. The newsletter is scheduled to arrive at the beginning of each month via e-mail. Take a few minutes to look over the newsletter and let us know what you think. We look forward to hearing from you! |
| Upcoming Open Enrollment |
 Our annual open enrollment for the Medical, Dental, and Vision plans will begin on Oct. 1 and continue through Oct. 31. Information about these plans and any cost changes will be sent to your group representative at the end of September. We will also be including information about a new Voluntary Short-Term Disability policy, which will be effective Jan. 1, 2011. In addition, Brethren Insurance Services is able to provide an open enrollment for Basic Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Supplemental and Dependent Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Long-Term Disability for eligible employees who have never applied for these benefits. Stay tuned for more information! |
| Unlock a treasure of information with a simple PIN |
 As a Brethren Insurance Services member, you have access to the comprehensive Web site of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. We encourage you to register to access their helpful and healthful online resources, which include online access to your personal health information. - Go to www.highmarkbcbs.com and click on the Members tab.
- Click the Register Now link in the login box. Follow the registration instructions and create a user ID and password. You can immediately access abundant information to help you make better healthcare decisions.
- Wait for your personal identification number. Because your privacy is important to Highmark, any personal information will only be available to you once you input your PIN, which will arrive by U.S. mail within 3 to 5 days of registering.
Questions? Contact Tammy Chudy at 800-746-1505, ext. 372, or tchudy_bbt@brethren.org. |
| Is your child at risk? |
 You've probably heard news stories reporting that childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. What exactly does that mean? It means that signs of diabetes may appear around age 20 --- a full 30 years earlier than this disease typically occurs in people who weren't overweight when they were young. It means that signs of heart disease may begin to appear at the young age of 35. It means an average life expectancy that's 12 years shorter. According to leading health experts, we are in danger of raising the first generation of American children who will be sicker and die younger than the generation before them. The best defense against childhood obesity is you, the parent. A child is two to three times more likely to become obese if one or both parents are. Your example will have a profound effect on your child's health and happiness. Back-to-school time is the perfect time to start thinking about ways of improving your family's nutrition. Fruits and vegetables are not only great sources of vitamins and minerals, they are also excellent sources of nutrients called phytochemicals. These nutrients, along with the vitamins, minerals, and fiber, can help prevent certain diseases, including: - Heart disease. Flavonoids may help prevent blood clots, while other phytochemicals and soluble fiber help reduce bad cholesterol.
- High blood pressure. Potassium and magnesium from fruits and vegetables have been shown to lower blood pressure.
- Diabetes. Magnesium from green leafy vegetables may improve insulin sensitivity, while soluble fiber from apples, pears, oranges, carrots and peas help control blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Adults should try to get seven to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Don't panic --- that's easier to do than it sounds. One-half cup of cooked veggies equals one serving. That's only four asparagus spears or five spears of broccoli. For fruit, one serving equals an apple, a peach, a quarter cup of dried fruit, a six ounce glass of juice, or a half cup of chopped, cooked, or canned fruit. Take advantage of the tools available through Highmark to personally get on the road to better nutrition and healthier weight, including the HealthMediaŽ Nourish™ nutrition program and the HealthMediaŽ Balance™ weight management program. Both are easily accessible at www.highmarkbcbs.com and can help you make healthier food choices, avoid overeating, and plan for physical activity for you and your children If you want to talk with an expert, you can speak with a Health Coach 24/7 through Blues On Call. Just call 1-888-BLUE-428 (1-888-258-3428). Blues On Call is part of your Highmark health plan, and it's a great way to start taking control of your --- and your children's --- health. Another resource available is the Highmark Healthy High 5 initiative. Healthy High 5 is a mission to improve the health and well-being of our children by giving them the tools and practices needed for healthy behaviors. For more information, visit www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org. |
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