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National Immunization Awareness Month
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National Immunization Awareness Month helps encourage at-risk populations --- children, preteens, older adults, health care workers, to name a few --- to pursue vaccines. Read more about immunization recommendations and your medical plan's preventive schedule below.
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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.
Long-Term Care Insurance is available for all members of the Church of the Brethren, their family and friends, and employees of Church of the Brethren-affiliated agencies, organizations, colleges, and retirement communities.
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Contact Us
1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
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Greetings!
At various points in their lives, children must get vaccines for illnesses like mumps and diphtheria. But vaccines aren't just for kids --- health care workers and older adults may benefit from voluntary vaccines against shingles, influenza, hepatitis, and more. In honor of National Immunization Awareness Month, read the health guide on the left to learn about a variety of vaccine recommendations. Also attached is a preventive schedule for 2012 that indicates which approved treatments and wellness steps you might want to consider before the end of the year.
You already have health insurance through Brethren Insurance Services, which is meant to protect you from paying for costly health services and emergencies. But what is protecting your family if something much more serious should happen to you? If you aren't already enrolled in Brethren Insurance Services' group term life insurance, read some facts below to learn why this coverage is important --- for you and for your loved ones.
If you have a chronic health condition that requires prescription medications, why not skip the trip to the pharmacy and have the medicine mailed right to your door? Medco can help you schedule a free delivery of up to 90 days worth of dosage of your routine prescription drugs. Read below to learn how to register for this service.
Thanks so much for choosing Brethren Insurance Services as your provider of health care and wellness tips. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Scott, Tammy, and Connie
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| Group Term Life Insurance
Understanding the basics
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Life insurance isn't a fun thing to think about, and it may seem like an unnecessary expense. But if you have people who depend on you for financial support, then life insurance is really about protecting them in case something happens to you --- your designated beneficiary would collect a financial benefit upon your death. Life insurance can be confusing, so here's a rundown of the basics. Note: This article relates to Term Life Insurance provided by Brethren Insurance Services. Check with your human resources office about whether your employer offers this insurance.
Group Term Life Insurance
This is the simplest and generally the cheapest form of life insurance. Coverage is purchased for a specific period of time. It can usually be renewed each year. There is no cash value.
Brethren Insurance Services also offers separate voluntary group term life insurance plans to cover spouses and dependents of employees.
Group term life insurance is advantageous for employees. Employees get coverage that is either employer-paid or at least cheaper than a policy purchased in the individual coverage market. Another big advantage for employees is that most group term plans do not require health assessments.
How Much to Buy?
Many employers offer life insurance as part of their benefits package, but it's hard to know how much to buy. Many people decide based on an income replacement calculation; a good rule of thumb is to purchase coverage that equals between five and 10 times the amount of your current income.
Think about your personal circumstances: Is yours the sole income in your household? Are there other expenses, such as housing or education, that may arise in the future? Would you leave your family financially vulnerable if you were no longer around to provide income? Don't forget to include potential medical and funeral costs. Above everything, you want to be sure your family does not get stuck with bills, debts, or expenses that they cannot afford. Depending on your needs, you may want to consider buying supplemental coverage beyond what your employer offers.
Why Purchase Now?
Buying life insurance may seem unmanageable right now, but it could be a smart decision. Unlike many other benefits, life insurance is actually more affordable right now than in the recent past. Plus, during this tough economic period, ensuring that your family will be financially secure in the future is more important than ever.
If you have more questions about your employer's life insurance benefit, please make an appointment with your human resources department.
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Be smart about your benefits with mail-order pharmacy
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For many, the most efficient way to fill prescriptions that are written for long-term or chronic conditions is through a mail-order service. You can purchase up to a 90-day supply of most prescription medications when ordering prescription drugs online. There may be limitations on some prescriptions, such as controlled medications, as the process is subject to state and federal dispensing limitations. Once you start, you can refill and renew your prescriptions online --- and benefit from free standard shipping.
Medco Health, one of the nation's most experienced home delivery programs, administers this program on your behalf. Its home-delivery program offers convenience and savings on medications you may take on a long-term basis, such as medication for high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Every prescription is checked and double-checked by registered pharmacists who are committed to providing the same quality, reliability, and personal service you receive from your local retail pharmacy. Medco's pharmacists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions about your medications.
Most medications are shipped via the U.S. Postal Service at no cost to you. And it's fast --- refills ordered online are usually delivered within 3 to 5 days after Medco receives your order.
To register for mail-order prescription drug delivery, log in to your member account at highmarkbcbs.com and click on the Fill Medco Rx link on the right side of the screen. This will take you to the Medco website, where you may review your pharmacy benefits and submit your online order. Please click here for a mail-order form that you can use if you do not wish to order online, and click here for a form that your doctor may use to fax a prescription to Medco.
Questions? Visit Medco's Frequently Asked Questions section here or contact Brethren Benefit Trust's member service number through Highmark at 888-767-7014.
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