Insurance Update
October 2013
Issue No. 39        
In this issue
Breast cancer facts and figures
Five ways you can fight against breast cancer
Don't drop the ball: Open enrollment for 2014 is in November
Long-Term Care Insurance
guideBreast cancer facts and figures

How much do you know about breast cancer? This guide examines the illness from a variety of angles.

 

 

About Us 

Insurance logo 

 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.  
Contact Us 
1505 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
800-746-1505
www.bbtinsurance.org 
  


Greetings! 

 

It's national Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- a time to raise awareness of this disease, celebrate the lives of those who have passed away, and do what you can to prevent it. Below you will find some tips on how both men and women can help prevent breast cancer in a personal and global way, and this month's health guide reviews some of the data and statistics about breast cancer that have emerged.

 

The Affordable Care Act has been in the news nonstop lately, as the national health insurance marketplace opened this week. Your health care decisions through Brethren Insurance Services are also on the horizon: open enrollment for Dental, Vision, Supplemental Life, and Short-Term Disability insurance is set for November. Read about the basics of these plans in this issue to get yourself ready for enrolling in these services. Please also note that our Notice of Privacy Practices has been revised to comply with the expanded HIPAA rules and regulations effective Sept. 23, 2013. Click here to read the notice.

 

Interested in learning more about changes related to the ACA? Look no further than ReformWatch, a news service on health care reform from Brethren Insurance Services. 

 

May the start of autumn be a time of reflection and optimism for the future! We continue to be grateful to you for allowing us to serve your health insurance needs. 

 

 

SignaturesScott, Tammy, and Connie 

  

fiveFive ways you can fight against breast cancer   

 

Whether you've been diagnosed with breast cancer or just want to support the cause, here are five ways to do a lot of good with a little -- or a lot -- of your time, your skills, and your voice.

 

1. Volunteer your time. The American Cancer Society offers many programs that focus on the physical, social, and emotional needs of people facing breast cancer.

  • Reach To Recovery� -- If you have survived breast cancer, you can train to become a Reach To Recovery� volunteer who provides education and emotional support to other women -- and men -- facing a breast cancer diagnosis.
  • Look Good Feel Better� -- This free, community-based service teaches patients beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The program is a collaboration among the American Cancer Society, the Personal Care Products Council, and the Professional Beauty Association/National Cosmetology Association.
  • Road To Recovery� -- Volunteer drivers in this program help cancer patients get to and from treatments. Last year, the American Cancer Society matched thousands of patients with volunteer drivers who donated their time and use of their cars.

2. Take part in research. If you are a breast cancer patient, you can seek out a clinical trial or sign up to be part of an ongoing research project that could help those diagnosed with breast cancer in the future. People who have never had cancer can help, too. For example, the American Cancer Society has conducted multiple studies over the past several decades that examine cancer causes, prevention, and survivorship issues in large groups of people. The latest of these, known as Cancer Prevention Study-3, is enrolling now. By sharing information about their lifestyle and health status, participants in these studies give scientists the data they need to battle cancer at the world-wide level.

 

3. Make your voice heard. Many battles in the fight against breast cancer happen in your local legislature as well as in Washington, DC. The American Cancer Society's advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, can help you become informed about cancer issues and exercise your rights as a citizen to support the causes you feel passionate about. For example, you can sign a petition to support the federal program that helps ensure all women have access to lifesaving mammograms. And you can send emails to members of Congress, asking them to increase funding for breast cancer research.

 

4. Participate in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event raises millions of dollars every year to fund breast cancer research and provide information, services, and access to mammograms. You can help by walking in a Making Strides event and raising donations, sponsoring another Making Strides walker, or volunteering your time and talent at an event. Nationwide, nearly 300 walks occur each year to honor breast cancer survivors, raise awareness, and raise money.

 

5. Take charge of your health. Although there's no sure-fire way to prevent breast cancer, certain lifestyle habits are linked to a lower risk of it developing or returning.

  • Be physically active. Evidence is growing that regular physical activity helps reduce your breast cancer risk. It also helps keep your weight under control, which may also lower your risk.
  • Eat a healthy diet. Studies link a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy products to a reduced breast cancer risk. A healthy diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight.
  • If you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink. Research has shown that women who have 2 or more alcoholic drinks daily have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who drink only 1 drink a day or not at all.

Prepared by the American Cancer Society.

healthcareDon't drop the ball: Open enrollment for 2014 is in November

 

What's on the roster for products offered by Brethren Insurance Services in 2014? Find out below.

 

Medical: Open enrollment will take place in November for currently enrolled Brethren Medical Plan participants. Specific details will be provided by your human resources representative just prior to open enrollment.

 

Dental: Choose from one of three dental plan options for you or your family. These plans can cover checkups and other preventive services, as well as fillings, oral surgery, and orthodontia. This coverage is offered in partnership with Delta Dental of Illinois.

 

Vision: Three plan options are available to you and your family through EyeMed Vision Care. These plans offer various levels of coverage for eye exams, lenses, and frames.

  

Supplemental Life: This insurance is available to members who already have Life insurance coverage through Brethren Insurance Services. This age-rated product is available for up to $10,000 of additional insurance for those who have not yet reached their maximum benefit amount.

 

Short-Term Disability: Cover the gap between the onset of disability and the start of Long-Term Disability coverage with Short-Term Disability insurance. This plan will pay up to 60 percent of your salary - up to $1,250 per week.

 

For eligibility requirements specific to your employer, please contact your employer's human resources representative. For general information, visit brethrenbenefittrust.org/insurance.

 

 LTCILong-Term Care Insurance

Care for adults who aren't able to manage their activities of daily living can be costly. But what about the price your family will pay if they must provide care for you when you can't care for yourself? According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, a reported 37 percent of caregivers quit their jobs or reduced their work hours to care for someone 50 years of age or older in 2007. Can your career, retirement savings, and family handle that sacrifice? If not, consider investing in long-term care insurance.

 

Planning ahead for your medical future could save you in the long run. If you are interested in obtaining this coverage, contact Brethren Insurance Services at [email protected] or 800-746-1505 for a free, no-obligation proposal or click here to request more information