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Issue No. 80
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February 3, 2015
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February is National Heart Month. Statistics show that heart disease remains one of the most significant health concerns in the United States.
Staying current with healthcare trends is crucial. National Heart Month is a great time to brush up on heart disease knowledge and current information.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American adults; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, which amounts to approximately 2,200 deaths per day. This statistic emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about heart disease trends and a need for adequate health care.
February is ALSO National Cancer Prevention Month.
Closely related to heart disease is the advice for cutting cancer risk - preventing other chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, as well as getting in shape.
Simple steps offer many different health benefits and National Heart Month/National Cancer Prevention Month is as good a time as any to start putting them into action!
You are a partner in health care decision making and you are partnered with a coverage provider that is thriving.
Now serving ALL of Texas Agriculture -
Contact us for more information
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family.
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Who? How? Get to Know Us!
Who is behind the scenes? How does it all get done?
 "Texas Ag Coop Trust. How may I help you?"
Martha McQuhae, the friendly voice who answers the phone when you call the TACT office. Martha has been with TACT since its early inception. She has seen the vision of the Trust grow and change.
"TACT has come a long way," Martha said. "In the beginning, TACT was created with gin and elevator employees in mind. We wanted to take care of making sure that they had insurance coverage that would, otherwise, not be affordable."
How long have YOU been with TACT? The initial Trust incorporated coops and grew from there. You may remember Martha doing business out in the field.
"My main responsibilities when the company was new was doing most of the in-house work," Martha noted. " Getting information from enrollees, filing information with ICON, preparing member packets and printing and mailing ID cards were my main responsibilities."
Martha recalls the initial filing system being paper, now evloved to being electronically accessible. "The girls here still give me a hard time about my fear of shredding scanned documents," she joked. "Change..."
TACT now serves ALL of Texas Agriculture. "The groups serviced have evolved and increased. We serve the range from farm stores to feed lots, most all ag-related businesses," she notes.
"Today," Martha said, "All of the jobs in the office tend to overlap as we work to help each other get done what needs to be done, but I mainly handle customer service to providers on computer now. I do enjoy the occasional phone call that allows me to 'hoo-rah' with an old friend I've been doing business with all these years. It's nice to still have that friendly relationship with a customer."
Then and now, Martha has been behind the scenes serving you. "How may I direct your call?" When it comes to your specific need, Martha can help or get you to the right person.
"Thank you! Have a great afternoon!"
 
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February is National Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, but heart disease is preventable and controllable.
We can start by taking small steps every day to bring our loved ones and ourselves closer to heart health.
ONE STEP AT A TIME
As you begin your journey to better heart health, keep these things in mind:
* Don't become overwhelmed. Every step brings you closer to a healthier heart.
* Don't go it alone. The journey is more fun when you have company. Ask friends and family to join you.
* Don't get discouraged. You may not be able to take all of the steps at one time. Get a good night's sleep and do what you can tomorrow.
* Reward yourself. Find fun things to do to decrease your stress. Round up some colleagues for a lunchtime walk, join a singing group, or have a healthy dinner with your family or friends.
PLAN FOR PREVENTION
Some health conditions and lifestyle factors can put people at a higher risk for developing heart disease. You can help prevent heart disease by making healthy choices and managing any medical conditions you may have.
* Eat a healthy diet.
* Maintain a healthy weight.
* Exercise regularly.
* Monitor your blood pressure.
* Don't smoke. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease.
* Limit alcohol use.
* Have your cholesterol checked.
* Manage your diabetes.
* Take your medicine.
* Get a physical exam. Become aware of your health risks.
Courtesy Hines Healthy Tomorrows, adapted from CDC Website.
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February is also National
Cancer Prevention Month
 If your New Year's fervor to get healthy is already losing steam, February -- National Cancer Prevention Month - is a great time to give yourself a second chance.
AICR's three Guidelines for Cancer Prevention can help you focus on what's most important.
- Choose mostly plant foods, limit red meat and avoid processed meat.
- Be physically active every day in any way for 30 minutes or more.
- Aim to be a healthy weight throughout life.
Notice anything about them? Like, for example, how closely the advice for cutting cancer risk resembles advice for preventing other chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes - not to mention for getting in shape?
It's true: these simple steps offer many different health benefits, and National Cancer Prevention Month is as good a time as any to start putting them into action.
Let's look at them one at a time:
Further Reading:
Every year, the Union for International Cancer Control's (UICC) World Cancer Day aims to bring the growing cancer crisis to the attention of the public, government leaders and health policymakers worldwide.
World Cancer Day is February 4th. AICR is helping to raise awareness of World Cancer Day in the US and throughout the world. Click here to see more about the effort.
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Staying Safe and Healthy When Winter Storms Strike
Courtesy HHS.gov
Division of Communications, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
Many parts of the country get snow and ice from time to time, so winter weather can seem like it is no big deal. And that is part of what makes winter storms so dangerous. But downed power lines, icy roads, power failures, and exposure to cold weather can all have serious health consequences.
If you know what to look for and plan in advance, you have a better chance of staying healthy and helping those around you weather the storm. Here are a few things that you can do:
- Plan with family, friends and neighbors before the storm strikes: Knowing who you can count on - and who is counting on you - can help protect everybody's health. Before a storm, start a conversation on how you will help each other. You can plan to stay in touch during and after the storm through social networking sites, by texting or by knocking on your neighbor's door. When disaster strikes, phone lines may be jammed, but texts may get through. Remember to charge your phone before a storm and have a backup power supply charged and ready.
- Stock up on food, water, medicine and supplies for your car: Power and water outages are common in a winter storm and roads may be unsafe. So make sure that you have the food, water, medicines, and first aid supplies to help you get through the storm. Also make sure that you have the basic safety equipment for your car, including a full gas tank, shovel, windshield scraper, and emergency kit for the car. For a detailed checklist of supplies, see CDC's Winter Weather Checklists.
- Stay tuned to your local news and listen to state and local officials: When winter storms strike, your local news station and your state and local officials will be able to provide you with the information you need to stay safe and healthy.
- Stay safe in a power outage: During a power outage, never use generators, grills, or other gasoline-, propane-, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, garage, or carport or outside near doors, windows, or vents. They produce carbon monoxide and fumes can kill. Be sure that you know how to use generators safely and follow the manufacturer's instructions before starting them up. Food safety is also a common issue in power outages. If you are trying to figure out what to keep and what to toss, don't guess. Use these charts to learn when to toss refrigerated and frozen foods.
- Plan for chronic conditions: When disaster strikes, many people with chronic conditions end up in hospitals because they need care and don't have anywhere else to go. If you suffer from a chronic condition, talk to your doctor about preparedness. If you rely onrefrigerated drugs, make sure you know what you would do if the power goes out. If you rely on dialysis, try scheduling dialysis early, be sure that you know where to find an alternate facility, and that you have taken other steps to prepare for emergencies. If you rely on electrically powered medical equipment, like an oxygen concentrator, make sure you know how to find the spare battery and charge it in case of a power outage.
- Be a bystander who doesn't stand by: Winter storms can put people at risk for everything from hypothermia to injuries, causing hospitals may be overcrowded and EMS may be unable to reach people quickly given road conditions. So learn the signs offrostbite and hypothermia and what to do when someone is exhibiting those signs. Injuries are also very common during winter storms, and learning first aid and CPR could save a life.
When winter weather comes, we hope everyone stays safe and healthy. Taking the time to prepare before an emergency strikes could help keep you, your family and even your community bounce back faster.
Healthcare news such as this can be found on our Facebook Page!
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84th Texas Legislative
Session Begins
The 84th Texas Legislature began January 13, 2015.
The 84th Texas Legislature is now in session, having
 convened January 13, through June 1, 2015.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) recently announced he was named Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness for the 114th Congress. This chairmanship will put Sen. Cornyn at the forefront of developing a U.S. trade agenda to grow America's economy and competitiveness.
"Texas has led the nation in exports for over 10 years, and hardworking Texans in communities across our state have seen firsthand how our economy can benefit from robust international trade. I thank Chairman Hatch for trusting me with this position, and I look forward to continuing to build on the Texas model and the United States' trade advantages."
Senator Cornyn will also sit on the Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, and the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight.
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson announced the 19 Democrats appointed to serve on the House Agriculture Committee for the 114th Congress.
Included in the list is Texas Congressman Filemon Vela from the 34th Congressional District in the Valley.
"This is a great group of both new and returning members who care about the wide variety of issues overseen by the Agriculture Committee. I look forward to working with them, Chairman Conaway and members on the other side of the aisle this Congress," Peterson said.
The Texas Legislature meets in a regular session every two years, convening on the second Tuesday in January of every odd-numbered year. These biennial sessions are limited to 140 days. The governor can also call additional special sessions as necessary, which cannot exceed 30 days.
portions courtesy Texas Grain & Feed Association
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A primary care physician will be there for you in sickness and in health. Here's how to choose the best one for you.
Courtesy Baylor Health.com/AllSaints
QUICK! WHO'S YOUR DOCTOR? Don't know or don't have one? You're doing your health a disservice.
Why? Because people who have a primary care provider (PCP) tend to seek more preventive care and therefore fare better than those who don't, says Randy Leach, DO, a family medicine physician on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Waxahachie. The key is finding the right provider for you.
Q:
WHAT TYPE OF PHYSICIAN SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
That depends on your age and convenience factors, Dr. Leach says.
"Children can go to a pediatrician or a family medicine doctor. Adults can go to family or internal medicine physicians," he says. If you have a family, do you want one doctor to see everyone in the family? If so, family medicine is the way to go."
Q:
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A PHYSICIAN?
You'll want to make sure you choose a physician who takes your insurance. Beyond that, "it's more of a personality thing," Dr. Leach says. "You need to find someone that you feel comfortable with."
Start asking friends and family for referrals and doing some research. "Most practices will have online resources that tell you a little bit about the physician and his or her training background and interests," Dr. Leach says.
Then, schedule an initial appointment to see whether you get along in person. And just as important, do you like the office staff?
"That's a huge part of your interaction with the physician," Dr. Leach says. "Make sure the staff is friendly and not a barrier between you and your physician."
Q: DO WOMEN NEED A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN IN ADDITION TO AN OB-GYN?
In short, yes. During childbearing years, you may see your Ob-Gyn more frequently than your primary care physician, but it's still important to maintain a relationship with a PCP.
"You can go to your Ob-Gyn for a lot of needs," Dr. Leach says. "But, your PCP can take care of many other medical needs in addition to basic reproductive health."
To read featured health news
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Contact Us
Texas Ag Coop Trust
915 Austin Street
Levelland, TX 79336
806-747-7894
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Texas Ag Coop Trust
Officers, Board of Trustees
Kimberly Tullo-Holcomb
TACT Executive Director
Lubbock, TX
Jim Turner, Chairman
Dalhart Consumers Fuel Association
Dalhart, TX
Bret Brown, Secretary/Treasurer
Ag Producers Co-op
Sunray, TX
Ben Boerner
Texas Grain & Feed Assn.
Fort Worth, TX
Craig Rohrbach
Parmer County Cotton Growers
Farwell, TX
Dean Sasser
Farmers Coop Elevator
Levelland, TX
Tony Williams
Texas Cotton Ginners' Association
Austin, TX
Paul Wilson
United Cotton Growers
Levelland, TX
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Texas Ag Coop Trust
is endorsed by:
Texas Grain & Feed
Association
Texas Cotton Ginners Association
 Texas Coop Marketing Exchange
Texas Corn Producers
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A Healthy Future Begins With TACT
effective January 1, 2015
Want to know how to do your part in keeping your Health Insurance
Premiums from Increasing next year?
Use the In-Network Providers in Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)! PHCS contracts with physicians, hospitals and ancillary services (lab, equipment, sleep studies, radiology centers, etc.) at a discounted rate. These providers can be found by visiting the TACT website (www.TxAgCoop.com) and clicking on the "Find your Provider" link, enter your group number and click find my provider. This will provide you with a link to obtain a list of all PHCS in network providers.
There is a very good reason why your employer has chosen PHCS as your PPO provider. Cost Savings. Your employer is self-funding the employee health plan; in simple terms this means your employer is paying for every claim that employees and the covered dependents incur. When your employer is considering next year's health plan, and if there are many out of network claims that cost the health plan a considerable amount of money, the employer has no choice but to raise premiums or reduce benefits.
EXAMPLE:
If you go to an in-network radiology facility for an MRI, the contracted rate and total cost is $639.73.
If you go to an out of network radiology facility, there is no contracted rate and the total cost is $2,850.
Let's say your deductible is $500 and your plan pays 80%. (With your out of network benefits - guess what; you and your employer will end up paying more of the cost.)
Make sure that you and your physician use PHCS providers. You can go to the TACT website www.TxAgCoop.com and click on the "Find Your Provider" link, enter your group number and click find my provider. This will provide you with a link to a list of in network providers with Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS).
If everyone would do their part in keeping costs down, you might be pleasantly surprised at health plan renewal time!
***See your office manager for NEW ID card****
If you have any questions or need assistance locating an in-network provider,
PLEASE CALL Texas Ag Benefit Administrators at 1-806-568-2600.
What can we do to help you? What questions do you have? We are here to answer your questions.
You are a partner in decision making and you are partnered with a thriving coverage provider.
Keeping YOU the priority. Keeping YOUR NEEDS in perspective.
With TACT, YOU are our business.
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family.
Next Issue: February 17, 2015
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