NEW ID CARDS COMING FOR ALL MEMBERS
All members will receive a new ID card in June, whether or not a change was made during Annual Enrollment.
New cards will include the new Mental Health/Substance Abuse Office copay. Currently, employees' names and the names of any covered dependents appear on the subscriber's ID card. Employees will notice when they receive their new cards that each covered member of their family will receive his or her own card.
This year, employees were able to select a PCP for themselves and any covered dependents during Annual Enrollment. Employees who selected a PCP will see that selection appear on member ID cards. |
TASTY & LIGHT RECIPE OF THE MONTH
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HEALTHY ACTIVITY
3 Yoga Moves
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Do you have employees interested in being tobacco-free? Click here to learn about the NC HealthSmart resources available to help them quit.
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2014 BENEFIT TRAINING FOR HBRs COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!
 | | Photo credit: Thinkstock Images |
As you may have heard, the State Health Plan's Board of Trustees recently approved new health plan options teachers and state employees for 2104 that reward a range of healthy activities, including smoking cessation, taking an online Health Assessment and naming a primary care provider. Open Enrollment for these new options will take place during the entire month of October.
We know you, as HBRs, are on the front line, and we want to give you all the tools you need to serve your members most effectively during this time.
In our efforts to do that, the State Health Plan is coming to a city near you this summer for in-person training on the new 2014 health plan benefits. Please plan to attend one of these important training sessions, which will cover all of the benefit plan changes coming in 2014. Below is a list of counties where sessions will be held. Please check the list then click on the link at the bottom of the page for registration details. We look forward to seeing you!
Sessions are planned for 52 counties. For an alphabetical listing of counties, more information and registration details, click here. |
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NC HealthSmart Corner
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM THE SUMMER SUN
 | | Photo credit: Thinkstock Images |
Summer is a great time to be outside, but too much exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to a high risk of developing skin cancer. Some effective ways in which you and your employees can protect their skin is by applying sunscreen with Sun Protective Factor (SPF) 15 or greater, wearing clothing to protect exposed skin, and avoiding indoor tanning.
Another good skin care habit is to regularly check your skin for any suspicious moles that could be cancerous. Encourage your employees to follow the easy ABCDE rule to determine if a mole has characteristics that may indicate skin cancer.
- Asymmetry: One half doesn't match the appearance of the other half.
- Border irregularity: The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.
- Color: The color is not uniform. Shades of multiple colors may be present.
- Diameter: The size of the mole is greater than 1/4 inch, about the size of a pencil eraser.
- Evolution: There is a change in the size, shape, color, surface (especially bleeding), or symptoms (such as itching or tenderness) of a mole.
Catching skin cancer early, particularly a melanoma, increases the likelihood of a cure. If employees want to learn more about skin cancer and other ways to protect their skin, direct them to the skin cancer articles in the Resource Center on their Personal Health Portal*.
Are your employees interested in other recommended cancer screenings for their age and gender? Your employees can complete the "Which health screenings do you need?" interactive tool on their Personal Health Portal to determine what screenings are recommended for them by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. To access this tool, members can log in to their Personal Health Portal account and search for "Which health screenings do you need" in the Articles section of the Resource Center.
*Members eligible for NC HealthSmart services are members whose primary health coverage is through the State Health Plan. Federal law prohibits the Plan from using your personal health information to discriminate against you in any way or from giving this information to your employing agency/school or other unauthorized third party, unless required by law. | |
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NEW IPAD® WINNER ANNOUNCED
 | | Kay Rhodes |
Managing her health is a top priority for Carolyn "Kay" Rhodes, who was the winner of a new iPad® in the State Health Plan's latest monthly drawing.
Rhodes, who works for the Western Youth Correctional Center in Burke County, uses the Personal Health Portal to track her health and receive personalized health tips online. The portal is one of the many NC HealthSmart health and wellness opportunities offered to members at no extra cost.
"We only need to take the time to seek out the information provided in (NC) HealthSmart and use it," Rhodes said. "The Health Assessment also helps by being able to compare results after each doctor visit, and once your records are updated, tips are provided to help you improve in the areas needed!"
With one drawing each month, your employees also can win a chance for a new iPad® and get healthy at the same time. Encourage them to log on to the Personal Health Portal and complete a Health Assessment to be entered.
Monthly drawings for an iPad will be conducted for all eligible members age 18 and older who have completed their Health Assessment since Jan. 1, 2011. For more information on taking your Health Assessment, click here. |
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