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June Newsletter
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Article Content  |
| Download a PDF copy of the PEBB Connection for June |
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Click here to download and print a copy.
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| Quit now to save now (and later) |
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Members who use tobacco have $25 per month deducted from their pay for health care benefits. Beginning 2013, members who used tobacco products during the last 12 months before their annual enrollment date will also have higher optional life insurance rates.
You can end the deduction when you end the addiction (click here for the Midyear Tobacco Change form). And when you’ve been tobacco free for 12 months from the date of your annual enrollment date, you can also get the lower optional life rates.
Quitting tobacco may be the best thing you can do for your health and your wallet. But it’s hard to do on your own.
Here's help to quit!
With the Quit for Life Program, your chances of quitting are nine times better than trying to quit on your own.
Your benefits include an expanded, no-cost quitting program with access to:
Unlimited phone consultations with a trained quit coach
Printed guides to help you plan and stick to your personalized quit program Private, online Web coaching Nicotine replacement therapy (patch or gum) sent right to your home
Your benefits also cover buproprion and Chantix at low or no cost if your provider prescribes them to help you quit.
Call now to quit for life 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (784-8454)
It’s free. It’s confidential. It works. |
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| Get the most of your benefits in Providence Choice |
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Providence Choice members get coordinated care and the lowest costs for their benefits when they select and use their medical home. If you have dependents, the medical home you select can be the same or different for you and your dependents. Just be sure to let Providence know your selection(s) to get the best benefit.
Select your medical home with these four easy steps:
2. Review the list of medical homes.
3. Select a medical home for you and each dependent.
4. Tell Providence what you selected.
Remember Step 4!
Be sure to notify Providence of your selection(s). Use the method most convenient for you:
Enter your selection using your secure myProvidence account. Log in to myProvidence.org. To make your selection, click on the Medical Home link under the My Provider section. Click submit. Call Providence at 503-574-7500 or 800-878-4445, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tell them your choice of medical home(s) over the phone. Complete the Medical Home Selection Form. Download a Medical Home Selection Form at www.providence.org/pebb. You’ll find the form in the Providence Choice toolkit. You can return your form via mail, email or fax. Mail: Providence Health Plans, Attn: PEBB Customer Service, P.O. Box 3125, Portland, OR 97208. Email: pebb.help@providence.org. Fax: 503-574-8155
Call now to confirm
Take a few minutes now to make sure you have a medical home selection on record for you and each dependent.
A Providence customer service representative can confirm you have a selection on file. If you don’t, the representative can document your selection(s) during your call. You can reach Providence at 503-574-7500 or 800-878-4445, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
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| Hem deductions begin with July pay |
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Members who signed up to participate in the 2012 Health Engagement Model (HEM) program but didn’t complete their health assessment as scheduled will see a monthly HEM deduction beginning with their July pay.
PEBB sent an email to affected members on June 8, which included the forllowing information.
The amount will be $17.50 per participant who didn’t complete the assessment (that participant may be a spouse or domestic partner). If both members in a couple didn’t complete the assessment, the amount will be $35.
If you completed the assessment but are still getting the deduction, you may appeal. You’ll need to complete the appeal form (click here for the forms page) and print a copy of confirmation from your plan’s website showing you completed the assessment as scheduled.
PEBB can’t provide the confirmation for you because your information on your plan’s website is protected health information. Here are steps to print a copy:
Providence members log in to your myprovidence account (click here for the log-in page). Accept the privacy agreement again. Select “view your health assessment results,” accept the privacy statement, scroll to the bottom of your results page, click “continue” and print the page.
Send the form and confirmation by fax, mail or email. Fax: 503-373-1654. Mail: PEBB, 1225 Ferry St SE, Ste B, Salem, OR 97301. Email: inquiries.pebb@state.or.us. |
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| Kudos to Dawn Young: She uses Weight Watchers for health |
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Dawn Young wanted to lose weight for some time, but pregnancies seemed to be obstacles to that goal. Then a medical condition gave her extra motivation.
She was skeptical about Weight Watchers until she saw its rating in Consumer Reports and learned about the Weight Watchers program for nursing mothers.
Dawn says the first three weeks of relearning how to eat healthy again presented challenges. "But after the first three weeks my weight started to steadily decrease – to the point where I had to eat just a little more to prevent too rapid of a weight loss!"
Dawn’s getting a lot of support – even from her Bunco group. Her success is also having an effect on her family. "My kids are making healthier food snack choices because they see what I snack on around the house, and we all exercise more together as a family."
The best things for Dawn? "Knowing how much my risk has dropped for complications of excess-weight related diseases, and looking at my young family and knowing we have a very good chance of living a long, healthy life together."
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| Kudos to Jo L Morgan: She takes a different path to healthy weight |
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Jo L Morgan knew the Weight Watchers point system wouldn’t her meet weight-loss needs, so she looked for a different path and found a program that works for her. “I am finally losing weight using myfitnesspal.com, which provides an accurate account of calories I consume, encourages exercise, and even helps me reduce cholesterol or achieve a better balance between fats/carbohydrates/protein. It’s free and accessible on my iPhone.”
Jo L, who’s signed up in the Health Engagement Model (HEM) program, learned that her personal plan also fits the HEM program agreement.
The program gives several options for weight management. Weight Watchers is one. Others include nutritional counseling, a program of physical activity, or an assessment and action plan developed with the member’s provider, along with documenting the actions.
Jo L doesn’t call her journey complete, yet. “I have only begun. Over the next five months or so I hope to reach or come close to my weight-loss goal.” |
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| Random survey sample selected |
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About 5,000 members were notified June 1 that they’ve been randomly selected to participate in a group health survey this month. When the independent survey firm calls, members can schedule a more-convenient time or number, or they can decline to participate.
All information participants provide will remain strictly confidential. Survey results will be reported in aggregate to help the Board better understand the PEBB group’s health care status and needs
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