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Public Employees' Benefit Board

March 2009
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Take Care of Yourself

In these lean times, your Benefit Board wants to help you make the best use of your benefits and keep healthcare costs manageable. 
 
Healthy Budgets   Some PEBB members have written about how they’re saving money by changing to generic medications. Your Benefit Board changed the plan design to encourage use of generics in 2006. Since then, member use of generics has increased from 61 percent to more than 68 percent.
 Did you know? With every one percent change from brand to generic medications, the pool of PEBB members saves more than $1 million in annual medical costs.
 
Healthy Practices  The PEBB plan design covers a number of generics for chronic conditions at low or no cost. This brings down cost barriers to taking these critically important medications. You may want to talk with your provider about switching from a brand drug to a generic version to get the same quality at a savings.
 Did you know? Generic versions of Imitrex (for headaches) and Effexor (for depression) should be available later this year.
 
Healthy Weight   This year, the Board offers a weight management program. More than 5,000 employees have already signed up for the program. Many have written to share early and ongoing successes (see reverse).
 Did you know? Within just one year of losing weight, you save money on healthcare and have a better quality of life.
Healthy Habits  Do your part to stay healthy and keep costs down.
  • Take care to eat right and exercise
  • Move to generic medication when possible
  • Brush and floss every day
  • Use the healthcare system wisely
When times are difficult, it’s even more important to take good care of your health – your most valuable resource.

Save Your Vision
 
Take a moment to learn how to improve your vision and prevent eye injuries.
 
Computer users
 
Do you work on a computer and experience eye irritation? Using artificial teardrops and blinking frequently can help dryness and itchy eyes. Eye specialists also recommend looking up from the computer every 15 minutes to focus on a distant object.
 
Beware of the sun
 
UV exposure can lead to cataracts and other eye problems. Protect your eyes by wearing a hat or sunglasses with UV protection.
 
Take care of your eyes
 
Minimize eye injuries by wearing protective eye gear in situations when particles or chemicals could get in your eyes.
 
See your eye doctor
 
Your Benefit Board wants you to take care of your eyes. See your plan for coverage details.
 
 
Diabetic Eye Exam
 
Diabetes can lead to blindness. If you have diabetes, be sure to see your eye doctor on a regular schedule. The doctor will dilate your pupils to get a thorough look at your retina.

Celebrate Your WW Success

If you enrolled in Weight Watchers at the beginning of the year, now’s the time to re-enroll. Members report great success in their first term. You can keep that momentum going by joining for a second term at no cost.
 
If you haven’t started, what’s stopping you? Employees who are the principal subscriber in a PEBB-sponsored medical plan (Kaiser, Providence Choice or Regence) can join Weight Watchers at no cost any time this year.
 
 
Learn how to enroll and re-enroll at www.mypowwr.com/downloads/PEBB.pdf.

New WW Offer for Dependents
 
Just because your dependents aren’t the principal subscriber in your medical plan doesn’t put successful weight loss out of reach. Learn how they can join Weight Watchers at a discount and get a free exercise DVD: http://mypowwr.com/downloads/PEBB_Gateway_Attachment-Dependents.pdf.
 
Many employees participating in Weight Watchers want to make healthy weight a family affair. Your Benefit Board encourages you and your family to act on opportunities that keep you all healthy.
 
Even your four-legged family members can be part of your personal health plan.
 

"This week I got myself a four-legged walking partner. He keeps me and my husband on our feet in the a.m. and the evening. We are getting plenty of exercise walking Charley and enjoying it too. I have lost 5 lbs since I started walking with him. He is a fast walker for a little guy."

Weight Watchers Success
Members share their thoughts on the Weight Watchers benefit.
 

Thank you, thank you, a thousand times, thank you! This is such a wonderful and very much needed benefit for state workers, and I wanted the Board to know how much it is appreciated. And the fact that we can meet on-site is such a convenience.
 
 
I'd like to express my appreciation for the addition of Weight Watchers program to our benefits. Our Branch started a worksite meeting on Jan. 22 and to date, the group has lost approx. 170 pounds! 
It’s been challenging to motivate people to eat better and exercise. When the weight watchers program was offered, over 1/4 of our staff decided to participate! Now they're interested in finding out how to move more.
 
 
It was just the encouragement I needed to get started on a new road to better health...The bottom line is I am learning new life skills, losing weight consistently, and am on the road to a healthier future, one day at a time. 
I am so glad that we all have this oppurtunity to attend this great plan. Even though $40 sounds minimal it really does cut into our budgets. This makes it so much easier. No more excuses.
 
 
Our WW at work is really the only way that I would be able to participate, and so far so good!
 
THANKS!
I joined Weight Watchers online the beginning of January. I have lost 13 pounds and my husband who is following the plan with me has lost 30. We both have a lot more to lose but feel we will succeed.
 
 
I have already lost 5% of my weight. The program was the structure I needed to get me on my way. Since my husband has seen my progress he has started the program as well, even though he isn’t covered yet.
So far I've had a weight loss of 10 lbs and I feel wonderful. My blood pressure is down and I am no longer on the edge of being diabetic.  So thank you again for offering this wonderful benefit.
 
  

Resources

PEBB 
Benefit Questions: inquiries.pebb@state.or.us
Comments for the Board: pebb.connect@state.or.us   
(503) 373-1102, fax (503) 373-1654 
 
To cut costs, PEBB no longer operates a toll free number.
    
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