Diabetes is an invisible disease. It affects men and women, people young and old, and people of all races, shapes and sizes. Often there are no outward signs from the 29 million Americans who fight this chronic illness every day. During this month, the American Diabetes Association fosters awareness and education while breaking down stereotypes, myths and misunderstandings about this growing public health crisis that affects so many. Read More…
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So…do I have prediabetes? Take the risk test from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Leftover Halloween candy. Marathon Thanksgiving meals. Up-for-grabs office chocolates. One holiday party followed by another…and another. Whether you want to avoid gaining extra pounds or need to control your blood sugar (for example, if you have diabetes) the holiday season can make that goal challenging. But mindful eating might help you reach it. Read More…
Source: health.harvard.edu
Snack foods you munch on between meals can run the gamut from sugary “empty” calories to worthwhile mini-meals, depending on what you buy at the supermarket. Frequent, mindless snacking on high-calorie foods can lead to weight gain; but if you make smarter choices at the grocery store, keep portions small and know when to stop, snacks can certainly have a place in a healthful diet. Read More…
Source: berkelywellness.com
Each year since 2004, the Surgeon General has declared Thanksgiving to be National Family History Day. Over the holiday or at other times when families gather, the Surgeon General encourages Americans to talk about, and to write down, the health problems that seem to run in their family. Learning about their family's health history may help ensure a longer, healthier future together. Read More…
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Read suggestions on how to plan and conduct conversations with your family members to gather more details about their health histories.
Talking to your health care provider about your family health history can help you stay healthy! Create a Family Health History here.
Source: surgeongeneral.gov
Eating out? Healthy Italian entrees include red sauces, primavera (no cream), piccata (lemon), sun-dried or crushed tomatoes.
6 things to avoid to maintain high energy: dehydration, darkness, high-fat foods, inconsistent sleep, TV, and pessimism.
Source: BCBSTX
Spaghetti squash is a low-carb alternative to the traditional rice noodles in Pad Thai. One cup of cooked spaghetti squash contains just 10 grams of total carbohydrate, compared to 42 grams for the rice noodles! Read More…
Source: Diabetes.org
This recipe proves you can have a delicious sweet potato side dish at Thanksgiving without overloading on sugar and calories. Read More…
Source: washingtonpost.com
It's time to enroll in your benefits! Now through Nov. 11, visit mybmcbenefits.com to learn what’s changing, then head over to mybmcrewards.com to review your current coverage and see if it still meets your needs and budget.
BMC will offer the same medical, dental, and vision options for 2017. Medical and dental copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums will also stay the same. While there are just a few changes to your BMC benefits for next year, we continue to focus on providing quality health care and tools that encourage healthy behaviors and wise use of health care resources.
BMC provides three comprehensive medical and prescription drug plan choices with free preventive care for you and your eligible dependents: the BCBSTX PPO and HSA plans and the Kaiser HMO (available only in California). If you are in the PPO Plan, this would be a good year to consider moving to the HSA Plan. The 2017 paycheck costs for the HSA Plan will continue to be about one-third the cost of the PPO Plan. Check out MythSmashers to see how we smash all the myths about the HSA that might be keeping you in the PPO. Or see how the plans compare in a real-life situation.
Don't Forget
Remember to review who you have listed as your beneficiaries for any insurance coverage you have elected.
If You Don’t Enroll by November 11
BMC offers great benefits and we want you get the most from them. That starts with helping you better understand your coverage. With that goal in sight, we’ve launched Benetube, a YouTube-like channel just for benefits. The Benetube videos feature BMC benefits experts and employees like you in starring roles. Benetube videos are packed with information that we hope you will find useful, entertaining, and informative.
More than 75 BMCers have qualified for Mission Superheroes. Another 600 have joined the mission and are earning valuable points that will be applied to their rewards count when they complete the online Well-Being Assessment and participate in a health screening.
If you haven’t joined, sign up today. You earn points by using your superpowers to participate in challenges. Once you earn 7,000 points and reach Level 4, Going Supersonic, you become eligible to win one of the 10 Great Escapes Prizes — five epic trips or five awe-inspiring experiences. Get the details here.
Join one of the eight, new challenges launching October 31, including:
Go to mybmcwellness.com today to join Mission Superheroes or sign up for a new challenge.
Unleash your inner superhero and get healthy at the same time!
Based on the popularity of the September Savings Hero Week workshops, Fidelity and BMC will host six financial webinars from November 14 to 18. The webinars will help you move toward financial wellness and learn how to become the hero of your financial future. To better accommodate work schedules, the webinars will start at 8 a.m. or 8 p.m., Eastern time. Watch your email for the schedule and sign up.
Halloween is here, which for most children means bags of free candy and easy access to all kinds of sweets. It’s also a pretty tempting holiday for adults. Here are five ways everyone can stay mouth-healthy during Halloween and every day. Read More…
Houston – The Dentist is In
Onsite Dental Solutions operates exclusively for employees (and family members) who work in the CityWest Place complex in Houston. The office is in Building 4, Suite 100, and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. Call 281-210-8607 for an appointment. Not only is the location convenient; Onsite Dental Solutions is an in-network dentist for the BMC Dental Plan.
Good to Know
The BMC Dental Plan covers three dental cleanings each calendar year at no cost to you—and no deductible.
“Well-being” is the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy. Participants in this webinar will learn the benefits and strategies for improved physical fitness, healthy nutrition, mindfulness, and managing stress. Join Magellan’s live interactive webinar “Well-being for a Healthier Body and Mind,” on Wednesday, November 9, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Central time. Register Now.
Useful Links
Read the 14 Easy Tips for a Healthy Mind & Body from mindbodygreen.com
Just in time for Halloween, Fidelity brings us frightful facts about savings, investing and confidence about your financial situation. Read More…
Having a “rainy day” fund (money to cover expenses for three to six months) is planning ahead for your financial future. Emergency savings are a buffer against unexpected financial shocks such as sickness, job loss or economic downturn. Watch this video to learn more.
Source: finra.org
Useful Links
Get help understanding investing and decoding complex issues. Check out The Alert Investor, a website sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
MyBMC Rewards provides a snapshot of your pay, retirement benefits, health and insurance benefits and corporate programs. Visit MyBMC Rewards to:
Go online anytime or call 877-262-4849. Representatives are available from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Eastern time.
From enrollment reminders to important 401(k) information and benefits updates, you can be the first to know when your attention or action is required.