Having diabetes means you are more likely to develop heart disease and to have a higher chance of a heart attack or a stroke. The good news is that the steps you take to manage your diabetes also help to lower your chances of having either.
Take the 60-second Type 2 diabetes risk test. If you have prediabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends you join a CDC-registered diabetes prevention program. Learn more
Source: diabetes.org and cdc.gov
We all know that giving helps others, whether we volunteer for organizations, offer emotional support to those around us or donate to charities. But studies show that giving is also good for the giver – boosting physical and mental health. Read More
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org
While you cannot eat your way out of feeling depressed or anxious, a recent study suggests that eating a healthy, balanced diet such as the Mediterranean diet and avoiding inflammation-producing foods may be protective against depression. Read More
Source: health.harvard.edu
On Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m., we turned our clocks back one hour, marking the end of daylight savings time for most of us. It turns out daylight saving time shifts are linked to changes in our health, diet and may even make us more accident-prone. Here are some tips for adjusting.
Source: nbcnews.com
Don't let your health take a hit during November and December. Try to fit at least 30 minutes of exercise into your day to reduce stress and focus on what makes the holidays unique – connecting with family and friends. Split the 30 minutes of exercise into 10-minute blocks. For example, after you park, take a short walk before beginning your errand, job, or other activity.
Source: lifetimes.bcbstx.com
Are you just getting into exercise? Consider Barre fitness, ballet-inspired classes like Pure Barre, Bar Method, and Balletone. Barre classes are a popular workout trend that incorporates moves from ballet, Pilates, and yoga to upbeat music. According to Dr. M. Smith of WebMD, the classes will “improve your balance, build strength, make you more flexible, burn calories, and improve stability through a stronger core.” Read More
Source: webMD.com
If pumpkin pie is a must for the holidays, this version from Diabetic Living Magazine fulfills that holiday tradition without derailing your meal plan. Read More Source: eatingwell.com
Check out this heart-healthy version of an American holiday favorite. Read More Source: heart.org
It’s time to make your choices for the coming year. Annual Enrollment for benefits runs November 4 through 15, and it’s your chance to:
If you do not take action during Annual Enrollment, your medical, dental, vision, and other benefits will automatically roll over to 2020. However, if you want to participate in any of these plans for 2020, you must make an active election because your current elections for these plans will not carry forward:
Remember, if you are enrolled in the HSA medical plan option, you can’t contribute to a Health Care FSA. However, you can establish a Limited Use FSA for dental, vision, and other flexible spending eligible items not covered by insurance. And after you meet your plan deductible, you can use your Limited Use FSA balance for medical and prescription drug expenses. See the IRS 2020 contribution limits to these and other tax-savings accounts.
Read about changes to your benefits for 2020 before you enroll. You can enroll or make changes 24 hours a day from home or work with a computer, smartphone, or tablet! Visit mybmcrewards.com and click on the Annual Enrollment tile. You can also enroll by calling Your Benefits Resources at 1-877-262-4849 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., EST.
Stack Your Steps: More than 45 teams are stacking steps in the competition to win the 2019 Stack Your Steps Stairwell Challenge. Keep those lungs, legs, and heart going, teams. The Stack Your Steps Stairwell Challenge ends November 19. May the best stackers win!
BMC Volunteers: November and December offer several opportunities to volunteer in your community. Get involved and make the holidays a little bit brighter. You’ll earn 30 points for each month you track volunteer data on the BMC Cares volunteer tracking page.
Prevent It: You’ll earn 100 points for getting a preventive exam, like a flu shot or an annual wellness check. A total of 600 points are up for grabs when you get various types of preventive exams.
Show Time: Planning to see a symphony performance or take your family to a museum during the holidays? You'll earn 150 points for each "show" you see, up to a maximum of 450 points.
Get more information about the bWell Builds program and challenges.
According to the CDC, last year’s flu season turned out to be the longest in a decade for the United States -- 21 weeks. The CDC recommends that everyone six months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season, especially people at high risk.
Flu shots are 100% covered under all BMC medical plans. Getting a flu shot at your local in-network retail clinic or pharmacy is convenient and will cost less than going to your doctor. Confirm that the retail clinic or pharmacy is in-network before you go. BCBSTX members visiting a pharmacy for the flu shot will need to present your Express Scripts pharmacy card. Kaiser members will need to present your Kaiser ID card at the pharmacy.
If you decide to get your flu shot at your doctor's office, BCBSTX members will need to present your BCBSTX medical card. Kaiser members will need to present your Kaiser ID card. You might be asked to present a photo ID along with your medical or pharmacy card.
BCBSTX participants: If you are hit by the flu this season, MDLIVE can help. MDLIVE provides a doctor’s care from anywhere. For $44, a doctor will contact you within minutes (via phone or video), diagnose and, if medically necessary, prescribe medication available at your pharmacy of choice. You can use MDLIVE for cold and flu, allergies, and more. You must register with MDLIVE before your first consultation.
Useful Links
What you should know for the 2019-2020 Influenza Season from the CDC.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has partnered with Sanitas USA to open ten advanced primary care medical centers in Dallas and Houston combined. The centers will expand access to affordable health care options for BCBSTX members and their families.
The centers will serve as a convenient, one-stop-shop for everyday health care needs. Features and services include:
Some medical centers are open now, with the official opening scheduled for January 1, 2020. Check here for Sanitas Care Centers near you.
While caring for a family member with a disability or chronic disease can be rewarding, it can also be quite demanding. Caregivers sometimes spend so much time and energy helping others that they neglect their own physical and emotional health. Neglecting themselves can lead to caregiver burnout—characterized by physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. That’s why it's vital for caregivers to prioritize self-care, and to reach out for the help they may need.
Join Magellan’s live interactive webinar Caregiver Endurance Guide: Caring for Yourself and Your Aging Loved One on Wednesday, Nov.13, at 1 p.m., CST. Learning objectives include:
Space is limited, so register now.
It’s vital for caregivers to prioritize self-care, and to reach out for the help they may need.
Working on Wellness
If you’re a caregiver, recognize that you cannot take care of others unless you take care of yourself too. Here are some tips for maintaining your energy and enthusiasm.
Daily Diligence
Many adults face the challenge of coordinating care for elderly relatives who are geographically distant. Know that you can provide valuable help even when not nearby.
Getting Help
Source: magellanascend.com
Student loans, credit-card balances, car loans, and mortgages—oh, my. You probably have a variety of debt—most people do. So, which should you focus on paying off first? And how can you save at the same time?
Get answers to these questions and more. Join a Fidelity expert for a virtual workshop, Create a Budget, Ditch Your Debt, and Start Building for the Future, on Thursday, November 14, at 11 a.m., CST. Watch your email for details on how to register.
And while you’re building your financial well-being, collect a few bWell Builds bricks. Everyone who registers and attends the workshop will earn 150 bWell points and qualify for a chance to win Google Home Hub.*
* The Internal Revenue Code considers the value of this gift as taxable income. bWell points will be awarded automatically within 30 days of the event.
Extreme saving, frugal living, and smart investing is the focus of a growing movement that will allow people to stop working and put up their feet decades before their peers. It’s called FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), and the movement claims that people do not need a six-figure salary to get there. Financial independence, to many of these individuals, is the ability to leave a stressful job for a less lucrative one, even if it means making a few sacrifices along the way. Read More
When are you most likely to do a reality check on your overall financial health? Is it when your investments are doing well? Or is it when the markets are down, and you're nervous? Chances are it is the latter, which may not be the best time to make investment decisions, especially if emotions are high. That's why taking the time to do an annual review of your investments and other financial matters makes sense. Read More
Source: fidelity.com
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.
The content on this site includes links to tools and information that are not the property of BMC Software, and BMC Software is not responsible for their accuracy, completeness or continued availability. Some of the material contained in this site is based on official plan documents. It is not, nor is it intended to be, the legal plan document or a contract between the company and any employee or contractor. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this material. In the unlikely event that there is a discrepancy between the site and the official plan documents, the official plan documents will control. BMC Software reserves the right to amend or terminate the plan(s) or program(s) at any time. If you believe the benefits do not describe those available to you, contact the Benefits Center at 877-BMC-4849.
Copyright © BMC Software. All Rights Reserved
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