Winter 2015 A publication for the policyholders of the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield family of companies
a
SHOW g
you can
see ,
a n d you et in for
F R EE!
Dr. Seuss is coming to the Children’s Theatre at the Arkansas Arts Center! Plan now to pick up your free tickets to a special showing of “The Cat in the Hat” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. Complimentary tickets will be available for pickup starting February 1 at any ArkansasBlue location (Little Rock, Hot Springs or Pine Bluff). Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to sponsor the arts in Arkansas!
MPI 3152 1/15
page
10
Oh the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind! – Dr. Seuss
Ways to pay your bill
Don’t drive distracted
Pharmacy changes
page
page
page
6
14
18
Thank you for choosing us 3
- Thank you for choosing us
4
- There’s still time to enroll
It’s now up to us to earn your trust and loyalty.
- Hold the phone
5
Vera Campbell and her family can look forward to a better future thanks to Arkansas’ private option — page 8
- Uninsured? Neep help? Visit a Goodwill store!
6
- Paying your bill just got easier!
7
- Don’t throw it away!
8
- Living Fearlessly: Moving on with life thanks to health insurance
10
- Exercising mind & body
12
- SilverSneakers: Fitness never looked more fun
14
- Distracted driving: Don’t text and drive
17
- Get social with us
18
- Formulary alternatives for 2015 exclusions
19
- Drug benefit plan tier changes
20
- Boo with Blue Halloween party draws 600
21
- 2015 Blue & You Fitness Challenge - Komen Race for the Cure 2014
22
- The Blue & You Foundation: By the numbers - Blue & You Foundation recognized by UAMS for contributions to medical education
23
- Pregnant women at higher risk of complications from the flu - Customer service numbers
24
- A show you can see, and you get in for free!
Winter 2015
EDITOR: Jennifer Gordon – bnyou-ed@arkbluecross.com • DESIGNER: Ryan Kravitz • PHOTOGRAPHER: Chip Bayer CONTRIBUTORS: Chip Bayer, Ben McVay and Alex Roberts VICE PRESIDENT of CORPORATE MARKETING: Karen Raley MANAGER of COMMUNICATIONS and eMARKETING: Kelly Whitehorn
on the cover BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Children at Chicot Primary in Little Rock take a much-needed GoNoodle break during class — page 10
The health insurance open enrollment period in 2013 was the first time Americans could sign up for health care coverage through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov). Ultimately we saw a dramatic increase in the number of Arkansans who have coverage, but we know it was a rocky start for everyone. People were trying to enroll, and were having difficulties accessing the healthcare.gov website. Many of our current members had questions. New enrollees wanted to be sure they had coverage. We pride ourselves on our quick response to sales and service calls, but last year was an extraordinary circumstance. It pains us that you needed us and at times there were delays, so we made some changes for the current enrollment season. Our goal is to provide you the very best in customer service, and due to the open enrollment not beginning in October (later than last year) but starting November 15 (per the federal government) this is another challenging open enrollment period. Not only did we increase the number of employees answering our customer service telephone lines, we streamlined our processes to get you enrolled quickly, get your ID card mailed to you and send you the information you need to get started using your health insurance. We also developed more options for you to be able to pay your bill. We are not through by any means, but we are working every day to meet your needs.
A more pleasant surprise after last year’s open enrollment period closed was finding out that Arkansas’ unique Medicaid expansion, called the private option, enrolled more than 211,000 Arkansans. In fact, Arkansas experienced the largest drop in uninsured citizens in the nation thanks to the private option. Hospitals in the state have reported that their unreimbursed care costs have been significantly reduced now that many of their patients have health insurance. We talk to people every day whose lives have changed because they now have access to needed health care. People like Vera Campbell, one of our members on the private option, who we feature in this issue of Blue & You. Like so many Arkansans, Vera was working hard, but could not afford health care coverage. Her future, and her family’s future, is brighter because she now can get the medical care she needs. Regardless of your politics, we can all take pride that our state has been responsible for reducing the pain and suffering of so many of our fellow Arkansans. And, your neighbors at Arkansas Blue Cross are committed to making sure you receive the highest quality health care coverage with the best experience possible.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
Thank you for choosing us 3
- Thank you for choosing us
4
- There’s still time to enroll
It’s now up to us to earn your trust and loyalty.
- Hold the phone
5
Vera Campbell and her family can look forward to a better future thanks to Arkansas’ private option — page 8
- Uninsured? Neep help? Visit a Goodwill store!
6
- Paying your bill just got easier!
7
- Don’t throw it away!
8
- Living Fearlessly: Moving on with life thanks to health insurance
10
- Exercising mind & body
12
- SilverSneakers: Fitness never looked more fun
14
- Distracted driving: Don’t text and drive
17
- Get social with us
18
- Formulary alternatives for 2015 exclusions
19
- Drug benefit plan tier changes
20
- Boo with Blue Halloween party draws 600
21
- 2015 Blue & You Fitness Challenge - Komen Race for the Cure 2014
22
- The Blue & You Foundation: By the numbers - Blue & You Foundation recognized by UAMS for contributions to medical education
23
- Pregnant women at higher risk of complications from the flu - Customer service numbers
24
- A show you can see, and you get in for free!
Winter 2015
EDITOR: Jennifer Gordon – bnyou-ed@arkbluecross.com • DESIGNER: Ryan Kravitz • PHOTOGRAPHER: Chip Bayer CONTRIBUTORS: Chip Bayer, Ben McVay and Alex Roberts VICE PRESIDENT of CORPORATE MARKETING: Karen Raley MANAGER of COMMUNICATIONS and eMARKETING: Kelly Whitehorn
on the cover BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Children at Chicot Primary in Little Rock take a much-needed GoNoodle break during class — page 10
The health insurance open enrollment period in 2013 was the first time Americans could sign up for health care coverage through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov). Ultimately we saw a dramatic increase in the number of Arkansans who have coverage, but we know it was a rocky start for everyone. People were trying to enroll, and were having difficulties accessing the healthcare.gov website. Many of our current members had questions. New enrollees wanted to be sure they had coverage. We pride ourselves on our quick response to sales and service calls, but last year was an extraordinary circumstance. It pains us that you needed us and at times there were delays, so we made some changes for the current enrollment season. Our goal is to provide you the very best in customer service, and due to the open enrollment not beginning in October (later than last year) but starting November 15 (per the federal government) this is another challenging open enrollment period. Not only did we increase the number of employees answering our customer service telephone lines, we streamlined our processes to get you enrolled quickly, get your ID card mailed to you and send you the information you need to get started using your health insurance. We also developed more options for you to be able to pay your bill. We are not through by any means, but we are working every day to meet your needs.
A more pleasant surprise after last year’s open enrollment period closed was finding out that Arkansas’ unique Medicaid expansion, called the private option, enrolled more than 211,000 Arkansans. In fact, Arkansas experienced the largest drop in uninsured citizens in the nation thanks to the private option. Hospitals in the state have reported that their unreimbursed care costs have been significantly reduced now that many of their patients have health insurance. We talk to people every day whose lives have changed because they now have access to needed health care. People like Vera Campbell, one of our members on the private option, who we feature in this issue of Blue & You. Like so many Arkansans, Vera was working hard, but could not afford health care coverage. Her future, and her family’s future, is brighter because she now can get the medical care she needs. Regardless of your politics, we can all take pride that our state has been responsible for reducing the pain and suffering of so many of our fellow Arkansans. And, your neighbors at Arkansas Blue Cross are committed to making sure you receive the highest quality health care coverage with the best experience possible.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
There’s
Uninsured? Need help? Visit a Goodwill store!
stil time TO ENROLL!
f you are considering an individual health plan — on or off the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) — Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has several options from which to choose. But don’t delay — you only have until February 15 to apply! If you are under 65 and not eligible for Medicare, you still have time to sign up for health insurance on the Marketplace, where you may qualify for financial assistance. If you have friends or family who may qualify, let them know that Arkansas Blue Cross is ready to help them enroll. We also have affordable options for people shopping off the Marketplace. Call an agent or call us at 1-800-310-3778, or go to our website, arkansasbluecross.com, to find out more about the health plans available. You
can use the “Do I Qualify for Financial Assistance” online tool to find out if you could receive financial help on your health insurance premium. You can even visit one of nine Goodwill Industries of Arkansas® stores to visit with an Arkansas Blue Cross representative (see page 5). If you have an individual or family plan purchased before April 2010, it is a grandfathered plan, which is exempt from many health care law regulations. You already should have renewed your grandfathered plan before December 31 in order to keep it. If you have a Medicare plan or an employer-purchased health plan, your health insurance needs should be covered. Whether you are already enrolled in a plan or are still looking, you can put your trust in Arkansas Blue Cross to provide you with the best possible coverage and service.
HOLD THE
PHONE! David Bridges, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Arkansas Blue Cross, answers calls from our members.
4
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
During open enrollment, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and our family of companies sometimes experience surges in the number of telephone calls we receive. In anticipation, this year we developed a strategy that allows our Customer Service representatives
in other lines of business, their supervisors, and even our executive management to take incoming calls at peak call times. If you call with a question about your coverage, don’t be surprised if you get to talk to David Bridges, (pictured) our executive vice president and chief administrative officer, or one of many others in management. Because at Arkansas Blue Cross, we recognize that we all work in customer service.
If you have a friend or family member who is uninsured and think they may qualify for no-cost or low-cost health insurance, help is around the corner. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield representatives will be at nine Goodwill Industries of Arkansas stores to provide assistance enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov). You can shop for bargains and health insurance at the same time! Certified insurance agents are manning Arkansas Blue Cross enrollment stations in these Goodwill retail stores. They can walk eligible Arkansans through the enrollment Agents will be at the nine Goodwill locations an average of 20 hours a week through February 15, 2015. Go online to arkansasbluecross.com for current hours of operation or to find out more information. Goodwill locations hosting Arkansas Blue Cross enrollment stations are:
®
process, answer questions and help them select a health plan. “Arkansans without insurance ® face barriers in accessing quality health care and necessary medications,” said Karen Raley, vice president of Corporate Marketing for Arkansas Blue Cross. “We were thrilled last year to team up with Goodwill Industries of Arkansas to give Arkansans a place to go to apply for health care coverage, and we are pleased to offer the same opportunity this year.”
Cabot Fayetteville
204 S. Rockwood Dr.
Jonesboro Little Rock Newport N. Little Rock Paragould Pine Bluff
1515 S. Caraway Rd.
3105 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. / 705 E. Appleby Rd.
109 Markham Park Dr. 2500 Malcolm Ave. 6929 JFK Blvd. 2808 W. Kingshighway 2707 E. Harding Ave.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
5
There’s
Uninsured? Need help? Visit a Goodwill store!
stil time TO ENROLL!
f you are considering an individual health plan — on or off the federal Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) — Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has several options from which to choose. But don’t delay — you only have until February 15 to apply! If you are under 65 and not eligible for Medicare, you still have time to sign up for health insurance on the Marketplace, where you may qualify for financial assistance. If you have friends or family who may qualify, let them know that Arkansas Blue Cross is ready to help them enroll. We also have affordable options for people shopping off the Marketplace. Call an agent or call us at 1-800-310-3778, or go to our website, arkansasbluecross.com, to find out more about the health plans available. You
can use the “Do I Qualify for Financial Assistance” online tool to find out if you could receive financial help on your health insurance premium. You can even visit one of nine Goodwill Industries of Arkansas® stores to visit with an Arkansas Blue Cross representative (see page 5). If you have an individual or family plan purchased before April 2010, it is a grandfathered plan, which is exempt from many health care law regulations. You already should have renewed your grandfathered plan before December 31 in order to keep it. If you have a Medicare plan or an employer-purchased health plan, your health insurance needs should be covered. Whether you are already enrolled in a plan or are still looking, you can put your trust in Arkansas Blue Cross to provide you with the best possible coverage and service.
HOLD THE
PHONE! David Bridges, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Arkansas Blue Cross, answers calls from our members.
4
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
During open enrollment, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and our family of companies sometimes experience surges in the number of telephone calls we receive. In anticipation, this year we developed a strategy that allows our Customer Service representatives
in other lines of business, their supervisors, and even our executive management to take incoming calls at peak call times. If you call with a question about your coverage, don’t be surprised if you get to talk to David Bridges, (pictured) our executive vice president and chief administrative officer, or one of many others in management. Because at Arkansas Blue Cross, we recognize that we all work in customer service.
If you have a friend or family member who is uninsured and think they may qualify for no-cost or low-cost health insurance, help is around the corner. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield representatives will be at nine Goodwill Industries of Arkansas stores to provide assistance enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov). You can shop for bargains and health insurance at the same time! Certified insurance agents are manning Arkansas Blue Cross enrollment stations in these Goodwill retail stores. They can walk eligible Arkansans through the enrollment Agents will be at the nine Goodwill locations an average of 20 hours a week through February 15, 2015. Go online to arkansasbluecross.com for current hours of operation or to find out more information. Goodwill locations hosting Arkansas Blue Cross enrollment stations are:
®
process, answer questions and help them select a health plan. “Arkansans without insurance ® face barriers in accessing quality health care and necessary medications,” said Karen Raley, vice president of Corporate Marketing for Arkansas Blue Cross. “We were thrilled last year to team up with Goodwill Industries of Arkansas to give Arkansans a place to go to apply for health care coverage, and we are pleased to offer the same opportunity this year.”
Cabot Fayetteville
204 S. Rockwood Dr.
Jonesboro Little Rock Newport N. Little Rock Paragould Pine Bluff
1515 S. Caraway Rd.
3105 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. / 705 E. Appleby Rd.
109 Markham Park Dr. 2500 Malcolm Ave. 6929 JFK Blvd. 2808 W. Kingshighway 2707 E. Harding Ave.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
5
Paying your bill just got
easier!
If you have an individual or family health plan that you purchased directly from us or with help from an agent, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers several convenient ways to pay your bill, and recently added two new ways — online or mobile and by phone.
IN PERSON
You can visit any Arkansas Blue Cross office, ArkansasBlue retail store, or go to any of the more than 250 MoneyGram** locations in the state.
Arkansas Blue Cross Offices and ArkansasBlue locations
ONLINE or MOBILE
BY PHONE
BANK DRAFT
Go online to arkansasbluecross.com/ paybill to make a payment 24/7. You can pay online using a credit card, debit card or check. You will need your member ID number from your invoice.*
Call 1-800-354-9904 to pay your bill using a credit card, debit card or check. You will need your member ID number from your invoice.*
Go to our website or call us for a form to set up a monthly automatic bank draft. It’s the easiest way to pay!*
If you have questions, visit our website arkansasbluecross.com.
6
* Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan product members must call Customer Service (see page 23) to discuss available payment options. Health Advantage conversion plans are not eligible for online, mobile or pay-by-phone payment options.
Please bring a check or money order and your invoice to pay your bill. Cash is not accepted. We have locations throughout the state. See page 23 for addresses and contact information.
MoneyGram
You’ll need your invoice and you may pay by cash or debit card with a PIN. No transaction fee applies. Call 1-800-666-3947 or visit moneygram.com to find a location.
Don’t throw it away! When you get your member ID card from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield or one of our family of companies, it may come with additional information printed on the same page or in a letter. If it does, don’t throw it away!
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
BY MAIL For members with metallic medical plans (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Catastrophic), send a check or money order (no cash) to: Enterprise Exchange Services P.O. Box 34320 • Little Rock, AR 72203-4320 For all other members (including dental and non-metallic medical plans), send a check or money order (no cash) to: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Attn: Cashiers P.O. Box 3590 • Little Rock, AR 72203-4320 **MoneyGram is an independent company that provides health insurance payment services for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield customers.
If information is included, it will tell you about your deductible, copayments and a bit about your benefits. It’s all good information to know and keep handy. If that information isn’t with your card, it will come in your new member
Welcome Kit. And, as always, if you don’t know something about your benefits and can’t find your information, just call our customer service representatives. We love to hear from you!
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
7
Paying your bill just got
easier!
If you have an individual or family health plan that you purchased directly from us or with help from an agent, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers several convenient ways to pay your bill, and recently added two new ways — online or mobile and by phone.
IN PERSON
You can visit any Arkansas Blue Cross office, ArkansasBlue retail store, or go to any of the more than 250 MoneyGram** locations in the state.
Arkansas Blue Cross Offices and ArkansasBlue locations
ONLINE or MOBILE
BY PHONE
BANK DRAFT
Go online to arkansasbluecross.com/ paybill to make a payment 24/7. You can pay online using a credit card, debit card or check. You will need your member ID number from your invoice.*
Call 1-800-354-9904 to pay your bill using a credit card, debit card or check. You will need your member ID number from your invoice.*
Go to our website or call us for a form to set up a monthly automatic bank draft. It’s the easiest way to pay!*
If you have questions, visit our website arkansasbluecross.com.
6
* Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan product members must call Customer Service (see page 23) to discuss available payment options. Health Advantage conversion plans are not eligible for online, mobile or pay-by-phone payment options.
Please bring a check or money order and your invoice to pay your bill. Cash is not accepted. We have locations throughout the state. See page 23 for addresses and contact information.
MoneyGram
You’ll need your invoice and you may pay by cash or debit card with a PIN. No transaction fee applies. Call 1-800-666-3947 or visit moneygram.com to find a location.
Don’t throw it away! When you get your member ID card from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield or one of our family of companies, it may come with additional information printed on the same page or in a letter. If it does, don’t throw it away!
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
BY MAIL For members with metallic medical plans (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Catastrophic), send a check or money order (no cash) to: Enterprise Exchange Services P.O. Box 34320 • Little Rock, AR 72203-4320 For all other members (including dental and non-metallic medical plans), send a check or money order (no cash) to: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Attn: Cashiers P.O. Box 3590 • Little Rock, AR 72203-4320 **MoneyGram is an independent company that provides health insurance payment services for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield customers.
If information is included, it will tell you about your deductible, copayments and a bit about your benefits. It’s all good information to know and keep handy. If that information isn’t with your card, it will come in your new member
Welcome Kit. And, as always, if you don’t know something about your benefits and can’t find your information, just call our customer service representatives. We love to hear from you!
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
7
When Vera received Arkansas Blue Cross health care coverage through the private option in January 2014, she said she didn’t understand that the cost of her doctor appointments and medications would be covered. And, like many working moms, she kept putting off taking care of herself. It wasn’t until Vera was critically ill that she realized she had to make changes in her life.
Moving on with life thanks to health insurance s Vera Campbell and her family enjoyed an autumn afternoon at the small fishing pond near her home, she remembered a similar outing this past summer that led to some big changes in her life — some frightening and some positive. The positive changes happened when nurse case managers from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield worked with Vera and others in the medical community to get her the medical care she needed through her insurance coverage under Arkansas’ private option. The frightening changes happened a few weeks before that. Vera had just returned home to Pine Bluff from visiting Texas in June when she and her fiancé, Cosie Robinson III, took their seven-year-old son AJ down to
8
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
the fishing pond. Vera wasn’t feeling well and struggled to breathe on the short walk from the car to the edge of the pond. She thought she would feel better once she rested, but she just couldn’t catch her breath. Thinking she was having an asthma attack, Cosie rushed her to the emergency room at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Laboratory tests showed that Vera’s kidneys were failing — a result of uncontrolled diabetes. Cosie said that looking at her later that night, covered in tubes and surrounded by monitors, he thought he and AJ might lose her forever. How had Vera ended up in such a critical situation? “She was one of the many working Arkansans who fell through the cracks,” said Vickie
Montgomery, a nurse case manager for Arkansas Blue Cross and the one to visit Vera a few days into her hospital stay. Looking back, Vera said the problems started a few years earlier when she was laid off from a full-time job. Back then she was managing her diabetes, but when she went to pick up her prescriptions soon after, the bill was $167, which was most of what she was receiving in unemployment. Knowing she needed to feed and care for her son, she didn’t get her medications that day. Later she was able to find parttime work, but she no longer had health care coverage and couldn’t afford her medications. All the while, diabetes was destroying her kidneys.
Vickie said that when she walked into Vera’s hospital room that day, she could see how sad and overwhelmed the young mother was with her life. Vera’s kidneys were only working at about 10 percent, and her hemoglobin A1C, the test that shows how her body is handling diabetes, came back above 14 (a normal reading is around 5). Vickie said Vera was still in the mindset that she couldn’t afford the medical care she was receiving, so she made sure she understood the situation. “That was then and this is now,” Vickie told Vera. “You have access to medicines now and you have to do this for your little boy. I’m here to help you with that.” She shared with Vera all the resources available to her and how Arkansas Blue Cross nurse case managers could help, but Vera was very quiet. Vickie told her she would come back in a few days to see if she had questions. Two days later, Vickie walked in to see Vera ready for her with a notepad full of questions. “That’s what really impressed me about her,” Vickie said, remembering how Vera
Vickie Montgomery (left) and Sonya Peterson, nurse case managers for Arkansas Blue Cross, have become close with Vera and her family.
Having health care coverage has helped me move forward and have a better quality of life. –Vera Campbell
Vera Campbell
decided she was determined to help herself get better. The two visited often when Vera was in the hospital, getting her set up with a primary care provider and diabetic supplies delivered to her home. When Vera was discharged from the hospital, the whole family came to the ArkansasBlue health insurance retail store in Pine Bluff where Vickie works so she could go over the instructions from the doctors. Because Vickie was training to become a supervisor, Vera met once a week with another nurse case manager, Sonya Peterson. Through Sonya, Vera learned that if she could get her diabetes under control, she could use an insulin pump. She had already received approval for in-home dialysis earlier. Those changes will lead to an even bigger goal — going back to college. Vera had previously put her education on hold, and only had two more classes to go at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to receive a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. “Having health care coverage has helped me move forward and have a better quality of life,” Vera said recently. “When you have your medicines, you can keep going.” She said she believes that having health insurance through Arkansas’ private option will lead to her finishing her degree and getting a full-time job where she once again has health care coverage through an employer. And that means a better life for her entire family.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
9
When Vera received Arkansas Blue Cross health care coverage through the private option in January 2014, she said she didn’t understand that the cost of her doctor appointments and medications would be covered. And, like many working moms, she kept putting off taking care of herself. It wasn’t until Vera was critically ill that she realized she had to make changes in her life.
Moving on with life thanks to health insurance s Vera Campbell and her family enjoyed an autumn afternoon at the small fishing pond near her home, she remembered a similar outing this past summer that led to some big changes in her life — some frightening and some positive. The positive changes happened when nurse case managers from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield worked with Vera and others in the medical community to get her the medical care she needed through her insurance coverage under Arkansas’ private option. The frightening changes happened a few weeks before that. Vera had just returned home to Pine Bluff from visiting Texas in June when she and her fiancé, Cosie Robinson III, took their seven-year-old son AJ down to
8
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
the fishing pond. Vera wasn’t feeling well and struggled to breathe on the short walk from the car to the edge of the pond. She thought she would feel better once she rested, but she just couldn’t catch her breath. Thinking she was having an asthma attack, Cosie rushed her to the emergency room at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Laboratory tests showed that Vera’s kidneys were failing — a result of uncontrolled diabetes. Cosie said that looking at her later that night, covered in tubes and surrounded by monitors, he thought he and AJ might lose her forever. How had Vera ended up in such a critical situation? “She was one of the many working Arkansans who fell through the cracks,” said Vickie
Montgomery, a nurse case manager for Arkansas Blue Cross and the one to visit Vera a few days into her hospital stay. Looking back, Vera said the problems started a few years earlier when she was laid off from a full-time job. Back then she was managing her diabetes, but when she went to pick up her prescriptions soon after, the bill was $167, which was most of what she was receiving in unemployment. Knowing she needed to feed and care for her son, she didn’t get her medications that day. Later she was able to find parttime work, but she no longer had health care coverage and couldn’t afford her medications. All the while, diabetes was destroying her kidneys.
Vickie said that when she walked into Vera’s hospital room that day, she could see how sad and overwhelmed the young mother was with her life. Vera’s kidneys were only working at about 10 percent, and her hemoglobin A1C, the test that shows how her body is handling diabetes, came back above 14 (a normal reading is around 5). Vickie said Vera was still in the mindset that she couldn’t afford the medical care she was receiving, so she made sure she understood the situation. “That was then and this is now,” Vickie told Vera. “You have access to medicines now and you have to do this for your little boy. I’m here to help you with that.” She shared with Vera all the resources available to her and how Arkansas Blue Cross nurse case managers could help, but Vera was very quiet. Vickie told her she would come back in a few days to see if she had questions. Two days later, Vickie walked in to see Vera ready for her with a notepad full of questions. “That’s what really impressed me about her,” Vickie said, remembering how Vera
Vickie Montgomery (left) and Sonya Peterson, nurse case managers for Arkansas Blue Cross, have become close with Vera and her family.
Having health care coverage has helped me move forward and have a better quality of life. –Vera Campbell
Vera Campbell
decided she was determined to help herself get better. The two visited often when Vera was in the hospital, getting her set up with a primary care provider and diabetic supplies delivered to her home. When Vera was discharged from the hospital, the whole family came to the ArkansasBlue health insurance retail store in Pine Bluff where Vickie works so she could go over the instructions from the doctors. Because Vickie was training to become a supervisor, Vera met once a week with another nurse case manager, Sonya Peterson. Through Sonya, Vera learned that if she could get her diabetes under control, she could use an insulin pump. She had already received approval for in-home dialysis earlier. Those changes will lead to an even bigger goal — going back to college. Vera had previously put her education on hold, and only had two more classes to go at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to receive a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. “Having health care coverage has helped me move forward and have a better quality of life,” Vera said recently. “When you have your medicines, you can keep going.” She said she believes that having health insurance through Arkansas’ private option will lead to her finishing her degree and getting a full-time job where she once again has health care coverage through an employer. And that means a better life for her entire family.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
9
EXERCISING MIND & BODY
A new program in Arkansas schools encourages healthy living
The kids bend and flex into dozens of spelling words until they’ve exhausted the list — and themselves. It’s more than just a spelling exercise — it’s exercise. The five minutes of fast and furious bursts of movement help the students expend their pent up energy.
Statewide phenomena GoNoodle describes itself as “brain breaks” for the classroom. The physical activity program was developed using research showing that short bursts of physical activity positively impact academic achievement, cognitive skills and behavior as well as overall health. Activity breaks include math, spelling, science and geography, applying action-based learning principles to improve fluency and recall.
T
he students in Tera Phillips’ first grade class find their square on a multi-colored rug in the front. It’s 8:20 a.m. and the kids are already restless and fidgety, waiting on their first brain break of the day. They don’t know the jumping, stretching and thinking they are about to enjoy is sponsored by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital; they just know it’s fun. With a click of a mouse, an interactive physical activity break is beamed to the front of the classroom. The first graders are instantly focused — it’s GoNoodle time. The first activity is Bodyspell. A robot spells out a word and the students move their bodies to create the shape of each letter in a word.
C-L-A-P.
Teachers use GoNoodle in between lessons as short, snappy educational transitions combined with much-needed classroom calisthenics. Arkansas Children’s Hospital began working with HealthTeacher, Inc., the developers of GoNoodle, in 2008, to begin a new initiative within the state’s schools with a two-pronged approach to improving the health of children, according to Fidel Samour, director of child advocacy and public health at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 1) Increase physical activity among school-aged children 2) Teach healthy-living tools and values that students can take home
WHAT THE KIDS HAD
TO SAY
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
“You can get muscles.” – Denilson
“It gets out all my energy.” – Derrick
Thirty-five Arkansas school districts took part in a successful pilot of HealthTeacher, a web-based health education curriculum, in 2009, and began using GoNoodle in 2013. After that, Arkansas Children’s Hospital wanted to see GoNoodle reach more Arkansas children, and looked for some financial help to make that happen. That’s when the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas stepped in. The Foundation is funded by Arkansas Blue Cross to promote better health in Arkansas. In 2014, the Foundation agreed to co-sponsor GoNoodle with Arkansas Children’s Hospital in every elementary school in the state. And based on good results in 2014, the Foundation will fund GoNoodle again in 2015.
“I like to jump.” – Angalic
“GoNoodle lets me shake and dance.” – Bren “I’m learning to move.” – Eber
engaged for about 20 minutes, then we have to do something to get them moving around.” “GoNoodle is a great resource for us to use in the classroom and my students have made more progress because of it,” Tera Phillips said. “GoNoodle allows us to get the energy out before we move on to the next lesson. If I don’t let them move around, my lesson falls apart.” Mainstream science supports what these teachers already know. In 2013, the Institute of Medicine’s report, “Educating the Student Body,” stated: “Students should engage in additional vigorous or moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the school day through recess, dedicated classroom physical activity time, and other opportunities.”
In the first nine months of 2014, Natural State elementary students logged 15,618,764 total minutes of exercise with GoNoodle. That’s 30 years worth of exercise minutes from the state’s kids.
GoNoodle is doing this and more in Arkansas classrooms across the state, thanks to the vision of Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the investment from the Blue & You Foundation. Arkansas teachers can learn more by calling 501-364-9916 or emailing naturalwonders@archildrens.org.
BOUNDLESS ENERGY “Children that age have a very short attention span and benefit from getting wiggle opportunities,” said Sherry Chamber, principal at Chicot Primary School in Little Rock. “We can have a class
GoNoodle 4,728 110,702 93,482
IN ARKANSAS A LOOK AT ONE MONTH*
10
“I like the songs and the characters.” – Amira
CLASSES
STUDENTS
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BREAKS
numbers from October 2014
*
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
7 11
EXERCISING MIND & BODY
A new program in Arkansas schools encourages healthy living
The kids bend and flex into dozens of spelling words until they’ve exhausted the list — and themselves. It’s more than just a spelling exercise — it’s exercise. The five minutes of fast and furious bursts of movement help the students expend their pent up energy.
Statewide phenomena GoNoodle describes itself as “brain breaks” for the classroom. The physical activity program was developed using research showing that short bursts of physical activity positively impact academic achievement, cognitive skills and behavior as well as overall health. Activity breaks include math, spelling, science and geography, applying action-based learning principles to improve fluency and recall.
T
he students in Tera Phillips’ first grade class find their square on a multi-colored rug in the front. It’s 8:20 a.m. and the kids are already restless and fidgety, waiting on their first brain break of the day. They don’t know the jumping, stretching and thinking they are about to enjoy is sponsored by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital; they just know it’s fun. With a click of a mouse, an interactive physical activity break is beamed to the front of the classroom. The first graders are instantly focused — it’s GoNoodle time. The first activity is Bodyspell. A robot spells out a word and the students move their bodies to create the shape of each letter in a word.
C-L-A-P.
Teachers use GoNoodle in between lessons as short, snappy educational transitions combined with much-needed classroom calisthenics. Arkansas Children’s Hospital began working with HealthTeacher, Inc., the developers of GoNoodle, in 2008, to begin a new initiative within the state’s schools with a two-pronged approach to improving the health of children, according to Fidel Samour, director of child advocacy and public health at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 1) Increase physical activity among school-aged children 2) Teach healthy-living tools and values that students can take home
WHAT THE KIDS HAD
TO SAY
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
“You can get muscles.” – Denilson
“It gets out all my energy.” – Derrick
Thirty-five Arkansas school districts took part in a successful pilot of HealthTeacher, a web-based health education curriculum, in 2009, and began using GoNoodle in 2013. After that, Arkansas Children’s Hospital wanted to see GoNoodle reach more Arkansas children, and looked for some financial help to make that happen. That’s when the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas stepped in. The Foundation is funded by Arkansas Blue Cross to promote better health in Arkansas. In 2014, the Foundation agreed to co-sponsor GoNoodle with Arkansas Children’s Hospital in every elementary school in the state. And based on good results in 2014, the Foundation will fund GoNoodle again in 2015.
“I like to jump.” – Angalic
“GoNoodle lets me shake and dance.” – Bren “I’m learning to move.” – Eber
engaged for about 20 minutes, then we have to do something to get them moving around.” “GoNoodle is a great resource for us to use in the classroom and my students have made more progress because of it,” Tera Phillips said. “GoNoodle allows us to get the energy out before we move on to the next lesson. If I don’t let them move around, my lesson falls apart.” Mainstream science supports what these teachers already know. In 2013, the Institute of Medicine’s report, “Educating the Student Body,” stated: “Students should engage in additional vigorous or moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the school day through recess, dedicated classroom physical activity time, and other opportunities.”
In the first nine months of 2014, Natural State elementary students logged 15,618,764 total minutes of exercise with GoNoodle. That’s 30 years worth of exercise minutes from the state’s kids.
GoNoodle is doing this and more in Arkansas classrooms across the state, thanks to the vision of Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the investment from the Blue & You Foundation. Arkansas teachers can learn more by calling 501-364-9916 or emailing naturalwonders@archildrens.org.
BOUNDLESS ENERGY “Children that age have a very short attention span and benefit from getting wiggle opportunities,” said Sherry Chamber, principal at Chicot Primary School in Little Rock. “We can have a class
GoNoodle 4,728 110,702 93,482
IN ARKANSAS A LOOK AT ONE MONTH*
10
“I like the songs and the characters.” – Amira
CLASSES
STUDENTS
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BREAKS
numbers from October 2014
*
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
7 11
I would probably be in a wheelchair without SilverSneakers –Lavinda Counce
Lavinda Counce
“I wish for nothing more than for everyone to be as active, energetic and sweet as Lavinda,” Fowler said. “But I also want people to see the difference that exercise and the SilverSneakers group have made in her life.” Nearly eight years ago, Lavinda fell on a staircase and broke her leg. Instead of moping in misfortune, she committed herself to a full recovery. One year later, Lavinda was in Fowler’s SilverSneakers classes.
Fitness Never Looked
MORE FUN
ucked away in the back of a Jonesboro wellness center is a small rectangular workout room with floor-to-ceiling mirrors lining the walls. It’s here you’ll find 90-year-old Lavinda Counce — every Monday, Wednesday and Friday — working out with 20 or 30 of her SilverSneakers® Fitness Program classmates. On Wednesday, September 10, though, class was a little different. The NEA Baptist Clinic Wellness Center was filled with friends, family and classmates, all there to celebrate Lavinda being awarded the state’s 2014 Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award. Kara Fowler, fitness coordinator and senior advisor at the wellness center, described Lavinda as an inspiration and a model SilverSneakers student.
12
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
“She has more strength, energy and spunk than many of the 65-year-old rookies in my class,” Fowler said of the 90-year old. Lavinda’s near-perfect attendance and enthusiasm for exercise were both factors in her Swanson award. But it’s not perfect attendance or awards that motivate her. It’s all about how she feels at the end of the day. “I would probably be in a wheelchair without SilverSneakers,” said Lavinda. “At home, you
THE
DREAM
don’t get as much exercise. Here, I get to be with friends. I get exercise. It’s a great place.” On that particular warm afternoon, Lavinda and her classmates smile, chitchat and enjoy lunch together. When the remarks are read, the final piece of celebratory cake finished and family and friends all depart, the NEA Baptist SilverSneakers class folds up the excess chairs, puts away leftover food and turns on some tunes. Time for 45-minutes of SilverSneakers exercise. It is a Wednesday, after all.
TEAM
For more information on SilverSneakers, call 1-888-423-4632, or visit silversneakers.com.
The NEA Baptist Clinic Wellness Center in Jonesboro is getting used to the flashbulbs of the paparazzi. Lavinda is the state’s second consecutive Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award winner from that class of 20-30 people. Last year, Betty Foster was crowned the winner. Talk about a Dream Team!
SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc. The SilverSneakers® Fitness Program is provided by Healthways, Inc., an independent company that operates separately from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
13
I would probably be in a wheelchair without SilverSneakers –Lavinda Counce
Lavinda Counce
“I wish for nothing more than for everyone to be as active, energetic and sweet as Lavinda,” Fowler said. “But I also want people to see the difference that exercise and the SilverSneakers group have made in her life.” Nearly eight years ago, Lavinda fell on a staircase and broke her leg. Instead of moping in misfortune, she committed herself to a full recovery. One year later, Lavinda was in Fowler’s SilverSneakers classes.
Fitness Never Looked
MORE FUN
ucked away in the back of a Jonesboro wellness center is a small rectangular workout room with floor-to-ceiling mirrors lining the walls. It’s here you’ll find 90-year-old Lavinda Counce — every Monday, Wednesday and Friday — working out with 20 or 30 of her SilverSneakers® Fitness Program classmates. On Wednesday, September 10, though, class was a little different. The NEA Baptist Clinic Wellness Center was filled with friends, family and classmates, all there to celebrate Lavinda being awarded the state’s 2014 Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award. Kara Fowler, fitness coordinator and senior advisor at the wellness center, described Lavinda as an inspiration and a model SilverSneakers student.
12
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
“She has more strength, energy and spunk than many of the 65-year-old rookies in my class,” Fowler said of the 90-year old. Lavinda’s near-perfect attendance and enthusiasm for exercise were both factors in her Swanson award. But it’s not perfect attendance or awards that motivate her. It’s all about how she feels at the end of the day. “I would probably be in a wheelchair without SilverSneakers,” said Lavinda. “At home, you
THE
DREAM
don’t get as much exercise. Here, I get to be with friends. I get exercise. It’s a great place.” On that particular warm afternoon, Lavinda and her classmates smile, chitchat and enjoy lunch together. When the remarks are read, the final piece of celebratory cake finished and family and friends all depart, the NEA Baptist SilverSneakers class folds up the excess chairs, puts away leftover food and turns on some tunes. Time for 45-minutes of SilverSneakers exercise. It is a Wednesday, after all.
TEAM
For more information on SilverSneakers, call 1-888-423-4632, or visit silversneakers.com.
The NEA Baptist Clinic Wellness Center in Jonesboro is getting used to the flashbulbs of the paparazzi. Lavinda is the state’s second consecutive Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award winner from that class of 20-30 people. Last year, Betty Foster was crowned the winner. Talk about a Dream Team!
SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc. The SilverSneakers® Fitness Program is provided by Healthways, Inc., an independent company that operates separately from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
13
THE MOST DANGEROUS DISTRACTION Texting is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel because it involves all three types of distractions simultaneously. Your attention is turned to communicating, your eyes are focused on a small screen, and your hand(s) are off the wheel. Engaging in this kind of visualmanual subtask increases your risk of getting into a crash by three times!*
THE TRUTH ABOUT CELL PHONES AND DRIVING
DON’T BE A DANGER ON THE ROAD!
People talking on cell phones or sending text messages cause more than one out of every four accidents.**
If you haven’t made a resolution for 2015, consider this one:
“I will not be distracted while driving.” In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting data on distraction-affected crashes. The following year, more than 400,000 people were injured and 33,500 were killed because of a distracted driver. At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we want you to be safe, for your own health and the health of others.
WHAT is distracted driving?
According to the CDC, distracted driving is a global public health problem.
Distracted driving is simple. If you’re not 100 percent focused on driving, you’re distracted. There are three types of distractions:
COGNITIVE VISUAL MANUAL 14
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
These distractions take your mind off the task of driving, like talking to a passenger or someone on a cell phone (even hands-free phones are problematic). These distractions take your eyes off the road, like Christmas lights, children in the back seat, watching a video or reading a map. These distractions take your hands off the wheel, like eating, grooming, digging through a purse or adjusting the radio.
Brain activity associated with driving is reduced by 37 percent when using a cell phone.*** Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field, blindfolded.**
LAWS IN ARKANSAS Besides accidents, distracted driving can have other expensive consequences. In the state of Arkansas, any driver can be pulled over for texting, as well as any driver age 18-20 that’s seen using a handheld device. Further, if a driver under age 18 is pulled over for speeding or another violation and is found to be using a cell phone, he or she can receive a ticket for that as well. It’s just not worth it!
WHAT YOU CAN DO Pledge to not drive distracted. Turn your cell phone off when you turn the ignition on, let your passengers do some of the work so you’re not multi-tasking, and save the serious conversations for later. Removing distractions will allow you to prioritize safety. Speak up! At any given daylight moment, more than 660,000 drivers are using a hand-held device.** If you’re in the car with one of these people, gently remind him or her of the dangers of being distracted. It could save a life. Be a good example. Sixteen percent of all distracted driving crashes are caused by drivers under age 20.** These inexperienced drivers are most at risk and can benefit from watching seasoned drivers treat driving as the serious responsibility it is. For more information, visit distraction.gov, the official U.S. government website for distracted driving.
SOURCES *Virginia Tech Transportation Institute **National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ***Carnegie Mellon University
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
15
THE MOST DANGEROUS DISTRACTION Texting is one of the most dangerous things you can do behind the wheel because it involves all three types of distractions simultaneously. Your attention is turned to communicating, your eyes are focused on a small screen, and your hand(s) are off the wheel. Engaging in this kind of visualmanual subtask increases your risk of getting into a crash by three times!*
THE TRUTH ABOUT CELL PHONES AND DRIVING
DON’T BE A DANGER ON THE ROAD!
People talking on cell phones or sending text messages cause more than one out of every four accidents.**
If you haven’t made a resolution for 2015, consider this one:
“I will not be distracted while driving.” In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting data on distraction-affected crashes. The following year, more than 400,000 people were injured and 33,500 were killed because of a distracted driver. At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we want you to be safe, for your own health and the health of others.
WHAT is distracted driving?
According to the CDC, distracted driving is a global public health problem.
Distracted driving is simple. If you’re not 100 percent focused on driving, you’re distracted. There are three types of distractions:
COGNITIVE VISUAL MANUAL 14
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
These distractions take your mind off the task of driving, like talking to a passenger or someone on a cell phone (even hands-free phones are problematic). These distractions take your eyes off the road, like Christmas lights, children in the back seat, watching a video or reading a map. These distractions take your hands off the wheel, like eating, grooming, digging through a purse or adjusting the radio.
Brain activity associated with driving is reduced by 37 percent when using a cell phone.*** Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field, blindfolded.**
LAWS IN ARKANSAS Besides accidents, distracted driving can have other expensive consequences. In the state of Arkansas, any driver can be pulled over for texting, as well as any driver age 18-20 that’s seen using a handheld device. Further, if a driver under age 18 is pulled over for speeding or another violation and is found to be using a cell phone, he or she can receive a ticket for that as well. It’s just not worth it!
WHAT YOU CAN DO Pledge to not drive distracted. Turn your cell phone off when you turn the ignition on, let your passengers do some of the work so you’re not multi-tasking, and save the serious conversations for later. Removing distractions will allow you to prioritize safety. Speak up! At any given daylight moment, more than 660,000 drivers are using a hand-held device.** If you’re in the car with one of these people, gently remind him or her of the dangers of being distracted. It could save a life. Be a good example. Sixteen percent of all distracted driving crashes are caused by drivers under age 20.** These inexperienced drivers are most at risk and can benefit from watching seasoned drivers treat driving as the serious responsibility it is. For more information, visit distraction.gov, the official U.S. government website for distracted driving.
SOURCES *Virginia Tech Transportation Institute **National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ***Carnegie Mellon University
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
15
Get social The holidays have come and gone … the extra pounds have come and not gone … and it’s cold and dreary outside. If you are hungry for comfort food but don’t want to ruin your resolution to eat
healthier, this zesty chicken chili recipe from the crew at the Green Leaf Grill is great for watching a football game on a lazy Sunday or for coming home to after a long, cold day at work.
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 4-6 hours Yield: Serves 6 Ingredients: • 1 16-ounce can black beans, drained • 1 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained • 2 garlic cloves, minced
with us!
If you’d like to know more about upcoming events we sponsor in the community, fitness-related information, or even some motherly advice, be sure to like our Facebook pages and follow us on Twitter! Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has three profiles in social media: as Arkansas Blue Cross, The Blue & You Fitness Challenge and Mother Hood.
The Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Facebook page is a community page where we share and interact with our friends, employees and members. When you like us, you can be one of the first to know about upcoming events, like kids’ parties at the Museum of Discovery, or free tickets to shows at the Arkansas Arts Center. To find us on Facebook search for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and follow @ArkBlueCross on Twitter.
• 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 jalapeno pepper, minced • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
Chicken Taco Chili Directions: 1. Combine all ingredients but the chicken and cilantro in the slow cooker (crock pot). Stir until combined. Place uncooked chicken on top of the mixture and cover. Cook on low for six hours or on high for four hours, stirring occasionally.
• 10-ounce package (1 1/4 cups) frozen corn kernels • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
2. Thirty minutes before serving, pull chicken breasts apart with two forks. Stir and continue cooking. Top with fresh cilantro or any other desired toppings. Serving size 1 1/2 cups.
• 1 tablespoon cumin • 1 tablespoon chili powder • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, uncooked • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Nutrition Facts: – 297 calories
– 22.7 g. protein
– 1.7 g. fat
– 15.6 g. fiber
– 8.7 g. sugar
– 1,314 mg. sodium
Optional toppings: Additional cilantro, shredded cheese, chopped scallions, red onion, fat-free sour cream or Greek yogurt.
– 0.2 g. saturated fat – 50.5 g. carbohydrate The Green Leaf Grill is a restaurant located on the first floor of the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield building at Sixth and Gaines in downtown Little Rock. It is a full-service restaurant and open for breakfast and lunch to the general public.
16
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Mother Hood Is our “neighborhood” where you can connect with other moms, share your favorite “play date” locations or even brag ALL YOU WANT on your little one. On Facebook and Twitter, you’ll find useful articles, helpful tips, and even information about consignment sales or stroller-friendly walks. Search for Mother Hood on Facebook and @TheMother_Hood on Twitter.
If you are a fan of fitness, the Blue & You Fitness Challenge starts in March (see article on page 21) and will keep you active all year long. Just search Blue & You Fitness Challenge on Facebook and follow @BYChallengeAR on Twitter.
Whatever social media you use, feel free to send us questions and comments. We love to hear from you!
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
17
Get social The holidays have come and gone … the extra pounds have come and not gone … and it’s cold and dreary outside. If you are hungry for comfort food but don’t want to ruin your resolution to eat
healthier, this zesty chicken chili recipe from the crew at the Green Leaf Grill is great for watching a football game on a lazy Sunday or for coming home to after a long, cold day at work.
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 4-6 hours Yield: Serves 6 Ingredients: • 1 16-ounce can black beans, drained • 1 16-ounce can kidney beans, drained • 2 garlic cloves, minced
with us!
If you’d like to know more about upcoming events we sponsor in the community, fitness-related information, or even some motherly advice, be sure to like our Facebook pages and follow us on Twitter! Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has three profiles in social media: as Arkansas Blue Cross, The Blue & You Fitness Challenge and Mother Hood.
The Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Facebook page is a community page where we share and interact with our friends, employees and members. When you like us, you can be one of the first to know about upcoming events, like kids’ parties at the Museum of Discovery, or free tickets to shows at the Arkansas Arts Center. To find us on Facebook search for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and follow @ArkBlueCross on Twitter.
• 1 medium onion, chopped • 1 jalapeno pepper, minced • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
Chicken Taco Chili Directions: 1. Combine all ingredients but the chicken and cilantro in the slow cooker (crock pot). Stir until combined. Place uncooked chicken on top of the mixture and cover. Cook on low for six hours or on high for four hours, stirring occasionally.
• 10-ounce package (1 1/4 cups) frozen corn kernels • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce • 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
2. Thirty minutes before serving, pull chicken breasts apart with two forks. Stir and continue cooking. Top with fresh cilantro or any other desired toppings. Serving size 1 1/2 cups.
• 1 tablespoon cumin • 1 tablespoon chili powder • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, uncooked • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Nutrition Facts: – 297 calories
– 22.7 g. protein
– 1.7 g. fat
– 15.6 g. fiber
– 8.7 g. sugar
– 1,314 mg. sodium
Optional toppings: Additional cilantro, shredded cheese, chopped scallions, red onion, fat-free sour cream or Greek yogurt.
– 0.2 g. saturated fat – 50.5 g. carbohydrate The Green Leaf Grill is a restaurant located on the first floor of the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield building at Sixth and Gaines in downtown Little Rock. It is a full-service restaurant and open for breakfast and lunch to the general public.
16
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Mother Hood Is our “neighborhood” where you can connect with other moms, share your favorite “play date” locations or even brag ALL YOU WANT on your little one. On Facebook and Twitter, you’ll find useful articles, helpful tips, and even information about consignment sales or stroller-friendly walks. Search for Mother Hood on Facebook and @TheMother_Hood on Twitter.
If you are a fan of fitness, the Blue & You Fitness Challenge starts in March (see article on page 21) and will keep you active all year long. Just search Blue & You Fitness Challenge on Facebook and follow @BYChallengeAR on Twitter.
Whatever social media you use, feel free to send us questions and comments. We love to hear from you!
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
17
Medication Options
*
FOR 2015
FOR OUR STANDARD AND
VALUE FORMULARIES
KEY Non-covered Medication – Use • Similar, covered medications Humalog/Humulin (insulin) – Diabetes • Novolog/Novolin
Each year Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield reviews our drug benefit plans and makes changes. As of January 1, the non-covered medicines below are only available at full price. If one or more of your medications is listed, the good news is that there are other, lower-cost choices available. Talk to your doctor about getting new prescriptions for covered generic or preferred brand options.
Our job at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is to make certain you get safe and effective medicine at the lowest possible cost. This year we have included more generics and preferred medications to our benefit plans’ drug lists. Because of this, we ask some members to consider these medications to help keep their costs low. Starting January 1, the following medicines will cost more at the pharmacy, but because there now are lower-cost options available:
• Enjuvia — Hormone replacement • Combipatch — Hormone replacement • Cenestin — Hormone replacement • Zovirax cream — Topical antiviral If you take one of these medications, we encourage you and your doctor to consider changing to a preferred or generic medicine. Several other medications have become preferred medications and will be available at a lower copayment:
• Crestor – cholesterol • Dexilant – Acid reflux • Lyrica – Nerve pain
• Focalin XR – ADHD • Synthroid – Thyroid
• Celebrex – NSAID • Chantix – Smoking cessation
*These changes do not impact Medicare Part D prescription, Metallic plans or plans that use a different pharmacy vendor.
Qnasl (beclomethasone) and Veramyst (fluticasone) – Nasal steroid for allergies • Flunisolide, fluticasone, triamcinolone, Nasonex
Apidra Solostar (insulin glulisine – rapid acting insulin) – Diabetes • Novolog (insulin aspart – rapid acting insulin)
Androgel and Testim (testosterone) – Testosterone replacement • Androderm, Axiron, Fortesta
Byetta (exenatide) – Diabetes • Bydureon (exenatide) • Different formulation of exenatide
Livalo (pitavastain) – Cholesterol • Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, Crestor, Simcor, Vytorin
Onglyza (saxagliptin) and Kombiglyze (metformin/saxagliptin) – Diabetes • Januvia (sitagliptin), Tradjenta (linagliptin) • Janumet or Janumet XR (metformin/sitagliptin) • Jentadueto (metformin/linagliptin)
Lumigan (bimatoprost) – Glaucoma • Latanoprost, travoprost, Travatan Z, Zioptan Prevacid SoluTab (lansoprazole) – Acid reflux • Nexium, Dexilant, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole
Jalyn (dutasteride/tamsulosin) – BPH • Finasteride or Avodart (dutasteride) with tamsulosin, alfuzosin, doxazosin, terazosin, or Rapaflo
Asacol (mesalamine) – Inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis • Balsalazide, sulfasalazine, Apriso, Lialda, Pentasa
Ventolin HFA (albuterol ) and Xopenex HFA (levalbuterol) – Rescue inhaler for asthma • ProAir
Adderall XR (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine salts XR) – ADHD • Generic available
Alvesco (ciclesonide) – Inhaled steroid for asthma • Asmanex, Flovent, Pulmicort Flexhaler, Qvar
Rebif (interferon Beta-1a) – Multiple sclerosis • Avonex, Copaxone, Extavia, Gilenya, Tecfidera
Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) – Combination steroid and long acting beta agonist for asthma • Advair, Dulera
18
Drug Benefit Plan Tier Changes*
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
If you have questions or need additional information, please call 1-800-863-5561.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
19
Medication Options
*
FOR 2015
FOR OUR STANDARD AND
VALUE FORMULARIES
KEY Non-covered Medication – Use • Similar, covered medications Humalog/Humulin (insulin) – Diabetes • Novolog/Novolin
Each year Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield reviews our drug benefit plans and makes changes. As of January 1, the non-covered medicines below are only available at full price. If one or more of your medications is listed, the good news is that there are other, lower-cost choices available. Talk to your doctor about getting new prescriptions for covered generic or preferred brand options.
Our job at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is to make certain you get safe and effective medicine at the lowest possible cost. This year we have included more generics and preferred medications to our benefit plans’ drug lists. Because of this, we ask some members to consider these medications to help keep their costs low. Starting January 1, the following medicines will cost more at the pharmacy, but because there now are lower-cost options available:
• Enjuvia — Hormone replacement • Combipatch — Hormone replacement • Cenestin — Hormone replacement • Zovirax cream — Topical antiviral If you take one of these medications, we encourage you and your doctor to consider changing to a preferred or generic medicine. Several other medications have become preferred medications and will be available at a lower copayment:
• Crestor – cholesterol • Dexilant – Acid reflux • Lyrica – Nerve pain
• Focalin XR – ADHD • Synthroid – Thyroid
• Celebrex – NSAID • Chantix – Smoking cessation
*These changes do not impact Medicare Part D prescription, Metallic plans or plans that use a different pharmacy vendor.
Qnasl (beclomethasone) and Veramyst (fluticasone) – Nasal steroid for allergies • Flunisolide, fluticasone, triamcinolone, Nasonex
Apidra Solostar (insulin glulisine – rapid acting insulin) – Diabetes • Novolog (insulin aspart – rapid acting insulin)
Androgel and Testim (testosterone) – Testosterone replacement • Androderm, Axiron, Fortesta
Byetta (exenatide) – Diabetes • Bydureon (exenatide) • Different formulation of exenatide
Livalo (pitavastain) – Cholesterol • Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, Crestor, Simcor, Vytorin
Onglyza (saxagliptin) and Kombiglyze (metformin/saxagliptin) – Diabetes • Januvia (sitagliptin), Tradjenta (linagliptin) • Janumet or Janumet XR (metformin/sitagliptin) • Jentadueto (metformin/linagliptin)
Lumigan (bimatoprost) – Glaucoma • Latanoprost, travoprost, Travatan Z, Zioptan Prevacid SoluTab (lansoprazole) – Acid reflux • Nexium, Dexilant, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole
Jalyn (dutasteride/tamsulosin) – BPH • Finasteride or Avodart (dutasteride) with tamsulosin, alfuzosin, doxazosin, terazosin, or Rapaflo
Asacol (mesalamine) – Inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis • Balsalazide, sulfasalazine, Apriso, Lialda, Pentasa
Ventolin HFA (albuterol ) and Xopenex HFA (levalbuterol) – Rescue inhaler for asthma • ProAir
Adderall XR (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine salts XR) – ADHD • Generic available
Alvesco (ciclesonide) – Inhaled steroid for asthma • Asmanex, Flovent, Pulmicort Flexhaler, Qvar
Rebif (interferon Beta-1a) – Multiple sclerosis • Avonex, Copaxone, Extavia, Gilenya, Tecfidera
Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) – Combination steroid and long acting beta agonist for asthma • Advair, Dulera
18
Drug Benefit Plan Tier Changes*
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
If you have questions or need additional information, please call 1-800-863-5561.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
19
NEWS
2015 Blue & You Fitness Challenge Resolving to get fit? Then register for the Blue & You Fitness Challenge! Individual registration began January 2. It’s the perfect time to make a commitment!
Boo with Blue Halloween party draws 600 Halloween got an early start in 2014 as more than 600 parents and children joined Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield at the “Boo with Blue” Halloween party at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, October 10.
The Challenge is an annual three-month physical activity contest designed to encourage healthy living by exercising 30 minutes each day, most days of the week. The Challenge kicks off March 1, 2015, which gives you time to register. To get more information, visit blueandyoufitnesschallenge-ark.com.
The museum was filled with ghosts, goblins and vampires as well as cheerleaders and princesses. Many of the costumed families took part in the costume parade and were judged by Arkansas Blue Cross volunteers. Prizes were awarded for the best costumes in six different categories. Partygoers also enjoyed a dance party, trick-ortreating, crafts and a ‘scary’ movie.
THINK
PINK!
The event was free to Arkansas Blue Cross members and nonmembers could pick up free tickets at any of our ArkansasBlue retail store locations. Watch Blue & You magazine, our websites and Facebook for information on upcoming events.
20 18
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Arkansas Blue Cross took part in “The Happiest 5K on the Planet!” by sponsoring the blue color zone at The Color Run Little Rock held in the River Market on November 8. More than 5,000 fearless race participants were sprayed with our favorite color…blue. Arkansas Blue Cross also hosted a booth in the Finish Festival and gave runners shoelaces and water.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud each year to turn from blue to pink in honor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Not only are we the largest corporate team at the race in Little Rock, but we hand out thousands of gifts to the participants and provide water along the way. We also celebrate our employees who are survivors. It’s our way of “living fearlessly” as we support the search for a cure to breast cancer.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
21
NEWS
2015 Blue & You Fitness Challenge Resolving to get fit? Then register for the Blue & You Fitness Challenge! Individual registration began January 2. It’s the perfect time to make a commitment!
Boo with Blue Halloween party draws 600 Halloween got an early start in 2014 as more than 600 parents and children joined Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield at the “Boo with Blue” Halloween party at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, October 10.
The Challenge is an annual three-month physical activity contest designed to encourage healthy living by exercising 30 minutes each day, most days of the week. The Challenge kicks off March 1, 2015, which gives you time to register. To get more information, visit blueandyoufitnesschallenge-ark.com.
The museum was filled with ghosts, goblins and vampires as well as cheerleaders and princesses. Many of the costumed families took part in the costume parade and were judged by Arkansas Blue Cross volunteers. Prizes were awarded for the best costumes in six different categories. Partygoers also enjoyed a dance party, trick-ortreating, crafts and a ‘scary’ movie.
THINK
PINK!
The event was free to Arkansas Blue Cross members and nonmembers could pick up free tickets at any of our ArkansasBlue retail store locations. Watch Blue & You magazine, our websites and Facebook for information on upcoming events.
20 18
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Arkansas Blue Cross took part in “The Happiest 5K on the Planet!” by sponsoring the blue color zone at The Color Run Little Rock held in the River Market on November 8. More than 5,000 fearless race participants were sprayed with our favorite color…blue. Arkansas Blue Cross also hosted a booth in the Finish Festival and gave runners shoelaces and water.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud each year to turn from blue to pink in honor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Not only are we the largest corporate team at the race in Little Rock, but we hand out thousands of gifts to the participants and provide water along the way. We also celebrate our employees who are survivors. It’s our way of “living fearlessly” as we support the search for a cure to breast cancer.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
21
The Blue & You Foundation By the numb3rs
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is so committed to the health of all Arkansans that we created a foundation to focus on our mission to help Arkansans be healthier.
Here is an overview of the Foundation, by the numbers: 2001 – Year established
The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas makes grants to nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and public schools and churches to help support health-improvement programs in Arkansas. The Foundation has created a perpetual source of funding that is not subject to the ups and downs of the enterprise’s financial results and external environmental factors. This ensures a lasting commitment to the state and the health of its citizens.
501(c)(3) – The Foundation’s non-profit status $45 million – Amount invested by Arkansas Blue Cross in the Foundation 2 – Employees dedicated to the Foundation $56 million – Current assets in Foundation (grows through investment returns) 5% – Percentage of assets required by IRS to be distributed each year in grants $2 million – Average amount given in grants each year 13 – Years of grant making $22 million – Awarded in grants so far $5,000 to $150,000 – Size of individual grants made $1,000 – Mini grants available (Jan – March) 1,700 – Number of applications received (and read) 4 – Evaluators who read and score each application 7 – Board members who select the grant recipients 1 in 4 – Average number of grants funded 584 – Health-improvement projects funded (grants awarded) 91% – Arkansas counties that have received a grant (68 of 75) 122 – Number of cities in Arkansas that have received grants 202 – Applicants considered in latest cycle $2.6 million – Grant funding awarded in latest cycle 7/15/15 – Date when applications are due for next funding cycle
22
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Blue & You Foundation recognized by UAMS for contributions to medical education The Blue & You Foundation recently was inducted into the “Society of the Double Helix” by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The award, which mimics the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, recognizes individuals and organizations that have contributed $100,000 or more to UAMS. The funding goes toward UAMS’s mission to improve the health, health care and well-being of Arkansans and others in the region, nation and the world by educating current and future health professionals and the public. Patrick O’Sullivan, Executive Director Blue & You Foundation
Pregnant women at higher risk of complications from the flu If you are pregnant, you may be hesitant to get a flu shot, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk from the flu is much higher for you and your baby. Here’s why. A recent study from Stanford University found that while it was previously thought that a woman’s immune system weakened during pregnancy, exposure to the flu virus actually created a much stronger response than normal. And while that might sound good, these same immune cells create even more inflammation in the lungs, which makes it hard to breathe. Pregnant women are more likely to become very ill if they get the flu, which is why the traditional flu shot is recommended for pregnant women.
CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBERS May we help?
For customer service, please call:
TOLL FREE Number
Medi-Pak® members ® Medi-Pak Advantage members Medi-Pak® Rx members Arkansas Blue Cross members • Pharmacy questions • Specialty Rx pharmacy questions Arkansas Blue Cross Metallic members (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Catastrophic) • Pharmacy questions Health Advantage members • Pharmacy questions BlueAdvantage members • Pharmacy questions Federal Employee members
1-800-338-2312 1-877-233-7022 1-866-390-3369 1-800-238-8379 1-800-863-5561 1-866-295-2779 1-800-800-4298 1-800-969-3983 1-800-843-1329 1-800-863-5567 1-888-872-2531 1-888-293-3748 1-800-482-6655
Looking for health or dental insurance? We can help! For individuals, families For employer groups*
1-800-392-2583 1-800-421-1112
*Arkansas Blue Cross, Health Advantage and BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas
PAY YOUR
BILL
Prefer to speak with someone close to home? Call or visit one of our offices near you: • ArkansasBlue
— Little Rock 2612 S. Shackleford Rd., Suite J 1-501-378-2222
• Fayetteville
516 East Millsap Rd., Suite 103
1-800-817-7726
• Fort
Smith 3501 Old Greenwood Rd., Suite 5 1-866-254-9117
• ArkansasBlue
— Hot Springs 1635 Higdon Ferry Rd. – Suite J
• Jonesboro
707 East Matthews Ave.
• Little
Rock 601 S. Gaines Street
• ArkansasBlue
— Pine Bluff 509 Mallard Loop Drive
• Texarkana
1710 Arkansas Boulevard
1-800-588-5733 1-800-299-4124 1-800-421-1112 1-800-236-0369 1-800-470-9621
Visit our websites for more information:
arkansasbluecross.com • healthadvantage-hmo.com blueadvantagearkansas.com blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org
To pay by phone*, please call 1-800-354-9904 * Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan product members must call Customer Service to discuss available payment options. Health Advantage conversion plans are not eligible for online, mobile or pay-by-phone payment option.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
23
The Blue & You Foundation By the numb3rs
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is so committed to the health of all Arkansans that we created a foundation to focus on our mission to help Arkansans be healthier.
Here is an overview of the Foundation, by the numbers: 2001 – Year established
The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas makes grants to nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and public schools and churches to help support health-improvement programs in Arkansas. The Foundation has created a perpetual source of funding that is not subject to the ups and downs of the enterprise’s financial results and external environmental factors. This ensures a lasting commitment to the state and the health of its citizens.
501(c)(3) – The Foundation’s non-profit status $45 million – Amount invested by Arkansas Blue Cross in the Foundation 2 – Employees dedicated to the Foundation $56 million – Current assets in Foundation (grows through investment returns) 5% – Percentage of assets required by IRS to be distributed each year in grants $2 million – Average amount given in grants each year 13 – Years of grant making $22 million – Awarded in grants so far $5,000 to $150,000 – Size of individual grants made $1,000 – Mini grants available (Jan – March) 1,700 – Number of applications received (and read) 4 – Evaluators who read and score each application 7 – Board members who select the grant recipients 1 in 4 – Average number of grants funded 584 – Health-improvement projects funded (grants awarded) 91% – Arkansas counties that have received a grant (68 of 75) 122 – Number of cities in Arkansas that have received grants 202 – Applicants considered in latest cycle $2.6 million – Grant funding awarded in latest cycle 7/15/15 – Date when applications are due for next funding cycle
22
BLUE & YOU Winter 2015
Blue & You Foundation recognized by UAMS for contributions to medical education The Blue & You Foundation recently was inducted into the “Society of the Double Helix” by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The award, which mimics the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, recognizes individuals and organizations that have contributed $100,000 or more to UAMS. The funding goes toward UAMS’s mission to improve the health, health care and well-being of Arkansans and others in the region, nation and the world by educating current and future health professionals and the public. Patrick O’Sullivan, Executive Director Blue & You Foundation
Pregnant women at higher risk of complications from the flu If you are pregnant, you may be hesitant to get a flu shot, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk from the flu is much higher for you and your baby. Here’s why. A recent study from Stanford University found that while it was previously thought that a woman’s immune system weakened during pregnancy, exposure to the flu virus actually created a much stronger response than normal. And while that might sound good, these same immune cells create even more inflammation in the lungs, which makes it hard to breathe. Pregnant women are more likely to become very ill if they get the flu, which is why the traditional flu shot is recommended for pregnant women.
CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBERS May we help?
For customer service, please call:
TOLL FREE Number
Medi-Pak® members ® Medi-Pak Advantage members Medi-Pak® Rx members Arkansas Blue Cross members • Pharmacy questions • Specialty Rx pharmacy questions Arkansas Blue Cross Metallic members (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Catastrophic) • Pharmacy questions Health Advantage members • Pharmacy questions BlueAdvantage members • Pharmacy questions Federal Employee members
1-800-338-2312 1-877-233-7022 1-866-390-3369 1-800-238-8379 1-800-863-5561 1-866-295-2779 1-800-800-4298 1-800-969-3983 1-800-843-1329 1-800-863-5567 1-888-872-2531 1-888-293-3748 1-800-482-6655
Looking for health or dental insurance? We can help! For individuals, families For employer groups*
1-800-392-2583 1-800-421-1112
*Arkansas Blue Cross, Health Advantage and BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas
PAY YOUR
BILL
Prefer to speak with someone close to home? Call or visit one of our offices near you: • ArkansasBlue
— Little Rock 2612 S. Shackleford Rd., Suite J 1-501-378-2222
• Fayetteville
516 East Millsap Rd., Suite 103
1-800-817-7726
• Fort
Smith 3501 Old Greenwood Rd., Suite 5 1-866-254-9117
• ArkansasBlue
— Hot Springs 1635 Higdon Ferry Rd. – Suite J
• Jonesboro
707 East Matthews Ave.
• Little
Rock 601 S. Gaines Street
• ArkansasBlue
— Pine Bluff 509 Mallard Loop Drive
• Texarkana
1710 Arkansas Boulevard
1-800-588-5733 1-800-299-4124 1-800-421-1112 1-800-236-0369 1-800-470-9621
Visit our websites for more information:
arkansasbluecross.com • healthadvantage-hmo.com blueadvantagearkansas.com blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org
To pay by phone*, please call 1-800-354-9904 * Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan product members must call Customer Service to discuss available payment options. Health Advantage conversion plans are not eligible for online, mobile or pay-by-phone payment option.
Winter 2015 BLUE & YOU
23
Winter 2015 A publication for the policyholders of the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield family of companies
a
SHOW g
you can
see ,
a n d you et in for
F R EE!
Dr. Seuss is coming to the Children’s Theatre at the Arkansas Arts Center! Plan now to pick up your free tickets to a special showing of “The Cat in the Hat” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 9. Complimentary tickets will be available for pickup starting February 1 at any ArkansasBlue location (Little Rock, Hot Springs or Pine Bluff). Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to sponsor the arts in Arkansas!
MPI 3152 1/15
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Oh the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind! – Dr. Seuss
Ways to pay your bill
Don’t drive distracted
Pharmacy changes
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