HEALTH ALLIANCE 301 S VINE ST URBANA IL 61801-3347
PRESORT STD US POSTAGE PAID CHAMPAIGN, IL PERMIT NO 488
Health and wellness or prevention information
The Health Alliance Star VOLUME 9
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WINTER 2018
MIDWEST
Make Wellness Extra Rewarding in 2018 It’s important to know your overall health and to do what you can to prevent health scares or catch them early. That’s why we give you access to plenty of wellness perks to help you focus on your health and stay active.
Earn Money and Health Benefits with Wellness Rewards Wellness Rewards, our brand-new incentive program for 2018, allows you to earn a $50 gift card on your way to a healthy lifestyle. The program gives you points for completing certain wellness activities on our checklist, like a yearly visit to your primary care provider (PCP).
Some items are typically not done yearly, like breast cancer screenings and colorectal cancer screenings, but there are several other easy ways to earn your points.
The social activity can be a community event, social club, volunteer activity or another organized event with others, including a There are 100 total points available (possibly Rally®* group challenge. You also can take fewer depending on what’s appropriate for the health risk assessment online through your health situation), and you need to earn Rally or on paper by calling the Member 50 points to achieve your $50 gift card. The Services number on the back of your ID card. only required item is the PCP visit. You can choose which other items on the list you Cut out the list at the bottom of the back complete to reach your 50 points. page for a quick reminder of checklist items. You can find the detailed checklist All you need to do is track your activities on with full directions and address info at our checklist, earn your 50 points and send HealthAllianceMedicare.org/Perks or by us your completed checklist no later than calling the Member Services number on December 15, 2018. the back of your ID card. We may need to validate the submitted activities.
Be Fit in 2018 Don’t forget our Be Fit fitness benefit. Use it to get paid back up to $360 per year on gym membership or fitness class fees at the fitness center of your choice. Go to HealthAllianceMedicare.org/Perks or call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card to learn more and get the reimbursement form. You received one reimbursement form with your member materials.
Time to Rally Rally, our easy-to-use digital health tool, helps you reach your health goals with personalized missions, group challenges, support and rewards. You can get started at HealthAlliance.org/Rally and can download the Rally HealthSM app at the App Store® (iOS) or Google Play (Android ™). Go to RallyHealth.com/HealthAllianceMobile and register using the Rally mobile code HealthAlliance. If you’re already on Rally, just download the app and log in.
*If you don’t have internet access, health surveys, self-management tools and rewards are also available by mail or phone. To participate, call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card.
VOLUME 9
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WINTER 2018
Prevent Falls This Winter Falling can be scary and could lead to broken bones or other serious injuries, so you should always let your doctor know if you experience a fall. It’s important that you always talk to your doctor if you fall or have fallen in the past. Even if it’s only a minor fall, tell your doctor so he or she has a full picture of your health. This will help your doctor find potential reasons for your fall and will help him or her diagnose, treat and educate you to prevent future falls. You should also talk to your doctor about other steps you can take to help lower your fall risk. Exercises, like lifting weights and standing on one foot, can help you increase your strength and balance. And eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and taking your meds as directed can help you prevent dizzy spells. Plus, there are several small steps you can take to help make your home a fall-free zone. • Add handrails to staircases. • Remove clutter and electrical cords from places where you walk. • Make sure your home has proper lighting. • Use non-slip mats and handrails in bathtubs and showers. • Wear non-skid shoes. • Remove throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep them from slipping. Talk to your doctor if you think you have a condition that raises your risk of a fall and before starting a new exercise routine.
Ask about Time Frames when Getting Care When you have a medical test done, like an X-ray or blood test, be sure to find out what the next steps are before you leave. Ask what the normal time frame is for getting test results back and whether someone will call you with the results regardless of the outcome or only if there’s a problem. Knowing what to expect can help you avoid extra stress as you wait for your results.
If you need care unexpectedly but it’s not an emergency, call your doctor to see if you can get an appointment the same or next day. If not, there might be another provider in the office you can see instead. In most cases, it’s best to call your doctor first before going to an urgent care center because you’ll pay less out-of-pocket for a doctor’s office visit.
It’s also good to know how far in advance your doctor’s office prefers you to make appointments for routine care. That helps you get an appointment at a convenient time for you. Health Alliance Medicare is a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Health Alliance Medicare depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits and copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
Wellness Rewards Checklist Overview
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays Toll-free 1-877-750-3350, TTY 711 HealthAllianceMedicare.org
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PCP visit (must complete to receive $50 gift card) = 30 points Blood pressure reading from your most recent PCP visit = 5 points Body mass index from your most recent PCP visit = 5 points Breast cancer screening (based on recommended timelines) = 10 points Colorectal cancer screening (based on recommended timelines) = 20 points Eye exam = 10 points Flu shot = 5 points YourHealthAlliance.org account = 5 points (Call Member Services if you don’t have access to a computer.) Health risk assessment = 5 points Social activity = 5 points For info about what each item means, review the entire checklist at HealthAllianceMedicare. org/Perks or call the Member Services number on the back of your ID card.