EBS Christmas Newsletter 2014

EBS Helpline: 0800 268 3763 Email: ebs@crombie.co.nz www.ebs.org.nz

Christmas Newsletter 2014 Welcome to our Christmas newsletter, we hope that the end of the term is starting to wind down now and that you are looking forward to a long summer break!

Our union bargaining power enables us to offer you discounts and products not generally available to the public.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very happy and safe festive season!

Christmas hours:

Are you getting a piece of the pie?

EBS Standard Plan Enquiries: Office closes midday Dec 19 – Jan 12, 2015. If you would like payment before Xmas please post your claims into EBS now.

Every Year EBS pays out millions of dollars in claims to its members. So what sorts of claims are being made?

EBS Hospital & Risk Policies: The EBS Helpline will be unattended between Dec 23 – Jan 5, 2015, please call your EBS financial adviser or your insurance company directly during these dates for urgent assistance.

EBS Standard Plan Claims = $3.2m Nov 2013 - Oct 2014 2%

1% 1%

1%

0% Medical $1,775,105

3%

Complimentary $418,388

6%

Optical $360,349 Excess $255,576

8%

Hospital $190,118 Diagnostics $85,557

11%

55%

Bereavement $55,652 Birth $23,478

13%

Appliances $34,542 Orthodontic $45,740 Sick Leave $8,673

Strawberry Tree Using a polystyrene cone, poke in toothpicks allowing sufficient space for each strawberry. Dip the stem end of each strawberry (after stems have been removed) into melted chocolate and then place on toothpicks until you have covered the whole cone.

At the top of the tree you can attach a star shaped chocolate or biscuit using a toothpick or you can get creative making a couple of stars out of melted chocolate as in the attached picture.

What are people claiming for under medical?

This benefit can reimburse you 50% of the net cost of medical treatment resulting from visits to a registered medical practitioner, up to a maximum of $750 per calendar year. Such claims can include the following costs:  GP visits  Specialist visits  X-Rays  Prescriptions (maximum $10 per item applies)  Laboratory Fees (maximum $10 per item applies) What are people claiming for under complimentary?

This benefit can reimburse you 50% of the net cost of specified expenses up to a maximum of $375 per calendar year. Such claims can include the following costs:  Chiropractors  Physiotherapists  Osteopaths  Psychologists  Psychotherapists The above practitioners must be registered with the appropriate New Zealand Board If you are wondering whether you are eligible to make a claim under your Standard Plan, please contact the team at EBS on 0800 800 441 to find out more.

How can EBS help you and your family if you have serious Melanoma?

Having Fun in the Sun Many of us in NZ probably roll our eyes when told to cover up and stay out of the sun to avoid skin cancers, as life outdoors is part of our national psyche. Many of us may think ‘it won’t happen to us’. But taking some simple steps and knowing more about melanoma can save lives.

Other than staying out of the sun, what can you do?  Use sunscreen of at least SPF30  Cover up exposed skin during the heat of the day  Wear a wide brim hat  Wear sunglasses with highest UVA & UVB ratings What should you look for?



Use your EBS Standard Plan or EBS Hospital Plan to be seen and treated quickly by skin specialists and/or surgeons



Use your EBS trauma policy to receive a lump sum to help out with additional costs



Use your EBS Income or Mortgage Protection benefits to receive a replacement income if you are too sick to work for an extended period



If the worst happens, you can receive a lump sum to help your family survive financially via the EBS Life Insurance benefit

Please note that in order to be covered for melanoma under the above benefits; you must have taken out these policies prior to you being aware of any signs or symptoms of melanoma (apart from the Standard Plan) and your claim must meet the criteria of the policy wording.

To provide your family with choices if this was to became a reality for you or your loved ones, call EBS now on 0800 268 3763 to talk to an EBS financial adviser near you.

ABCDE’s Melanoma often (but not always) shows some of these features: A Asymmetrical B Irregular border C More than one colour D Diameter greater than 6mm E Evolving (elevating or changing) Not all melanomas fit these criteria. There are various types of melanoma. Nodular melanomas are a type that grow rapidly and need to be removed urgently. They are most often found on the head and neck and in older people, particularly men. They are raised, firm and often uniform in colour. Among those who develop melanoma, nodular melanomas occur more often in Māori and Pacific people compared with Asian people and New Zealand Europeans.

One type of melanoma tends to occur on the soles of the feet, palms of the hand and under the nails in those with darker skins.

Some melanomas are colourless.

Follow the "Ugly Duckling" Rule – if you notice a mole or skin lesion that looks out of place or feels different from the others, get some medical advice.

Making a difference in 2014 2014 has sped past and here we are at the end of the education year again. Often the days pass in a blur when we are focused of achieving our daily and weekly goals. Looking back we sometimes wonder ‘have we made a difference to those we teach?’ Without doubt you will have made a difference in their lives, but often you may not see the results or get the well-deserved thanks!

Mahatma Ghandi summed it up well “It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ― Mahatma Gandhi www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/make-a-difference We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work and dedication to the education sector this year!

http://www.melanoma.org.nz/About-Melanoma/EarlyDetection/

To find out more on any of the benefits available to you as a union member, please call the EBS Helpline on 0800 268 3763. You can also go check the website www.ebs.org.nz or email ebs@crombie.co.nz.

Disclaimer: The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are of a general nature and may not be relevant to your personal situation.