EBS Newsletter Winter 2014

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

Winter Newsletter 2014 Welcome to our Winter newsletter, we hope that you are well and managing to dodge the bugs in the classroom!

Have a read through your newsletter below to make sure you know what you can access through your union and how to get the best out of the benefits you have.

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

Check out our website: http://ebs.org.nz/

Through your union membership you have access to the following EBS benefits: Standard Plan – A plan to assist with day to day medical costs such as; GP & prescription costs, physiotherapy, optical, birth benefits, orthodontic (children) and minor hospital expenses.

Hospital Plan – designed to protect you from those really big surgical costs when you undergo medically necessary procedures in a private hospital. You can also add an optional specialist & tests benefit.

A reminder from the team at EBS When you apply for an EBS Standard Plan, please remember to put your ‘MOE’ number on your application form.

You will find this number on your payslip or be able to obtain this from your school office staff.

Did you know?

Life Insurance – A lump sum or monthly income to assist your family following death Disability Insurance – A lump sum or monthly income to offset additional costs or cover lost income if you become serious ill or injured. This can include a combination of income/mortgage protection, total permanent disablement and trauma cover.

EBS Home Loans Solution – A debt management program to help you repay your home loan faster, saving thousands of dollars in interest.

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EBS Home Insurance - Preferential Rates for insuring your family’s; home, contents, cars and boats In order to access any of these great benefits, visit the EBS website http://www.ebs.org.nz for more information Alternatively phone 0800 268 3763 to ask questions or arrange an appointment with an EBS Financial Adviser near you.

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If you are thinking of retiring anytime soon you can still keep your Standard Plan as long as you become an honorary/affiliate member of your education union. The honorary/affiliate membership costs are low and enable you to keep this important benefit at a time in your life when you will probably use it most!

If you want to apply for the EBS Standard Plan or add family members to your existing plan the easiest way to do this is to apply online, don’t forget to note your EBS advisers name if you know this. http://www.ebsstandardplan.co.nz/ If you know how much life insurance you want and do not require any advice you can get a quick quote and apply online, visit the website http://www.ebsinsure.co.nz/

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

Boost your mood this winter Studies have shown increased depression, irritability, anxiety and tiredness in people with low selenium levels – so by just eating a few Brazil nuts a couple of times a week might help to improve your mood Eating a diet high in omega 3 will also keep your brain healthy and improve mood by keeping brain cells flexible, so the brain's messaging chemicals – neurotransmitters – can work more effectively.

Bananas contain the important amino acid tryptophan and also vitamins A, B6 and C, fibre, potassium, phosphorous, iron and carbohydrate. Mood-boosting carbohydrates aid in the absorption of tryptophan in the brain, and vitamin B6 helps convert the tryptophan into the mood-lifting hormone serotonin. This helps to boost your mood and also aids good sleep.

Eat chicken and turkey breast to increase your intake of the amino acid tryptophan.

The body uses tryptophan to make serotonin – one of the most important neurotransmitters affecting mood, as well as to make the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate sleep.

Important B vitamins to look out for include folate, vitamins B3, B6 and B12. Eating leafy green vegetables – such as spinach or broccoli, for example – will help keep your levels up.

Water - is extremely important for our bodies to function properly. It's not only our body that is affected by hydration but also our brain. So when dehydrated, it can affect our ability to concentrate.

The darker the chocolate you eat, the better. A small square of dark chocolate can cause the brain to release endorphins and boost serotonin levels.

For further information refer to the article ’11 Foods to Boost your Mood’ http://www.netdoctor.co.uk

Claiming made easier Suffering medical events can be a stressful time and we want to eliminate as much of the stress as possible by making the claims process simple!

In the first instance contact your EBS financial adviser - helping you with claims is a big part of their job!

However if for any reason you are unsure who to call, call the EBS helpline on 0800 268 3763. Our staff are trained to make sure we get you speaking with the right person as soon as possible.

Too good to be true?

If the life cover you’ve been offered seems dirt cheap, check again! The $5 a month life insurance you’re paying for may seem like a great deal (you may have ticked a box through your credit card provider).

However, you may not be getting the cover you expected!

Chances are this is ‘Accidental Death’ cover only. Accidental deaths such as road accidents might get all the headlines. However, of the 29,000 deaths in New Zealand each year, just 1,900 - or 6% - are accidental. So there is only a very small chance of claiming on this policy. If you are serious about providing for those you’ll leave behind, it would be a good idea to have a ‘true’ life insurance policy that would pay your family for death by any reason (excludes suicide in first 13 months).

Apply for EBS life insurance online http://www.ebs-insure.co.nz or call the EBS helpline to speak with an EBS Financial Adviser. http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/mortali ty-and-demographic-data-2010

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