Do you want to eat healthier, but don’t know where to start? Are you missing the energy, time, or skills to cook your own healthy food? Learn that healthy cooking can be quick and easy.
If eating healthier seems overwhelming, sign up for four weeks of the A-to-Z’s of making tasty food at home. Develop shortcuts and skillsets to plan, shop, prep and cook. Learning step-bystep how to put you in control of your health. You will create opportunities that work for YOU and YOUR FAMILY to eat healthier. No cookie cutter approaches! Empower yourself to make sustainable changes without stress. If you are interested in this FREE four-week online course, register at https://www.overcomingucourses.com/ OCPSSignUp/.
Course objectives:
y Understand how to decipher the mixed messages about food options to make solid choices.
y Overcome everyday obstacles that keep you from cooking and eating healthier.
y Get organized with planning, shopping, and cooking strategies to make long-term lifestyle changes.
y Learn a variety of time-saving and tasty ways to prepare healthier foods.
Course details:
y Start date – June 13
y You must register for the four-week course at https://www.overcomingucourses.com/OCPSSignUp/.
y Eight 20-minute sessions that you can listen to on your own schedule.
y All OCPS employees can register for the course regardless of insurance coverage.
Participants who complete sessions will be entered to win weekly prize drawings and more! Please email Support@OvercomingU.com with any questions.
May 2023
OCPSSummerFitnessChallenge isRightAroundtheCorner
The OCPS Employee Wellness Program and Cigna invite all OCPS employees to walk, bike or swim their way to the top of the Orange County Public Schools Summer Fitness Challenge leader board. Stay motivated by competing individually or joining a team.
Here’s how it works:
y Join as part of a team or participate on your own.
y Log your activity minutes* on the fitness challenge website or app or sync your fitness app to track your minutes automatically.
y Track your progress against others on our leaderboards.
y Chat with and cheer on your teammates on the interactive message board.
y Earn badges to mark your achievements and help your team succeed.
y Remember, every little bit counts.
Don’t Be Caught Off Guard –
KN W BEFORE YOU GO
Registration:
May 22 – June 9
Challenge:
June 5 – July 16
Register starting May 22**, by visiting: http://orangecountypublicschools.globalfitnesschallenge.com
*Activity minutes are minutes of physical activity outside of your normal work/life activities. For example, your daily walk to the mailbox is a standard activity, but doing lunges to the mailbox can be recorded as activity minutes.
**You cannot register prior to May 22.
Summer is a time full of fun activities like hiking, camping, or swimming. Being prepared in case of accidents or injuries can save you time and money. OCPS Cigna members have many options for convenient quality care.
Virtual Care with MDLIVE - $10 copay and available anytime.
Convenience Care Clinics – Often open on nights and weekends with a more affordable copay than an ER visit.
Urgent Care Centers – No appointments needed and a wide variety of locations.
Need Help Deciding? – You can call the Cigna Health Information Line at any time. At no cost, clinicians are available 24/7 to help you understand and make informed decisions about your health concerns.
Call 1.800.Cigna24 (1.800.246.4224) or go to myCigna.com.
Coverage Extended for OTC COVID-19 Tests
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) will expire on May 11, 2023. During the PHE, OCPS plans were required to cover the cost of eight over-the-counter tests per month without a prescription. This requirement ends with the PHE expiration on May 11, 2023; however, OCPS plans will continue this coverage through the end of the plan year, September 30, 2023. Members can obtain an OTC COVID-19 test by presenting their CVS Caremark prescription ID card at an in-network pharmacy.
MayHealthy Hero
Dr. Rebecca Hunt
Sometimes all it takes is a moment to have us re-examine our priorities and lead us to make positive, long lasting changes. Brenda Christopher-Muench, K-12 Health and Physical Education Resource Teacher, Advanced Studies, shared with us how a health situation caused her colleague Dr. Rebecca Hunt to do just that.
“After experiencing a medical incident during the summer of 2021, Becky committed to making exercise and nutrition lifestyle changes. Becky started walking and biking regularly with her family and has worked up to being a CrossFit BEAST. Last week, she signed up to complete an extra work out that included 102 Burpees. She is currently training to run long distances and is hoping to be selected to run the New York City Marathon in November. Becky has stuck to a low carb diet since 2021 (without cheating! – really! She never cheats!)” said Christopher-Muench.
Dr. Rebecca Hunt, Director of Advanced Studies for Curriculum and Digital Learning, was enjoying a family vacation in the Rocky Mountain National Park. During that time, she thought she had developed severe altitude sickness and decided to visit the local hospital. The physician had informed her that she was experiencing a heart attack. Hunt was then transported to a larger hospital in Denver, and there the doctor took her hand and said something she will never forget, “You should be fine because your age is working in your favor, but your weight is not.” When she returned home, she committed herself not just to diet, but to a lifestyle change.
From exercising in the rain, cold, heat and a hurricane, to incorporating a healthy diet into her lifestyle, Hunt inspires her colleagues and family. Her best advice to give to other’s is, “If you are going to have a healthier lifestyle, commitment is key. If you are someone like me that can get thrown off course more easily, it really starts with a commitment. Something as simple as walking can really change your life. I wish I had known that years ago.”
Next up on her health journey? Hunt is registered to run the NYC Marathon with Lead the Way Charity Fund.
If you would like to nominate a co-worker as a Healthy Hero, please e-mail wellness@ocps.net with the candidate’s name, location and why they deserve the title.
Healthy Me Challenge with OCPS Health Coach
The school year is nearly over and summer is right around the corner. A change of season, and schedules, may mean a change of routine. Use this to your advantage to revisit health goals and build new healthy habits. Join OCPS Health Coach Danielle this summer as we break down healthy eating, physical activity, sun safety and stress management.
What to expect:
y Break down healthy eating and physical activity recommendations.
y Learn how to create habits that support your goals.
y Available resources and programs for OCPS employees.
y Live & recorded videos featuring your OCPS health coach, registered dieticians and other guests.
y Biweekly wellness challenges & raffles.
Challenge starts: Monday, June 12
Sign up by clicking HERE to join the challenge and have the healthiest summer possible! Contact Health Coach Danielle with any questions at EmployeeHealthCoach@ocps.net or by call/text at 407.304.8042.
Do You Know About the OCPS Well-pregnancy Program?
Whether you are planning to become pregnant or already have a due date, there are many things to consider before the baby arrives. The OCPS well-pregnancy program, Healthy Babies, provides education regarding healthy practices that increase the chances of having a healthy baby.
Education and support will be provided for covered pregnant (or planning to be pregnant) OCPS Cigna members along with special attention for high-risk pregnancies. It can start up to 12 months prior to conception and includes:
y A free book, “Your Pregnancy and Childbirth,” published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that answers questions about pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
y Post-delivery support and services. Once the baby arrives, Cigna continues to provide access to the services needed for the first few days and after.
y Free childbirth classes for pregnant members enrolled in Healthy Babies who meet program requirements. It’s important to note that in order for childbirth classes to be free, one must participate at a designated location (locations will be provided at enrollment).
y In addition, participants can receive prescription prenatal vitamins at no cost.
y The OCPS medical plan awards cash incentives for birthing members who join, follow and meet all program requirements. The chart describes the cash incentives in detail.
Participants must meet all program requirements.
If you enroll:
Preconception (up to 12 months before pregnancy)
Conception up to the 12th week of pregnancy
13th to 23rd week of pregnancy
Participating health plan parent where pregnant individual is not a participating health plan member.
You will receive:
$225
$175
$50
Parent packet
For more information or to enroll, OCPS Cigna members can email the OCPS Cigna on-site representative at CIGNARepresentative@ocps.net
SAVE with SurgeryPlus!
SurgeryPlus is a supplemental benefit for nonemergency surgeries available to all OCPS Cigna members at no additional cost. With this program, you can reduce your financial burden by having your deductible and coinsurance waived on eligible procedures. You’ll have access to surgeons who meet rigorous quality standards and a health care concierge dedicated to support you along the way.
It’s 100% voluntary. Members have the option to have surgery wherever they choose according to regular plan benefits, but the cost will be higher. In order to have your deductible and coinsurance waived, you must contact SurgeryPlus and be accepted as a participant prior to receiving covered services. Charges incurred prior to utilizing SurgeryPlus will be filed under your Cigna medical plan, subject to deductible and copayment/coinsurance.
Commonly covered procedure categories include:
y Cardiac
y General surgery
y OB/GYN
y Orthopedic
y Joint replacement
y Ear, nose and throat
y Gastroenterology (including diagnostic colonoscopies)
Contact SurgeryPlus by phone at 833.552.1699 or via email at OCPS@SurgeryPlus.com to verify eligibility. Visit http://OCPS.SurgeryPlus.com (access code: surgeryplus) to register.
The Benefits Bulletin is designed to keep OCPS employees and their families informed about available benefit programs. This information is not intended to replace professional health care. See your health care professional for information relevant to your medical history.
Editors: Kimberly Eisenbise and Beth Palmer
Graphic Artist: Kim Boulnois
