Urban Call: Blue Cross Blue Shield April 2023 Edition

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is truly a lifesaver, and you may be able to sign up for affordable health insurance right now. Although the main time to get health insurance is November 1 through January 15 each year, you may qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP).

For free help to sign up call 336-759-7477. Or email SMjones@smsi-net.com.

GREAT BENEFITS! LOW COSTS!

All ACA policies cover annual physicals, mammograms, colonoscopies, and many vaccines at no cost to the consumer. About 1/3 of the consumers pay less than $10 a month for their insurance premiums, and many pay no premium at all.

Be a lifesaver: if you are covered, share this, Urban Call publication with a loved one or friend who might need health insurance.

WHO CAN GET HEALTH INSURANCE NOW?

Miller Jones SMSi Healthy Living Solutions, Inc. Founder & CEO Lafayette Jones Publisher, Urban Call; SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc. President & CEO

Everyday living can put so many demands on us that we sometimes forget that our most important asset is our health. We know that the right things to do are to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Although these things are easier said than done, we can’t stop trying. Since our mental health is also vital, take advantage of the mental health counseling that is covered in all ACA health insurance plans. Stay healthy!

Sandra

Dr. Tunde Sotunde Serena Williams, tennis star Tyler Perry, filmaker

Simone Biles, Olympian

Suggs,

Income figures key to lower insurance cost

 Ask your health insurance agent why this matters

Organizations expand educational opportunities

Issuu.com/Smsiurbancallmarketing.com n SegmentedMarketing.org

SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc.

President and CEO; Urban Call Publisher: Lafayette Jones

Executive Editor: Alan Cronk

Editor: Rose Walsh

Production Manager: Jodi S. Sarver

Integrated Marketing Manager: Jessica De Valle Hale

Digital Services Director: Jimmy Davies, Every.Black

Video Production Manager: Chris Downey, Downey Digital, LLC

Photographer/Videographer: Donevan Cherry, CherVeli Media

Financial Services: Roslyn Hickman

Warehouse, Collation & Shipping Manager: Vincent Harris

SMSi Healthy Living Solutions Inc.

SMSi Founding Chair and CEO: Sandra Miller Jones

National Project Manager: Constance Baker Harris

National Logistics Manager:

Camille Allen

Director, Financial Services: Roslyn Hickman

Agent Ambassadors: Charlie Bethea, Alvin Borders, Yvette Canty, Constance Baker

Harris, Talaya Loyd, Sharon Lyles, Natalie Nicholson, Debra Shore, John Wall

SMSi Community of Networks

The Goler Community Development Corporation and the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce are expanding their workforce programs to increase employment in the information and technology sector. According to Goler CDC President and Chamber Board member Michael Suggs, “Goler CDC’s flagship workforce development program, TechCareers, has been serving the Greater

Winston Salem community since 2018 in an effort to foster economic growth, job creation and increased wealth while improving quality of life for residents.” TechCareers links participants to the technical education, industry-recognized credentialing, employability skills training, intensive case management, and community resources needed to secure a rewarding position in the Information & Technology industry.

Dr. Tunde Sotunde President & CEO of BCBSNC

Tunde Sotunde MD, MBA, FAAP is the President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC). Blue Cross NC is North Carolina’s largest insurer and provides coverage to more than 4.3 million members across all 100 counties. Blue Cross NC is leading the transformation of health care across the state and is fully committed to improving the health and the health and well-being of its customers and communities. Prior to

his current role, Dr. Sotunde held leadership roles as a physician, educator, and a health plan executive. He has an accomplished record of implementing innovative health care delivery models and improving quality of care for patients.

During his career, Dr. Sotunde has worked handin-hand with health care providers, consumers, employers, brokers, policymakers, and state and federal regulators to navigate complex changes and lead health transformation across both public and private sectors.

Dr. Sotunde is a graduate of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine in Nigeria (1988) and Howard University’s Hospital Residency Program in Pediatrics (1995). He completed his Executive MBA at the University of Memphis (2001) and completed a Health Care Management Executive course at the Wharton School of Business (2003).

Dr. Tunde Sotunde, President & CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

Goler CDC President & CEO Michael Suggs (left) and Garrett Bolden, CFO.

Meet the SMSi ACA Licensed and Certified Agent Team

Here is the team of experienced Agent Ambassadors who are available at no cost to help you get health insurance now and to be your agent year round. All team members are fully licensed by the state and certified by the federal government to provide expert assistance.

Health champions

Tennis great Serena Williams became the third woman in history to win the US Open, the Olympics and Wimbledon in the same year. She says, “I want women to know that it’s okay. That you can be whatever size you are and you can be beautiful.”

Filmmaker Tyler Perry has a long list of philanthropic credits to his name. Most recently, he received the COVID-19 vaccine on-camera in order to help de-stigmatize vaccinations.

Seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles raised awareness of the importance of mental health when she withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (and later returned). Biles urgently the public to not look at her and her peers as “just athletes or entertainment.”

Marketplace health insurance plan benefits

All plans offered in the Marketplace cover these 10 essential health benefits:

• Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)

• Emergency services

• Hospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays)

• Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care(both before and after birth)

• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)

Links women’s organization champions community health

A major focus of the Winston-Salem Chapter of the Links, Inc, which is led by LaJoi Wilson-Moore, is providing healthy living education and events, especially for underserved communities. The Links’ Health and Human Services (HHS) Facet sponsors an annual Walk for Healthy Living, provides health education materials, sponsors health seminars and panel discussions and supports the efforts of numerous health organizations. According to Links HHS Facet Chair, Emma White, “An exciting example of our work is the “Share the Link” campaign on which the organization is working with SMSi Healthy Living Solutions, Inc. to support the American Heart Association‘s stroke awareness and prevention program, FAST.

“FAST aims to raise awareness of the signs of stroke and encourages people to get help quickly when these signs appear. The letters

stand for F-face drooping, A-arm weakness, S-speech difficulty, T-time to call 911. The Links are encouraging their members, friends, and associates to digitally share information on this effort. Other Link HHS Facet members include Alison Ashe-Card, Dr. Pamela Dockery-Howard, Sharon JeffriesJones, Sandra Miller Jones, Dr. Pamela Oliver, Prennessia Salder-Lambert, Dr. Linda Taylor and Shanita Wooten.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, with membership of 17,000 professional women of African descent in 299 chapters. Link members contribute more than 1 million hours of community service annually to help enhance the welfare of their communities. In addition to Health and Human Services, other Links facets include Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services and International Trends and Services.

• Prescription drugs

• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)

• Laboratory services

• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management

• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)

• Additional benefits

Plans must also include the following benefits:

• Birth control coverage

• Breastfeeding coverage

• Essential health benefits are minimum requirements for all Marketplace plans. Specific services covered in each broad benefit category can vary based on your state’s requirements. Plans may offer additional benefits, including:

• Dental coverage

• Vision coverage

• Medical management programs (for specific needs like weight management, back pain, and diabetes)

Constance Baker Harris (336) 965-4140 constance harris@live.com

Alvin Borders (336) 987-1256 bordersalvin@yahoo. com

Sharon Lyles (336) 422-0224 SharonKLylesBusiness @gmail.com

John Wall (704) 905-4451 jfwall50@ hotmail.com

Yvette Canty 336-491-4552 ycanty62@gmail. com

Sandra Miller Jones (336) 414-0905 smjones@ smsi-net.com

Talaya Loyd (336) 734-9196 taloyd5@gmail.com

Charlie Bethea (336) 414-0032 bfsinsureme@gmail. com

LaJoi Wilson Moore, President, Winston-Salem Chapter

Emma White, Chair, Health and Human Services Facet, Winston-Salem Chapter