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KENTUCKY | 2013 | ISSUE IV

Quit the Dangerous Tobacco HabitTobacco is harmful in any form. Cigarettes, e-cigarettes or a hookah all damage your body. So do smokeless and chewing tobacco.

Tobacco hurts your body by causing:• Poor oral health and gum disease

• Heart problems that could lead to heart attack or stroke

• Lung diseases like emphysema

Tobacco is expensiveWhat if a pack of cigarettes is $5 and you use two packs per week? That’s $520 a year. Wouldn’t you rather use that money for something else?

Take these steps to quit now1. Get ready to quit. Set a quit date. Then, change the things around you. Get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car and at work.

2. Get medicine to help you quit. Talk to your health care provider about medicine that can help you quit.

3. Get help. Tell your family, friends and people you work with that you are going to quit. To find out where to get help in your area, call the National Cancer Institute toll-free: 1-877-44U-QUIT. You can also talk to a nurse about planning to quit. Call 1-877-393-3090.

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,Health Children.org from the American Academy of Pediatrics

What’s in a Cigarette?

• Nicotine (a drop of pure nicotine can kill)

• Cyanide (a deadly poison)

• Benzene (used in making paints, dyes and plastics)

• Formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies)

• Acetylene (fuel used in torches)

• Ammonia (used in fertilizers)

• Carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas)

What’s New with You?Have you moved? Do you have a new telephone number?Has your address or telephone number changed recently? If so, please call us at 1-877-389-9457. You can reach us Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to let us know how we can contact you. It is important that we have your correct address and phone number so we can keep you up-to-date about your health care coverage.

Eat Smart, Stay Active, Be Healthy Smart eating plays a key role in good health. So does exercise. They help you have a healthy weight and get needed nutrition.

Ideas for a Smart Diet• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

• Drink plenty of water and limit sugary drinks like sodas

• Eat smaller portions

• Limit sugar and fats like candy and fast food to once every 1–2 weeks

• Choose lean meats, fish and beans for protein

Stay Active• Children should get at least 60 minutes of brisk

exercise daily like walking or playing sports

• Adults should get two and a half hours of moderate aerobic activity like walking each week

Smart eating and exercise have healthy benefits for the whole family!

What Is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated using someone’s weight and height to show body fat. BMI can screen for weight issues that may lead to problems like pre-diabetes.

Vaccines for Good Health, at No Cost to You! Everyone 6 months and older should get a “flu shot” every year. The flu causes fevers, aches, coughs and can possibly lead to hospitalization. But it can be prevented with a vaccine. It’s covered for members at no cost. Get one yearly. Your doctor can tell you how.

Also ask about a pneumonia vaccine. Getting a shot once in your lifetime is usually good enough. But a second shot might be good for those at a higher risk of infection due to certain long-term health problems.

Source: Vaccines.gov; Immunization Action Coalition-immunize.org

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Tips for Parents – Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight,” www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/children/index.html, and “How Much Physical Activity Do Adults Need?” www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html

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Tips for Helping Children with ADHD

Are you the parent of a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? You can help your child keep it under control with these steps:

• Use goals as rewards. Give your child positive feedback for reaching goals.

• Create a routine. Make a schedule to follow every day.

• Avoid distractions. Turn off the TV, radio and computer when your child is doing something that needs focus – like homework.

• Limit choices. Give your child a choice of two. This toy or that one. This helps keep your child from becoming overwhelmed.

• Be brief. When talking with your child, keep directions and responsibilities short, clear and to the point.

• Use smart discipline. Use timeouts and remove privileges instead of yelling and spanking.

• Help your child find a talent. An activity your child excels in can be a great outlet.

Your primary care provider (PCP) can help develop a plan for managing ADHD. Your PCP can also prescribe medications for ADHD, if needed. Don’t forget to schedule and keep follow-up visits.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder – Treatment,” www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/treatment.html

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Manage Stress This Holiday Season (and All Year Long)The holidays can be a wonderful time of year. It’s a chance to spend time with family and friends. There are family get-togethers and holiday traditions. Yet sometimes it can be overwhelming. That’s when stress appears.

Yes, along with all the fun, stress is common during the holidays. However, the holidays don’t need to take a toll on your health. Keep from trying to do too much. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the demands of children and other family members. Also avoid spending too much money, another source of holiday stress.

Here are some good stress management ideas that can help you during the holidays and all year long:

• Take care of yourself. Eat sensibly and get the rest you need. Take a break from all the busyness to quiet your mind. Exercise also reduces stress.

• Avoid alcohol or drugs. In the long run, they create more stress.

• Find support. Share your feelings with someone you trust.

• Connect socially. Have fun with family and friends.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/family/holiday and www.cdc.gov/Features/HandlingStress

When You Need Care, Know Your OptionsSometimes it’s not easy to know where to turn when you’re not feeling well. Here are some care options.

Your Primary Care ProviderYour primary care provider (PCP) is your first choice for routine care. This includes care for flu, colds, earaches and other common ailments. Your PCP may have an answering service that can help you after hours.

Urgent Care CentersUrgent care is for a problem that is not life-threatening but could cause sickness or harm with no care. Examples are things like a high fever or bad earache.

When It Can’t Wait, Go to the Emergency Room What is a true emergency? It’s when someone’s life is in danger. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER when someone needs care right away.

When You’re Not Sure, Call the Nurse Advice LineThe Nurse Advice Line is available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can talk with a nurse who can help you decide whether to call your PCP or go to the ER. The toll-free number is 1-800-919-8807.

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Living with Diabetes? Remember These 4 StepsYou can control your diabetes. It can be easier if you follow these four steps.

1. Learn about diabetes. Take it seriously. It can lead to vision trouble and kidney problems. It also affects the teeth and gums. And it increases your risk of heart attack.

2. Know your ‘ABCs.’ These “ABCs” will help you keep diabetes under control. A stands for A1C. This is your average blood sugar for the past three months. B stands for blood pressure. High blood pressure can make your heart work too hard. C stands for cholesterol. Bad cholesterol (LDL) clogs blood vessels.

3. Learn to live happy and healthy with diabetes. Stress can raise your blood sugar, so do things to manage stress. Take your medicines as directed. Make smart food choices. Eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Limit sugars, saturated fat and salt. Develop a daily plan with your health care provider, and stick to it.

4. Get routine care to avoid problems. Talk with your provider about regular visits to keep you on track.

Source: National Diabetes Education Program, “4 Steps to Manage Your Diabetes for Life,” ndep.nih.gov/publications/PublicationDetail.aspx?PubId=4

Our Disease Management Program can give you support for health needs. Find out how by calling the number on the back of your member ID card.

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Some Reminders about Your Benefits and Services We want to make sure you’re empowered in your health care. So here are some things about your plan you should keep in mind:

Women’s VisitsDid you know you can see in-network women’s health specialists for routine and preventive care? Also, you can see an obstetrician or gynecologist for one women’s health visit each year. And you don’t need prior approval.

Second OpinionsCall your existing doctor if you want another take on your health. He or she will ask you

to choose a plan provider in your service area. If there’s not one, you will be asked to pick one who is out of the plan’s network. Prior authorization may be required.

Out-of-Network ServicesWhat happens if we can’t give you a medically necessary covered service in-network? We will cover that service out of network. The cost to you will be no more than if the service was done in-network. In some instances, prior authorization may be required.

Fair TreatmentOur doctors must offer you the same office hours and days as they do to those with other coverage.

We Care about Your PrivacyYour privacy matters to us. We’ve developed a set of rules about how we may use your health information. It’s called the Notice of Privacy Practices. It also tells you how you may use your privacy rights when it comes to health information.

You can see our Notice of Privacy Practices on our website. You may also ask us for a copy. Just call us at the number on the back of your member ID card.

If we change our privacy policies, we will post a new notice on our website. In some cases, we may even mail you a letter about the changes.

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Have Health Questions? The Nurse Advice Line Has Answers! When you have health concerns or questions, the Nurse Advice Line is there to help. It lets you speak with a Registered Nurse 24 hours a day, any day of the year. It’s also available at no charge to members.

The Nurse Advice Line Can …• Get you health information quickly

• Help you care for yourself or a sick family member

• Save you time and money

• Advise you when you aren’t sure if you need to go to an emergency room

It’s confidential and there when you need it. Call 1-800-919-8807.

Reminders About Filling Your PrescriptionsGetting a prescription filled during a weekend? Here are some reminders:

• Remember that a doctor in the network must write the prescription, and it can be filled at any drug store in the network

• If you’re getting a refill, make sure you have refills available before going to the drug store

• If you are told that your prescription requires a prior authorization wait until a weekday so the pharmacist can contact your health plan or primary care provider (PCP) (An exception is if by not having your prescription, it would result in a life-threatening situation, such as a heart attack or stroke – ask the pharmacist to contact the plan for an emergency weekend supply)

• You can always call the Nurse Advice Line if you have questions about your prescription at 1-800-919-8807

Questions about what medicines are covered? Need help finding a network pharmacy? Customer Service will be glad to help. You can reach them at the number on the back of your member ID card. Or you can log on to the member portal on our website.

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Para solicitar este documento en español, llame al Servicio al Cliente al 1-877-389-9457 (TTY/TDD 1-877-247-6272).

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Click or Call for the Latest Drug Coverage UpdatesWant to find the latest about the drugs we cover? Be sure to stop by our website. You’ll find our Preferred Drug List (or PDL for short). You can learn about recent additions and removals. You’ll also find changes to any drug requirements or coverage limits. Just go to kentucky.wellcare.com. Then click on “Members” and then “Pharmacy.” You can also call us for updates. Reach us at 1-877-389-9457.

We hope you enjoy this issue. It’s our way of saying we wish you good health. You’ll find ideas for living a healthy lifestyle. There are also reminders to keep you up to date with your care services and much more. So take a moment to read what’s inside – it was created with you in mind!

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