A Newsletter for Subscribers of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont and The Vermont Health Plan

Community Calendar ..................................2President's Message .....................................3Snow Days: Exemplifying Our

Commitment to Vermonters ................3BCBSVT's Hike, Bike & Paddle events .....4

Hidden Symbol Creative Contest Tribute ......................................4-5

Be a Savvy Health Care Consumer ...... 6-7Preferred Brand-Name Drug List ...........10Vermont Restaurant Recipe Feature .... 11

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pg. 8-9

Community Calendar EventsMAY17Girls on the Run, Brattleboro An uplifting 5k run/walk celebrating the well-being and health of girls in Vermont. Visit our photo booth to celebrate the 15th anniversary! Registration: 8:30–9:30 a.m. Race begins at 10 a.m.Brattleboro High SchoolContact: girlsontherunvermont.org

28Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: Ray LaMontagneVisit our water tableShelburne Museum Concert GreenGates at 5:30 p.m.; Show at 6:30 p.m.Contact: highergroundmusic.com

31Girls on the Run, Rutland An uplifting 5k run/walk celebrating the well-being and health of girls in Vermont. Visit our photo booth to celebrate the 15th anniversary! Registration: 8:30–9:30 a.m. Race begins at 10 a.m.Rutland Fair GroundContact: girlsontherunvermont.org

BCBSVT’s Mountain Day at Mt. Philo Join us on a hike and enjoy a healthy lunch at BCBSVT’s first-ever Mountain Day at Mount Philo. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Mt. Philo, Charlotte (Note: weather-permitting with no reschedule date) Contact: events@bcbsvt.com

JUNE1Lund Ride for ChildrenA bike ride in support of Lund's mission to help children thrive by serving families with children, pregnant or parenting teens and young adults and adoptive familiesRegistration begins at 8 a.m.50 Joy Drive, South BurlingtonContact: amyc@lundvt.org

6Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green: Tedeschi Trucks BandVisit our water tableShelburne Museum Concert GreenGates at 6 p.m.; Show at 7 p.m.Contact: highergroundmusic.com

7Girls on the Run, EssexAn uplifting 5k run/walk celebrating the well-being and health of girls in Vermont. Visit our photo booth to celebrate the 15th anniversary! Registration: 8:30–9:30 a.m. Race begins at 10 a.m.Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction Contact: girlsontherunvermont.org

6–8Strolling of the HeifersA weekend of activities honoring farmers and celebrating local food, all built around a signature event, the world-famous Strolling of the Heifers Parade. Visit our table on Saturday. Downtown Brattleborowww.strollingoftheheifers.com

15Chittenden Humane Society's Walk for Animals 8 a.m.–1 p.m.Battery Park, BurlingtonContact: claire@chittendenhuman.org

We’re in your communityWe’re proud to sponsor and support our communities because we’re Vermonters too.

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For information about any

of the events listed, please

email events@bcbsvt.com

or call (802) 764-4858.

To find an up-to-date

Community Calendar, visit

www.bcbsvt.com/calendar.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont publishes Vigor® for members and other interested parties.

Please address correspondence to:EditorVigorBCBSVTP.O. Box 186Montpelier, VT05601-0186

Send your comments, questions and suggestions about Vigor to:

communications@bcbsvt.com

We’d like to hear from you.

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical or legal advice.

See page 4 for details about our upcomingHike, Bike & Paddle summer event series!

BCBSVT’s First Wellness Wednesdays ProgramStarting in May, on the first Wednesday of every month, visit BCBSVT’s Information and Wellness Center to receive free biometric screenings (i.e. body composition, cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure). Attendees can also meet with certified Fletcher Allen Health Care Coaches, free of charge.

5–7 p.m. For more info and to register, call Sam at (802) 764-4828

Local.

Independent.

Not-For-Profit.

www.bcbsvt.com

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President's messageLooking back on 2013: At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, the foundation of our unique role in our state’s health care system is the deeply personal connections we have had with generations of Vermonters. It was in the spirit of those connections that we made a promise in 2013—a promise to “see Vermonters through” the unprecedented changes under way in Vermont’s health care system.

Recognizing the uncertainty associated with the transition to Vermont’s new health benefits exchange, Vermont Health Connect, we first conducted an extraordinary outreach campaign, organizing and participating in more than 240 community events

and directly engaging more than 70,000 Vermonters in conversations about the changes they were facing. We also established a new Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Information and Wellness Center in South Burlington, and in its first few months, we met with nearly 2,000 individuals who came to us for information and support.

When the transition to Vermont Health Connect became more complicated than anyone expected, we advocated for contingency options to assure Vermonters had no interruptions in their health care coverage. Guided by our principle to always put our members’ experience first, to “see them through” the uncertainty and confusion they were facing, more than three dozen of our specially trained BCBSVT exchange specialists made or responded to 45,000 telephone calls during this period. Once the specialists guided and assisted small businesses and individuals with their coverage decisions for 2014, we created a special enrollment services team that worked through the holidays to assure coverage decisions for January 1, 2014 were effective.

I’m very proud of our employees, who assured that many thousands of Vermonters maintained their health care coverage during this trying period. Working together in a supportive environment, they also achieved the highest service levels in the country, found efficiencies that helped us reduce our administrative expenses and continued to improve our pioneering “Accountable Blue” health and wellness programs for employers of all sizes, across our great state. In turn, Vermonters chose Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont to provide their health care coverage in larger numbers than ever before.

As Vermont’s reforms continue in 2014 and beyond, we’ll continue to advocate for Vermonters and strive for our goal to keep individuals and small businesses covered. We remain committed to our promise; we’ll see you though.

Sincerely,

Don George, President and CEO

Snow Days: Exemplifying our Commitment to Vermonters Our Snow Days events this season were hugely successful, to say the least. Despite the chilly weather, over 85 people came to our Snow Days event at Grafton Ponds Outdoor Center on January 25. Megan Peek, community relations and health education manager notes, “Although it was cold, it was a great day. The ski conditions were excellent and people were very excited to enjoy free winter activities.”

On March 1, our Snow Days at Bolton Valley Resort brought slightly warmer temps and big crowds. We engaged with over 300 skiers and snow-shoers, 71 of which were

first-timers! We received many thanks and words of affirmation. One woman shared, “Thank you so much for hosting this day—really. My son and I would not have been

able to afford trying this new activity otherwise.” A ski patrol employee who helped with the event shared, “It’s great that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont provides these opportunities. It makes me happy to see this many people out having fun and staying active."

Vermonters enjoying our Snow Days in Grafton.

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Join us this summer at our Hike, Bike & Paddle events! These free community events offer all Vermonters an opportunity to get outside and enjoy hiking, biking, canoeing and kayaking.

We’ll provide free healthy snacks, including smoothies from our blender bike. The first 50 attendees will also receive a free t-shirt.

Free bike and canoe rentals will be available; however, rentals are limited. Participants are welcome to bring their own boats and bikes.

Middlesex’s Wrightsville Beach June 21 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (New location with disc golf!)

Craftsbury Outdoor Center July 19 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Burlington's North Beach August 23 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Email events@bcbsvt.com or check our online community events calendar for more details!

BCBSVT’s Hike, Bike & Paddle events

Hidden Symbol Creative TributeIn our last issue of Vigor, we launched our “special challenge” addition to the hidden symbol contest...

“Clever” and “fun” are just two of the many words that our contest players frequently noted in their responses. And, my, what a treat it was to receive all of those creative entries!

If you haven’t already peeped the back page of this issue to read where we hid the shell symbol, take note from one witty person

who wrote, I can “sea” the hidden symbol on the pill found on page three of the newsletter.

We’ve included the montage on the next page to highlight the shared creativity among BCBSVT members. Thanks to all of our players and congrats to our winners: Randall, Ann, Jody, Anna and Maggie.

We hope you’ll play next time. Check out the back page of this issue to read more about our hidden symbol contest.

Congratulations to Ann, our winner of the creative contest!

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“The columbine shell was not hidden so well

For it was quite clear to seeOn page number 3

In the portrait of bright pillsfor curing common ills

There in the centerThis contest, I now enter.”

I found it, I found it!! I found the Shell.....

I really looked, and I looked well.I used all my power and will,

but then I found it, on a pill!!

"It’s a thrillTo find a shell

On a pill.It’s on page three

Quite easy to see."

Some of the submissions received for the hidden symbol contest.

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By Allyson Bartlett

Navigating the health care world can be challenging, especially with the ever-changing updates to the health care system. We want to ensure that you make the most of your benefits and get the care you need. This is the first part of a four-part series that will walk you through the process of receiving care. Figuratively speaking, you have your health care toolbox and now it’s time to learn how to use the tools inside.

Tool #1: Subscriber Documents BCBSVT has formal documents that state our respective rights and responsibilities to provide you benefits. Commonly known as “member materials” or “subscriber documents”—the application, Plan Document, Outline of Coverage or similar document explaining your cost-share amount and Identification Card are the starting point for understanding how your plan works. Roxanne Casadonte, a training consultant at BCBSVT says, “When you

purchase a new appliance, you read the manual to understand how it works. Health care is no different. You truly need to read your materials to understand how your plan really works.”

Soon after you’re enrolled, you will receive your Outline of Coverage in the mail. (You can also find the Outline of Coverage online within the Member Resource Center, our Web portal for members.) The Outline of Coverage is the part of your member materials or subscriber documents that describes payment terms and benefit limitations.

Within our secure member portal, you can access your member materials. Think of these documents as your comprehensive consumer handbook. While the Outline of Coverage provides a summary of your benefits and member cost sharing, the Plan Document provides you with all of the vital details needed to understand the “ins” and “outs” of your plan. It describes the services your plan covers, how to file claims, membership guidelines and other terms and conditions of your coverage. It also contains a list of excluded services and supplies. If you wish to receive a hard copy of this document, please call our customer service team at the number located on the back of your ID card. You may also contact your group benefits manager.

Even health care experts will tell you that the health care industry is riddled with jargon. It’s no wonder most people can’t keep all of the terms straight! Fortunately, the Plan Document contains a glossary of health care definitions. There are some important concepts that we recommend you review right away, however, because this vocabulary will allow you to understand how your particular plan works. Terms such as “network” and “prior approval” give meaning

"When you purchase a new appliance, you read the manual to understand how it works. Health care is no different."

Roxanne Casadonte,BCBSVT training consultant

Be a savvy health care consumer

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to your plan’s requirements to receiving benefits. Cost sharing terms like “co-insurance,” ”co-payment,” ”deductible” and ”out-of-pocket maximum” are words that will educate you on costs that you are responsible for as well as costs that we will cover.

Soon after you receive your Outline, you will get your Identification Card (ID card) in the mail. You should keep your ID card with you at all times to facilitate benefits, for example, when you see a doctor.

Should you ever have any trouble understanding the terms or your specific plan’s requirements, please call our customer service team at the number on the back of your ID card. Your member materials are the most informative tools in your toolbox and our customer service team can help you use them.

Tool #2: Primary Care PhysiciansWe recommend that you choose a primary care physician (PCP). Even if you don’t think you’ll need to see a PCP during your plan year,

it’s a smart thing to do. A PCP will help coordinate your care and can keep records of all of the care you receive from all providers. (Some plans actually require you to select a PCP upon enrollment.) At www.bcbsvt.com/find-a-doctor, you can use our Find-a-Doctor tool to find doctors and hospitals in the Vermont Service area. Using the BCBSA national doctor and hospital finder, you can even search for care when traveling outside of our green mountain state. These tools allow you to filter out options based on the provider’s role or specialty, spoken-languages and gender. You’ll also want to think about the location of his or her office. (When you’re sick, the last thing you need is a long commute.)

Our tool will also tell you whether providers are accepting new patients and are in the network for your particular health plan. And just like you can scope out restaurant reviews on Yelp, our tools allow you to browse and leave your own reviews for our contracting providers. Your subscriber documents can also aid

in helping you to understand the importance of a PCP and what role certain providers play in your health.

Tool #3: BCBSVT Resources We know that becoming a new member can be overwhelming. It’s our job to ensure you can get answers to all of your health care questions. If you get coverage through an employer, your group benefits manager can serve as a helpful guide, too!

We encourage you to log onto the Member Resource Center at www.bcbsvt.com/mrc. Here you can view benefit information, check your claim status, order new ID cards, change your address and/or PCP and so much more. And, that’s just the beginning. On our site, you have access to a wealth of resources that improve health and wellness and give you deals and discounts to local vendors. And, don’t forget our world-class customer service team is just a phone call away. Never hesitate to give us a ring at the number located on the back of your ID card.

In the next Vigor, we’ll give you tips on scheduling care and setting expectations for when you receive those services.

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By Allyson BartlettMost all of us are inundated with deadlines, heavy workloads, errands, people to care for, financial stresses…the list could go on forever. And while we all have our own individual laundry lists to get through the daily grind, it’s likely we’re all missing a very important item: ourselves.

“There is certain imagery that I refer to when discussing work-life balance,” shares Diane Gross Percy, education and training specialist in continuing education at Vermont Technical College. “Imagine you are flying on an airplane and everyone is instructed to put on their oxygen masks. You have to put the oxygen mask on yourself first so that you can then take care of others.” Percy is illustrating our inclination to overlook our own needs.

Percy stood before a sea of red at the recent Go Red for Women event at the Sheraton in Burlington. Former Governor Madeleine Kunin moderated the panel of Vermont women including Percy, Mary Powell, president and CEO of Green Mountain Power Corporation and Tiffany Bluemle, executive director of Vermont Works for Women.

Kunin, who wrote The New Feminist Agenda, pointed out that discussing what we have to do to allow parents to be better parents and better caregivers, implies you can get the right yoga position and achieve work-life balance. Often, it’s not your fault. You need help from the government, families

and employers.

Powell interposes, “The question isn’t ‘am I achieving work-life balance?’ The question is ‘am I living a fulfilling life’?”

All panelists quickly dismissed the clichéd expression “work-life balance” and refocused their dialogue on how to live meaningful lives in

a busy world, while also prioritizing their own health and wellness.

“How do I take care of myself? For me, exercise is a relief,” shares Bluemle. “I used to try to catch up on news and podcasts during exercising, and then realized this is the time to let my brain go wherever. Minutes that are my own are very rare, but I allow myself to be really present.” Bluemle adds that she also feels nurtured through social connections—whether it’s hanging out with friends or playing cards with her son.

Powell also counts on exercise to feel grounded. “I have intense discipline around taking care of my health, starting each day with yoga, running and meditation.”

Percy admits to having her own daily ritual. “Every morning, after I brush my teeth, I light a candle in this little piece of pottery. I hold the pottery and say something that I’m going to course-correct and then blow it out.” Setting these daily intentions helps her to find forgiveness and recalibrate. Sherry Rhynard, meditation teacher, stress management coach, certified health coach, Reiki II practitioner, biofeedback specialist and HeartMath® provider has practiced meditation for over 30 years. BCBSVT invited her onsite to offer meditation and mindfulness sessions for employees.

“I would recommend meditating for the soul sake of being, as opposed to doing. Because we live in a culture—an environment—that is all about doing and we really don’t know how to be,” Rhynard shares.

She relates this concept to the parenting technique of taking time-out, a simple

“The question isn’t ‘am I achieving work-life balance?’ The question is ‘am I living a fulfilling life?’”

Mary Powell CEO of Green Mountain Power

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form of child discipline. She points out the value of taking the time to isolate and reflect. “We don’t have that parent to tell us to take time-out, so we have to figure out a way to incorporate more reflection into our lives and be with ourselves.”

Rhynard suggests that due to demanding schedules, we have gotten away from what the body really needs. “It’s like a car—you don’t run the engine 24/7—but that’s what we do. The body doesn’t need checking the email every morning the minute we wake up. We’ve gotten away from what the body needs,” she says. “The body needs to be; it needs conscious stillness.”

Instead, she recommends starting your day with meditation. “Start out with ten minutes to feel your body, connect with a natural, deeper breath that comes from your belly, begin to observe your thoughts and slowly but surely you will gradually connect with what is under the surface of our conscious mind.”

She guarantees this simple act will help you think clearer and make better decisions. Long-term, she points to even bigger health and wellness benefits to the immune and digestive systems. Meditation has been proven to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, too.

Rhynard states that stress affects 90 percent of all health issues and that meditation hugely impacts stress levels. There are psychological and physical benefits, and there are work benefits, such as productivity.

Rhynard believes that meditation allows us to “befriend” ourselves. “We have such a hard time doing that,” she adds. “We’re so hard on ourselves and so critical. We’re achievers, overachievers. And meditation allows us to be soft and forgiving. You develop more compassion for yourself.”

“Your mind tries to run the show, particularly with emotions such as fear, negative thoughts and

judgment. Meditation shows you that your mind does not have to take control,” she relates.

Rhynard feels that you need a

support system to optimize the practice. “I think what supports mediation practice is being gentle on your body and having more respect for yourself and what you put in your body.” She advises limiting caffeine, alcohol, sugars and excessive fatty foods and notes that physical activity complements the practice and supports your overall well-being. “You want your body to feel good.”

Rhynard also discusses the accessibility of meditating, noting that you don’t need much to get started. “If you wanted to, you could pick up a book or CD.” She recommends The Pema Chondron Foundation’s DVDs and audio CDs for guided mediations, as well as Adyashanti's books, downloads, DVDs and CDs. Rhynard also notes that you can check your local community calendar for class offerings.

In terms of equipment, you don’t really need anything, either. “You can use a chair with spine support or even just sit on a pillow or the floor, itself,” she says. Some practitioners use a special meditation cushion known as a Zafu. “As long as you have a relatively quiet space, you can take it anywhere,” she adds.

Rhynard notes that the practice isn’t limited to specific people, and that it’s for all ages. Rhynard highly recommends introducing the practice to children and teaching them to “take a minute to be present and observe.” It instills the importance of being present.

She warns that meditation is a commitment—a discipline of sorts—but eventually it becomes as routine as brushing your teeth. “Getting yourself to that place is just like exercise—you build up. Five to ten minutes is a good starting place.”

She notes profound differences in the lives of her clients as well as her own. “It’s one of the most beneficial tools that I have to work with in my own life and in my stress-management work. I think we can make changes in the world—one by one—by meditating and connecting with the inner peace and stillness that’s always there.”

Now let it go. Close your eyes and let…it…go…for…a…minute.

Go to www.easeofflow.com to learn more about Rhynard and her services that help people live healthier, happier lives. Here, you can also purchase her twenty-minute guided meditation CD and learn more about her events and workshops, including upcoming offerings at the Central Vermont Medical Center.

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Serves two to four

Ingredients: 1/2 lb sugar snap peas cleaned

and strings removed 1 teaspoon sesame oil 2 teaspoons Vermont maple syrup 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:1. Blanch cleaned sugar snap peas in

boiling water for one minute and drain

2. Combine remaining ingredients in a sauté pan and toss in blanched peas

3. Stir and continue cooking on medium heat for 2 minutes

4. Serve!

Sesame Maple Sugar Snap Peasbrought to you by Chef Ralph Nichols of Brattleboro’s Whetstone Station Restaurant

About Whetstone Station Restaurant:Whetstone Station is an independently owned restaurant and brewery featuring inspired brewpub fare and homemade, local and international craft brews. Started in the summer of 2012, the Whetstone

has both indoor and outdoor seating, highlighted by a rooftop Bier Garten and downstairs stone-fireplace dining room and bar. We are open seven days a week from 11:30 until late, and host a number of events and live music.

Whetstone Station Restaurant 36 Bridge Street Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 online: www.whetstonestation.com email: info@whetstonestation.com phone: (802) 490-2354

Find the hidden symbol and win a prizeJust find the symbol shown at left hidden somewhere in this publication and send

us a letter telling us where you found it. Use the address found on the mailing panel. We’ll draw four lucky reader’s names from the correct responses and each will receive a gift card to Amazon.com.

Last issue’s hidden symbol (i.e. shell) was hidden on page 3 on the light blue pill. Thanks for playing!

Special challenge: Because of all the creative and unique responses (e.g. postcards, artwork, poems and notes) we've received over the years, we'll now present an additional winner with a gift card for the most creative entry for that issue's contest.

Electronic option: In an effort to be “green,” we will accept your hidden symbol contest entry via email. Just email hiddensymbol@bcbsvt.com and we’ll number your entry and enter you into the drawing!

Spring 2014www.bcbsvt.com

Vigor®

Inside:President’s message • Snow Days • BCBSVT's Hike, Bike & Paddle Events • Hidden Symbol Creative Tribute • Be a Savvy Health Care Consumer • Because YOU Matter • Preferred brand-name drug list • VT Restaurant Recipe Feature

Vigor® is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled fiber, FSC®-certified paper — a paper that contains 100% post-consumer recycled fiber, is Elemental Chlorine-Free, and is certified by the Rainforest Alliance to the Forest Stewardship Council™ Standard. It is manufactured using Biogas Energy

Using this paper instead of virgin fiber in this edition reduces our ecological footprint by:

� 80 trees � 9,883 lbs. of solid waste � 78,181 gallons water � 25,689 lbs. of CO2 emissions � 125 mmBTU of energy consumption � 76 lbs. NOx

It’s the equivalent of saving:

Trees: 5 tennis courts

Energy consumption: 1 household per year

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