Autumn 2000

~MEN’S Health Information Inside~~MEN’S Health Information Inside~

3

is published four times a year by theArkansas Blue Cross and Blue ShieldAdvertising and CommunicationsDivision for the company’s mem-bers, health care professionals andother persons interested in health

care and wellness. Opinions expressed herein do not necessar-ily reflect the views of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield orany of its publics.

Vice President of Advertising and CommunicationsPatrick O’Sullivan

EditorKelly Whitehorn

DesignerGio Bruno

ContributorsMark Carter, Janice Drennan, Damona Fisher and Kathy Luzietti

Customer Service Numbers

Little Rock Toll-freeCategory Number (501) Number

State/Public School Employees 378-2437 1-800-482-8416

e-mail: publicschoolemployees@arkbluecross.com stateemployees@arkbluecross.com

Medi-Pak (Medicare supplement) 378-3062 1-800-338-2312

Medicare (for beneficiaries only): Part A (hospital benefits) 378-3151 1-877-356-2368 Part B (physician benefits) 378-2320 1-800-482-5525

UniqueCare, UniqueCare Blue, BlueCare PPO & PPO Plus, BlueSelect® (individual products) 378-2010 1-800-238-8379

Group Services 378-5579 1-800-421-1112

BlueCard® 378-2127 1-800-880-0918

Federal Employee Program (FEP) 378-2531 1-800-482-6655

Health Advantage 221-3733 1-800-843-1329

Medi-Pak HMO (Health Advantage) 954-5200 1-800-354-9904

USAble Administrators 378-3600 1-800-522-9878

For information about obtaining coverage, call:Little Rock Toll-free

Category Number (501) Number

Medi-Pak (Medicare supplement) 378-2937 1-800-392-2583

UniqueCare Blue, BlueCare PPO & PPO Plus, Blue Select® (individual products) 378-2937 1-800-392-2583

Medi-Pak HMO (Health Advantage) 378-6987 1-800-588-5706

Regional Office locations:Central Little RockNortheast JonesboroNorthwest FayettevilleSouth Central Hot SpringsSoutheast Pine BluffSouthwest TexarkanaWest Central Fort Smith

Customers who live in these regions may contact the regionaloffices or call the appropriate toll-free telephone numbers above.

Web sites: www.arkansasbluecross.comwww.healthadvantage-hmo.com

INSIDETHIS ISSUE

~AUTUMN 2000~

Exercise — a requirement ........................ 4-5Get back in action ....................................... 5Diseases of the prostate gland .................... 6Heart Attack ................................................ 7Parenting for dads ....................................... 8Testicular cancer ......................................... 9Cholesterol facts ......................................... 9Breast cancer ............................................ 10Living with diabetes .................................. 11Prescription medication info ..................... 12Focus on Men’s Health (Tips for dads, Get yourshots, High blood pressure) ................................ 13Leading the way(get to know some of Arkansas’ legislators) ....... 14-15Health Advantage news for members ......... 16Discounts for members .............................. 16Health issues on the Web .......................... 17Take a stand against domestic violence .... 18New board members .................................. 18Blue & Your Community ............................. 19Clearly Blue (a terminology guide) .................... 20E-mail Blue & You! ..................................... 20

4 Exercise — a requirementThe majority of adults — male

and female alike — tend to avoidexercise. Most people are aware ofthe benefits of exercise. It improvesyour overall health, lowers your riskof disease and is essential as you ageto maintain quality of life. Yet,according to the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention, more than60 percent of adults do not achievethe recommended amount of regularphysical activity. In fact, 25 percentof all adults are not active at all.

Men might think they can stay ingood shape if they do a little weightlifting. They do have more musclemass than women. To maintain goodhealth, however, men — and women— need three kinds of exercise:aerobic, strength training andflexibility.

Aerobic exerciseAerobic exercise helps to keep

your lungs, heart and circulatorysystem healthy. Aerobic exerciseincreases your breathing and heartrate and builds endurance. It shouldbe rhythmic and continuous.Walking, jogging, cycling, dancing,stair climbing, cross-country skiing,rowing and swimming are examples.To keep your heart healthy, you needat least 20 to 40 minutes of this typeof exercise three times a week.

Strength TrainingStrength exercises build your

muscles. These exercises involve theuse of progressively heavierresistance in the form of weights,bands or exercise machines.

Without regular strengthtraining, you will lose muscle mass

after age 25. A study published inthe Journal of Neurological Scienceshowed that men lose approximately40 percent of total skeletal musclemass from age 24 to 80.

With strength training, musclecells get larger, and their demand forenergy increases. This results inburning more calories. This highermetabolism helps to keep weight andblood sugar in check.

If you are new to weighttraining, find someone professionallytrained to help you get started. Usingweights improperly can cause injuryto muscles and joints. A communityfitness center is a good place to findan advisor. Once you learn the basictechniques, you can do weighttraining on your own. You don’tneed fancy equipment. Soup cansor milk jugs filled with water orsand will work.

Your goal is to increase graduallythe number of repetitions you can doand the amount of weight you canhandle. About 30 to 40 minutes twoto three times a week is enough tomaintain muscle tone.

FlexibilityFlexibility exercises involve

stretching and are often overlooked,especially by men. Stretchingincreases your physical performanceand decreases your risk of injury. Ithelps keep your body limber.Flexibility exercises also increaseblood flow to your joints, improvebalance, decrease your risk of lowerback pain and reduce stress inmuscles. Stretching is a good way torelax mentally and physically. Youshould do five to 10 minutes of

To maintain

good health,

however, men

need three kinds

of exercise:

aerobic,

strength

training

and flexibility.

5stretching before and after aworkout.

Another important and oftenoverlooked type of exercise isbalance exercise. This type becomesmore important as you age to helpprevent falls. Some balance exercisesbuild up your leg muscles; othersrequire you to do simple activitiessuch as briefly standing on one leg.

Rather than thinking of exerciseas a separate part of your life, try toincorporate it into your dailyactivities. Don’t park your car at thespace closest to the door. Walk alittle. Use the stairs instead of theelevator, if only for one or two floors.At work, use your lunch break totake a stroll. At home, do houseworkand yardwork.

The key to any exercise programis to stay motivated. It helps to findan exercise buddy, who canencourage you and go through theexercise program with you.

Once you make a habit ofexercise, you will feel betterphysically and mentally and have abetter self-image. Your body will lookbetter too as it becomes leaner andmore toned.

Consult a physician beforebeginning an exercise program. Agood place to start is by visitinghttp://www.healthfinder.gov, a Website that serves as a gateway toselected consumer health and humanservices information resourcesprovided by U.S. governmentagencies and other organizationsserving the public interest. Followthe links smart choices>preventionand self-care>healthy living.

for good health, not an option

Back pain is perhaps the mosttangible yet ambiguous of afflictions.Many people suffer from it or haveexperienced it at least once in theirlifetime. Yet its origin and causescan be attributed to a multitudeof factors.

Most back pain is caused bytrauma, spinal deformity or musclestrain and can start anywhere fromthe neck to lower spine. Only about10 percent of all back pain is theresult of systemic illness.

Back pain can be localized or canspread across a wide area and radiatefrom one central spot. The exactcause of back pain can be hard topinpoint since the source can be softtissue, nerves, disc or bone.

Risk factors for low back paininclude: cigarette smoking, repetitive

or heavy lifting and exposure to vibration caused by heavy vehicles or indus-trial machinery.

Back pain has been associated with sports, such as cross-country skiingand prolonged vehicle driving. Diseases such as spinal osteoarthritis, spondyli-tis and compression fractures also can cause back pain. Some of these diseasesare more common in the elderly, who are at a higher risk for back pain.

Here are some facts about the impact of back pain:• It is the most common medical disorder in the industrialized world.• Low back pain disables 5.4 million Americans and costs the United States

roughly $16 billion each year.• Seventy percent of those with back pain recover within a month. Symptoms

persist for six months or longer in just four percent of cases, but this smallpercentage accounts for 85 percent of the money spent on treatment andcompensation for low back pain.

If you would like more information, see your primary care physician orchiropractic physician. Other sources include the American ChiropracticAssociation [www.amerchiro.org]; the Foundation of Chiropractic Educationand Research [www.fcer.org]; American College of Rheumatology[www.rheumatology.org]; and the Arthritis Foundation [www.arthritis.org].

— Sources: American College of Rheumatology and Healthtouch.com.

Get back in actionGet back in action

That’s the bad news.The good news is that

prostate cancer is treatable,if it is detected early.Usually, prostate cancer israrely seen in men betweenthe ages of 30 and 40.Prostate cancer becomesmore common in African-American men after age 40,and after age 50 for Caucasian men. Approximately 80percent of prostate cancer occurs in men 65 or older.

Prostate cancer, which is not related to BPH, is amore serious problem than BPH. Sometimesthere are no symptoms of prostate cancer;however, some men may experience a weaken-ing of the urinary stream or the need to urinatemore often. Symptoms of advanced prostatecancer may include blood in the urine, impo-tence, and pain in the pelvis, spine, hip or ribs.

If prostate cancer is detected, treatmentoptions include: surgery (removal of theprostate); radiation therapy; seed implantationor prostate cancer brachytherapy; orcryosurgery.

The Prostate Specific Antigen or PSA testThere is a blood test, the PSA test, which

can be performed by your physician to checkfor the risk of prostate cancer. However, a normal readingdoes not mean a man does not have prostate cancer; andthe reverse is true, an abnormal reading does not mean aman has prostate cancer.

Many men will have an elevated PSA because theyhave BPH. Because BPH and prostate cancer may elevatePSA levels in the blood, the PSA test is not a true diag-nostic test for prostate cancer. Rather, a PSA test com-bined with a rectal exam are screening examinations todetermine who has a higher risk for prostate cancer. Ifyour physician determines that you are at “high risk” forprostate cancer, he will recommend a prostate biopsy.

Health Advantage Medi-Pak HMO recommends thatits members receive a PSA test every 12 months. If youare a member of Medi-Pak HMO, please take advantageof this recommendation.

If you are having problems with your prostate gland,please contact your physician for a diagnosis and appro-priate treatment.

— Sources: WebMD, www.prostatehealth.com and theMale Health Center (www.malehealthcenter.com).

What is a prostate gland? It is a walnut-sizedstructure, which is located around the maleurethra at the base of the bladder. It provides fluidfor ejaculation. It is an essential part of the malereproductive system as it collects and produces aclear fluid that is part of a man’s semen.

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy(enlargement of the prostate gland)

By age 50, more than half of all men (or10 million Americans) have a condition calledbenign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).

BPH is not life threatening, but itcauses uncomfortable symptoms includ-ing: difficulty starting the urine stream;a need to urinate frequently, especiallyat night; and a feeling of incompletebladder emptying. Home remedies forBPH include:• Drink as little fluid as possible after

6 p.m. Cut down on fluids with caffeine.• Get up and urinate as soon as you feel

the urge, then stand there a minute ormore and urinate again.

• Relax.• Have intercourse frequently.• Get some physical exercise.• Avoid antihistamines.• Stay warm during cold weather.• Soak in a warm bath or hot tub for 20 minutes

2 or 3 times per day.• Avoid prolonged sitting.

Treatment options your physician mayrecommend for BPH include: watchful waiting;drug therapy; surgery; electrovaporization;needle ablation; laser therapy; balloon dilation;and stents.

Prostate cancerEach year, approximately 100,000 men are

diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than30,000 men die from the disease. It

is the No. 1 cancer of menin the United States

and the No. 2 killer,just behind lungcancer. The rates ofprostate cancer are32 percent higherin African-Ameri-can men than

Caucasian men.

Diseases of the

prostate gland

symptoms,

treatment

and prevention

Diseases of the

prostate gland

symptoms,

treatment

and prevention

Heart attack!7You are having trouble breathing. Youhave a shooting pain in your left arm.You have chest pain. Chances are, youare having a heart attack.

However, sometimes the obvious signsof a heart attack may be absent. Although mostpeople have recognizable heart attack symptoms,studies have shown that many people have heart attacks

without evenknowing it.According to arecent studypublished in theJournal of theAmerican MedicalAssociation,approximately one-third of heart attackvictims showed up

at the hospital without chest pain. Such patients weremore than twice as likely to die, partly because of thedelay in going to the hospital. Women, non-whites,people older than 75 and those with previous heartfailure, stroke or diabetes were the most likely to havepainless heart attacks.

Additionally, the Journal of the American Collegeof Cardiology published a study recently stating thatmore than one in five people over the age of 65 whohave heart attacks have unrecognized heart attacks. Ofthe participants in the study, an electrocardiogramindicated that one in five of the participants had previousheart attacks.

Because these silent heart attacks go undetected,they can’t be treated. This increases the chance ofunderlying heart disease advancing and causinganother, moreserious, heartattack later.

Each year,approximately 1.5million people inthe United Stateshave a heart attack— and 500,000 ofthem die. Heartattacks claim morelives than any other

single cause of death.There are some risk factors for a

heart attack that you can’t control.Those are increasing age, gender (men

are more at risk than women), race(African-Americans and other minority

groups are more likely to have high blood pressure thanCaucasians), diabetes and family medical history. Be sureand have regular checkups with your physicianespecially if you have risk factors that you can’t control.

Risk factors you can control include smoking, highcholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, physicalinactivity and diet.

What is a heart attack?

Heart attacks result from blood vessel disease in theheart. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply topart of the heart muscleitself is severely reduced orstopped. If the blood supplyis cut off severely or for along time, muscle cellssuffer irreversible injuryand die. Disability or deathmay result. But heartattacks may be stopped inprogress and muscle damagereduced if they’re treatedwithin a few (usually one tothree) hours.

To reduce your risk of a heart attack,remember the following:• Do not start smoking. If you smoke, quit.• Recognize and treat high blood pressure and diabetes.• Avoid excessive use of alcohol.• Be physically active.• Eat a healthful diet.• Have regular medical checkups.

— Sources: Arkansas Chapter of theAmerican Heart Association,CNN.com, Journal of the AmericanMedical Association and Journalof the American College ofCardiology.

Heart attack!

Gone are the days whenMom was the primarycaregiver for the childrenwhile Dad was relegated to asecondary role — usually asthe disciplinarian. Today’sDad is ready and willing tochange the diapers, carpoolthe kids and help with thehomework.

That’s good news for everyone — especially children.Numerous studies have shown that children benefit fromhaving a caring and involved father present in their lives.Studies have indicated that:• Fatherless children are at a greater risk of suicide.

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)• In a study involving children of divorced parents by

the Children’s Psychiatric Hospital at theUniversity of Michigan, 63 percent of thechildren had subjective psychological prob-lems, 56 percent had poor grades compared topast performance, and 43 percent exhibitedaggression toward their parents.

• Among the teenage and adult population offemales, parental divorce has been associatedwith lower self-esteem, precocious sexualactivity, greater delinquent-like behavior andmore difficulty establishing gratifying adultrelationships. (Neil Kalter, Ph.D., University ofMichigan, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.)

• Daughters of single parents are 53 percent more likelyto marry as teenagers, 164 percent more likely to have

a premarital birth and93 percent more likelyto dissolve their ownmarriages. The U.S.Department of Healthand Human Servicesalso reports that therewere more than1,000,000 docu-

mented child abuse cases in 1990. More than 60percent of perpetrators were women with sole custody.Shared parenting can significantly reduce the stressassociated with sole custody and reduce the isolationof children in abusive situations by allowing them tohave time with both parents.

• The National Fatherhood Institute reports that 18million children live in poverty in single-parent homes.

Nearly 75percent ofAmericanchildren living insingle-parent homes will experience poverty.

There is no doubt that having both parents in thehome, or extensively involved in the children’s lives,makes happier, more well-adjusted children. That doesn’tmean that all children in single-parent homes will haveacademic or other problems, it just indicates thatchances are greater that they might.

It is the parents’ (whether married or divorced)responsibility to make sure the children benefit fromwhat each parent has to offer. Research shows over andover again that the relationship that children have withtheir parents along with effective parenting (love, disci-pline and behavior-monitoring) are the most important

factors leading to whether children will partici-pate in “high-risk” behaviors.

Raising children in today’s society is noteasy, and it is not for wimps. As a reminder,focus on the following:• Relationship (creating a healthy relationship

with your children)• Stewardship (providing for the physical

needs)• Development (adapting to meet ever-

changing needs)• Ethical (teaching values and morals)

• Spiritual (helping children to obtain purpose and joy)• Recreation (helping children to relax and have fun)• Mentoring (helping older children learn parenting

skills).Fatherhood is probably

the hardest job you will everlove. Define fatherhood inyour own terms, as suitablefor your children’s needs.Times have changed sinceyou were a child, and the roleof the father has changedwith it. It is important to addyour own values and tradi-tions to those passed on toyou from your own father.

— Sources: University ofFlorida, Fatherwork and theNational Center for Fathering.

Children need their father!Dads aren’t just for discipline anymoreChildren need their father!Dads aren’t just for discipline anymore

9Lance Armstrong recoveredfrom testicular cancer and anaggressive treatment program to winthe Tour de France bicycle marathontwo years in a row.

Testicular cancer is the mostcommon type of cancer in menbetween the ages of 18 and 34.However, when detected early, it isone of the easiest to cure.

If undetected at its earliest stages, it may spreadthroughout the lymph node system and other parts of thebody. It is particularly dangerous because there are usuallyno symptoms associated with it. But, several predisposingfactors may place some men at higher risk: past medicalhistory of undescended testicle, mumps orchitis, inguinalhernia during childhood or previous testicular cancer.

All men should perform monthly testicular self-examinations (TSE) just as women are encouraged to domonthly breast self-examinations. The optimal time toperform the examination is while in the shower. Bothhands should be used to examine each testicle with thethumbs in front and the first two fingers behind thetesticle. The testicle should be rolled between the fingers

A TSE could be a lifesaverand the thumb, feeling for any lumps or bumps.

Testicular cancer usually starts as a small pea-sized lump. It probably would not be noticed unless self-exams were routinely performed. And, finding a lump isno reason to panic (lumps or bumps in the testicle arenot always cancer), but it is a reason to see your physi-cian for an examination.

Immense advances have been made in diagnosis andtreatment. Besidesself-exams, thereare specific bloodtests to screen fortesticular cancerand sound wavescan visualize thetesticle for anyabnormalities.

Treatment of testicular cancer includes surgery(removal of the testicle and associated lymph nodes),radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

If symptoms occur, call your physician for an ap-pointment. If you are a male (15 or older), your physi-cian should be performing routine testicular screeningsduring physical examinations.

Why should men worry aboutcholesterol?

The answer is simple: thehigher your cholesterol, the greater your risk ofgetting heart disease — the No. 1 killer of men in theUnited States.

How much cholesterol is too much?The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recom-

mends that you keep your total cholesterol level at lessthan 200 mg/dL. A level of 200 to 239 is borderline-high,and greater than 240 is high.

What exactly is cholesterol?Cholesterol is a lipid — a soft, fat-like substance. It is

found in all body tissues and is critical to good health —but in reasonable quantities. Cholesterol is produced bythe body (mainly, the liver) and ingested in food, espe-cially animal products, such as meat, poultry, seafood,dairy products and eggs. Vegetables, fruit, grains andcereals contain no dietary cholesterol.

What happens when my cholesterol is too high?When you have too much cholesterol in your blood,

the excess builds up along the walls of the arteries thatcarry blood to the heart. Called atherosclerosis or harden-ing of the arteries, this condition narrows the arteries,slows blood flow and reduces the amount of oxygenreaching the heart.

What affects my cholesterol level?• High intake of saturated fat, dietary cholesterol and

excess calories can increase blood cholesterol levels.• Being overweight.• Heredity may influence how

your body makes and handlescholesterol.

• Your cholesterol levels begin torise after age 20.

(Cholesterol, continued onPage 12)

CCCCCHOLESTEROLHOLESTEROLHOLESTEROLHOLESTEROLHOLESTEROL F F F F FACTSACTSACTSACTSACTS

Breast Cancer -- Not just for women

Breast cancer is not a disease for women only.October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, andit is important for men to know that they are not immuneto this serious disease.

Although the incidence of breast cancer in women issignificantly higher than in men — an estimated 175,000women and 1,400 men will be diagnosedwith breast cancer this year — the fact is,breast cancer can occur in men.

Actor Richard Roundtree, who starredin movies such as Shaft, has been seen onnumerous talk shows recently discussinghis experience with breast cancer.Roundtree and many others who are lessfamous have been sharing their stories toencourage men not to let breast cancersneak up on them and perhaps reducetheir odds for successful treatment.

As with women who have breastcancer, early diagnosis and early treatment are critical tomen surviving the disease.

Some of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer inmen include:• Breast lump or swelling (usually painless, but not

always)• Nipple discharge (usually bloody)• Nipple inversion or retraction (turning inward)• Skin dimpling or puckering• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin• Occasionally, local pain, itching or pulling sensation.

Risk factors of breast cancer in men include:• Family history of breast cancer• Klinefelter’s Syndrome — a rare, genetic condition in

males; with this syndrome men have an extra sexchromosome and do not produce enough testosterone

• Gynecomastia — this is an enlargement of the malebreast and may be related to Klinefelter’s syndrome,chronic diseases such as liver or heart disease, or a

variety of drugs used to treat chronicdiseases. Remember that most

breast lumps in men are due togynecomastia and not cancer.• Testicular Dysfunction• Radiation exposure (usually

from treatment of a cancer insidethe chest).

The treatment of breast cancer in men is the same astreatment for women patients and usually includes acombination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and/orhormone therapy.

The survival rate of men with breast cancer iscomparable to women by disease stage at the time ofdiagnosis. However, men are usually diagnosed at a laterstage, after the cancer has spread, because they are lesslikely to report any symptoms. In addition, among somemen, there’s an embarrassment factor with a diagnosis ofbreast cancer and a worry that someone might questiontheir masculinity. Cancer is no respecter of persons.Although physiology in men and women are different, allpeople have breast tissue. Like all cells of the body, aman’s breast duct cells can undergo cancerous changes.

Many men’s breast cancers can be found early bytheir health care professional if they simply have regularcheckups, but men who have any changes in their chest/breast area should report them to a medical professionalimmediately. And don’t leave it to a health care profes-sional to guess where the change is; be specific aboutsuspicions or locations of lumps. Some people visit theirdoctor with the idea that if the doctor doesn’t find it,there’s nothing there. If you find a lump or know there’sa discharge or other symptom, show it to your doctor.

Even if a man never develops breast cancer himself,chances are high that he will experience the disease

through a diagnosis in his wife, mother,daughter, sister, aunt, niece, co-worker,friend or neighbor. Many men actuallydiscover lumps in their partner’s breasts.And like other diseases, breast cancerimpacts all of those around the personwho has the illness and fights the battleto survive.

History has a way of teaching futuregenerations if people will listen and learnfrom the past. It hasn’t been too manyyears ago that women feared saying thewords “breast cancer,” let alone consid-

ered discussing it with anyone ... and many womenperhaps died unnecessarily. Men should not ignore thereality that they can develop breast cancer and certainlyshould not ignore the warning signs.

— Sources: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundationand the American Cancer Society.

Breast Cancer -- Not just for women

11D iabetes is a killer. About that, make no mistake.Those who suffer from the disease and are in control of itcan lead relatively normal lives. But diabetes will not betaken lightly.

Diabetes and its complications kill someone in theUnited States every three minutes — the equivalent to ajumbo jet plane crashingevery day with no survivors.

Even diabetics whomaintain good control oftheir blood glucose levels arelikely to experience somesort of complication relatedto the disease because ofdamage to large and small blood vessels affecting thekidneys, heart, eyes, nerves and gums. Diabetes is aleading cause of kidney disease, blindness, heart disease,gum disease, stroke and amputations.

Just what is diabetes? Diabetes is a series of condi-tions in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are abnor-mally high. It occurs because the immune systems ofthose affected attack and destroy the body’s insulin-producing cells. It is not known why this happens, butscientists speculate a combination of factors could beinvolved, such as exposure to common viruses at ayoung age and genetics.

Diabetes entails two main types: type 1, or juvenile-onset diabetes; and type 2, or adult-onset diabetes.Anyone is susceptible, regardless of age, race or gender,although type 1 diabetes generally strikes infants,children and young adults. Until a cure is found, itremains with its victims for a lifetime.

Type 1 diabetics require insulin injections to live.Insulin is not a cure. In type 1 diabetics, the pancreasstops producing insulin — the hormone necessary for theproper metabolism to digest foods (the process by whichglucose is allowed to enter body cells) — or doesn’tproduce enough insulin. In people without diabetes, thepancreas produces just enough insulin necessary to breakdown the intake of blood glucose.

In type 2 diabetics, the pancreas continues to pro-duce insulin, but the insulin is unable to break down theblood glucose. Type 2 diabetics generally are able to treattheir condition with oral medication, diet and exercise.Some still require insulin injections.

Symptoms of diabetes are not hard to detect. Theyinclude:• Frequent urination.• Increased thirst.

• Increased hunger.• Unexplained weight loss.• Extreme fatigue, lethargy.

If you have family members who have diabetes, beaware of these symptoms. It is believed genetics plays afactor in the contraction of the disease. If you havediabetes, remember that keeping your blood sugar levelsas close to normal is the only way to help reduce the riskof long-term effects from the disease.

Questions diabetics may want to ask theirdoctor include:• What is my glycosylated hemoglobin (a test that

measures blood sugar levels over a two-to-three monthperiod). What is a normal glycosylated hemoglobinreading?

• How can I get my glycosylated hemoglobin in thenormal range?

• How often and under what conditions should I test myblood sugar? What should I do with the results, andwhat patterns should I try to achieve?

• Do I havemicroalbuminuria(detection of tinyamounts of albumin inurine indicating earlydiabetic kidney disease)?

• What effect has diabeteshad on my eyes andkidneys? (Diabetics should visit their eye doctor for adiabetic checkup at least twice a year.)

• When should I consult a dietician to review my diet?• What exercises are best for me and what adjustments

to my food or insulin intake should I make if I planto exercise?

• What should my family and friends do if my bloodsugar goes so low that I need their help?

• How should I take care of my feet?• Are there any diabetes group meetings I could attend

in my area?A cure for this disease is believed to be right around

the corner. In the meantime, diabetescan be controlled. But each indi-vidual affected by the diseasemust decide how tight thatcontrol will be.

— Sources: National DiabetesInformation Clearinghouse andHealthtouch.com.

Living with diabetes Living with diabetes

12Changes to the three-tier formulary

Many employee groups covered by Arkansas BlueCross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage utilize athree-tier co-payment benefit plan for prescriptionmedications: Tier 3 is for brand-name prescriptionmedications, which have the highest co-payment; Tier 2is for brand-name prescription medications with the mid-range co-payment; and Tier 1 is for generic prescriptionmedications, which have the lowest co-payment.Changes to the tiers are made (usually two times peryear) based on the safety, effectiveness and cost effi-ciency of medications in the same category. Effectivenessand safety are always the first considerations. If a lessexpensive medication becomes available that is just assafe and effective as a more expensive medication, themore expensive medication may move to a higher tier.

How changes will affect membersEffective Oct. 1, 2000, some medications will be

moved to Tier 3. Members using one of the medicationsbeing moved may continue to use these medications at ahigher co-payment. Or, the member may request fromtheir physician a generic medication or a medication inthe second tier.

Three-Tier Formulary ChangesMedications moving from Tier 2 to Tier 31. Accutane for treatment of acne2. Arava for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis3. Cardizem CD to treat high blood pressure4. Cleocin T for treatment of acne5. Corgard for treatment of high blood pressure6. Diabeta for treatment of type 2 diabetes7. Enbrel for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis8. Equagesic for pain relief9. Glynase for treatment of type 2 diabetes10. Infertility medications11. Injectable medications12. Lamisil for treatment of fungus infections13. Librax for relief of gastrointestinal disorders14. Lupron Depot hormone injection15. Micronase for treatment of type 2 diabetes16. Relenza for treatment of viral infections17. Sporanox for treatment of fungus infections18. Tamiflu for treatment of viral infections19. Ticlid for stroke prevention

For your informationFor your informationFor your informationFor your informationFor your informationprescription medicationprescription medicationprescription medicationprescription medicationprescription medication

formulary changesformulary changesformulary changesformulary changesformulary changes

What is the difference between good cholesterol andbad cholesterol?

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) are the two cholesterol carriers. Toomuch LDL-cholesterol causes buildup, so LDL is knownas the bad cholesterol. The buildup, which becomes thickand hard, is called plaque. HDL-cholesterol, or goodcholesterol, helps remove cholesterol from the blood andhelps prevent fatty buildup.

How can I lower my cholesterol level?The first step is to watch your diet.Eat foods that are:

• Low in saturated fat. Saturated fat raises your choles-terol levels more than anything else you eat. Read foodlabels to determine which foods have saturated fat andwhich have unsaturated fat (monounsaturated andpolyunsaturated).

• Low in total fat. These foods have less saturated fatand fewer calories.

• High in starch and fiber. Breads,cereals, pastas, grains, fruits andvegetables are examples. They are low infat and calories and high in vitaminsand minerals.

• Low in cholesterol. Dietarycholesterol, which is presentonly in foods that come fromanimals, raises blood choles-terol, but not as much assaturated fat. Liver and eggyolks are low in saturated fatbut high in cholesterol. Eggwhites, vegetables and fruitshave no dietary cholesterol.

One good source of informa-tion about cholesterol is theAmerican Heart Association.Visit their Web site at http://www.americanheart.org/cholesterol.

(Cholesterol, continued from Page 9)

FYIFYI

M E N ’ S

10 things for Dad to do with the kids1. Fly a kite.2. Read a book.3. Have a picnic.4. Go swimming, fishing or hiking.5. Visit a museum.6. Ride bikes.7. Enjoy a movie.8. Go bowling or skating.9. Play board games or charades at home.10. Snuggle.

Get your shotsInfluenza (better known as the flu) and pneumonia

are no fun. To ensure a healthy fall and winter, takepreventive measures and get your vaccines. You may beat risk if you are in one of the following categories:• Persons aged 65 or older.• Persons aged 2 to 64 who have chronic illnesses such as

cardiovascular disease including congestive heart failure(CHF), cardiomyopathies and chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD), recurrent bronchitis,emphysema, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, chronic liverdisease, cirrhosis, cystic fibrosis, functional or anatomicasplenia, or sickle cell disease.

• Persons who are smokers.• Persons aged 2 to 64 who are in special environments

such as nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.• Persons 2 and older who have functional or anatomic

asplenia (including sickle cell disease), Hodgkin’sdisease, lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma,chronic renal failure and other conditions such as organtransplantation, cancer treatments and drug regimenscausing immunosuppression and HIV infection.

If you appear at risk, you will be receiving a re-minder card from Health Advantage encouraging you toget your vaccines. Both vaccines may be taken at thesame time at the onset of the flu season (early October).Most people only need one pneumonia vaccination toimmunize them for the rest of their lives. Others mayneed another shot every five years. See your primary carephysician with questions or for more information.

➙

Did you know ...Men live, on the average,

about 7 years less than women

in the United States.

Some believe it is because women

visit their doctors more often.

High blood pressure:Do you have it?

According to utilization statistics from Arkansas BlueCross and Blue Shield, high blood pressure is the No. 1reason that our male members visit their physician.

High blood pressure is called the “silent killer”because there are no symptoms. You may look and feelfine while your blood pressure is soaring to dangerouslevels. So what can you do? Learn what causes highblood pressure and what you can do to decrease yourrisk of having high blood pressure.

What is high blood pressure?Two numbers are being measured when you have

your blood pressure checked by a medical professional.The first number (systolic pressure) measures thepressure in your arteries while your heart beats. Thesecond number (diastolic pressure) measures the pres-sure while your heart rests between beats.

Normal blood pressure falls within a range; it’s notone set of numbers. It should be less than 140/90 if youare an adult. If your blood pressure goes above thisthreshold and stays there, you have high blood pressure.

What causes high blood pressure?In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, the

cause is unknown. You could have it for years withoutknowing it. In the other five percent of cases, there isusually an underlying problem such as a kidney abnor-mality or congenital heart defect.

What can you do about high blood pressure?• Maintain a normal, healthy weight.• Decrease salt intake.• Take medications as prescribed

by your physician.• Do not start smoking and

if you are a smoker, quit.If you are experiencing

symptoms of high bloodpressure, please visit yourphysician for diagnosis andtreatment.

— Source: American Heart Association.

14 This issue of Blue & You continues our mission to introduce ourstate senators and representatives of the Arkansas General Assembly toour customers.

Rep. Jo Carson (D)(Dist. 13) Fort SmithAging, Children & Youth,Legislative and MilitaryAffairs; Judiciary(O) 501-785-2326(H) 501-646-2111

Rep. Keith Davis (D)(Dist. 89) WeinerAgriculture & EconomicDevelopment; Jointperformance Review;Judiciary(O) 870-252-3283(H) 870-684-7558

Rep. George French (D)(Dist. 82) MonticelloVice-Chairman, Rules;Agriculture & EconomicDevelopment;Education; HouseManagement; Joint Budget(O/H) 870-367-2804

Rep. Phillip Jacobs (D)(Dist. 25) ClarksvilleVice-Chairman, JointPerformance Review; City,County & Local Affairs;Public Transportation(O) 501-754-2924(H) 501-754-3036

Rep. Gene Jeffress (D)(Dist. 38) LouannAgriculture & EconomicDevelopment; Joint Retirement& Social Security;Public Transportation(O) 870-837-1300(H) 870-689-3537

Rep. Steve Jones (D)(Dist. 95) West MemphisAging, Children & Youth,Legislative and Military Affairs;Public Transportation; Rules(O/H) 870-739-2137

Rep. Janice Judy (D)(Dist. 7) FayettevilleAging, Children & Youth,Legislative and Military Affairs;Public Transportation(O)501-643-3500(H) 501-521-4194

Rep. Jim Milligan (D)(Dist. 39) YellvilleAgriculture & EconomicDevelopment; Energy; Judiciary(O/H) 870-449-6775

Rep. Andrew Morris (R)(Dist. 5) Siloam SpringsAgriculture & EconomicDevelopment; Education; JointAdvanced Communications& Information Technology(O) 501-549-6351(H) 501-750-1845

LeadingLeading

15These elected officials spend numerous hours working on health careissues that affect you. (Upcoming issues of Blue & You will featureadditional profiles of our legislators.)

Rep. Larry Prater (D)(Dist. 10) RudyCity, County & Local Affairs;Joint Performance Review;Judiciary(O/H) 501-474-6246

Rep. Paul Weaver (D)(Dist 67) Violet HillCity, County & Local Affairs;Education; Joint Retirement& Social Security(O/H) 870-322-7338

Rep. Robert White (D)(Dist. 37) CamdenAgriculture & EconomicDevelopment; Judiciary(O) 870-574-4500 (H) 870-231-4285

Rep. Henry Wilkins (D)(Dist. 73) Pine BluffAging, Children & Youth,Legislative and MilitaryAffairs; Joint Retirement &Social Security; PublicTransportation(O/H) 870-535-4488

Rep. Arnell Willis (D)(Dist. 99) West HelenaAging, Children & Youth,Legislative and Military Affairs;Education; Join Retirement& Social Security(O) 870-572-7700(H) 870-572-7717

Sen. John Riggs (D)(Dist. 16) Little RockCity, County & Local Affairs;Committee on Committees;Education; Joint AdvancedCommunications & InformationTechnology; Transportation,Aging & Legislative Affairs(O) 501-570-3100(H) 501-223-8916

Sen. Tim Wooldridge (D)(Dist. 30) ParagouldVice-Chairman, Agriculture,Economic & IndustrialDevelopment; Committee onCommittees; Transportation,Aging & Legislative Affairs(O) 870-236-6901(H) 870-239-8763

the Waythe Way

16 Health Advantage

members —

take note!TO ALL HEALTH ADVANTAGE MEMBERS:

Do you have a primary carephysician listed on your HealthAdvantage ID card?

Check your card right now!If your answer is no, call us

immediately at (501) 221-3733 ortoll-free 1-800-843-1329.

When enrolling with HealthAdvantage, all members (thisincludes the contract holder, spouseand all dependents as applicable)must select a Primary Care Physi-

cian (PCP) from the list of partici-pating providers. You will receivean ID card within 5-7 days with thePCP’s name on it. This card mustbe presented when seekingmedical care in order tohave claims paid promptlyand correctly.

Participating status of a pro-vider may be verified by contacting

the Health Advantage CustomerService Department or visiting ourWeb site www.healthadvantage-hmo.com. Failure to choose a PCPmay result in denied services. Also,the PCP is under no obligation toprovide services to Health Advan-tage members if they have notselected him or her as their PCP.Therefore, this could cause delaysin getting appointments andadditional paper work when you tryto schedule a visit.

Please call ourcustomer service depart-ment at (501) 221-3733 ortoll-free 1-800-843-1329

for assistance. Hours of operationare 8 a.m.–5 p.m, Monday-Friday.

A rkansas Blue Cross andBlue Shield, Health Advantage andUSAble Administrators are nowoffering a “wellness program” toall members.

The wellness program providesdiscounts at local health clubs,sporting good stores and fitnessequipment vendors statewide.Those participating and theirdiscounted services are listed onour Web sites by name and location(with phone numbers). See Webaddresses on Page 3.

Current participants are:Carr’s Chain Reaction Bicycle

(Russellville)Country Squire Sports

(West Memphis)Curves for Women

(36 locations statewide)Fitness Concepts, Inc. (Little Rock)Hot Springs Athletics and

Racquet ClubJazzercise of ConwayJean-Paul Fitness Specialists

(Little Rock)Minton’s SportsPlex

(Texarkana)

New Attitudes Wellness Center(Atlanta, Texas)

New Body Fitness (Heber Springs)Physiques Health and Fitness

(Magnolia)QuailTree Health & Racquet

(Harrison)Sports Depot, Inc. (Morrilton)Ultimate Fitness

(Cabot and Jacksonville)Xtreme Fitness

(Conway and Sherwood)Bess Chisum Stephens YWCA

(Little Rock)YMCA of El Dorado

Getting the discount is easy.Members simply show their indi-vidual or family health insuranceID card at the time of purchase.New venues will be added to theWeb site directory as the networkdevelops, so check the site periodi-cally for your favorite health club orsporting goods store. To find outmore about available services andproduct discounts, call the programparticipants directly.

Arkansas Blue Cross and BlueShield’s Northwest Regional Office,headquartered in Fayetteville, is onthe move. On Thursday, Nov. 30,2000, the office will close at noonto move to its new location at 516East Millsap Road, Fayetteville, AR72703. The office will reopen onMonday, Dec. 4. Office telephonenumbers will remain the same.

Northwest Regional➔ Office Moving

Have we got a discount for you! $ ➘ $ ➘ $ ➘ $Have we got a discount for you! $ ➘ $ ➘ $ ➘ $Disclaimer NoticeThis discount program is not an endorsementof any services, products or businesses. Youare responsible for selecting your own fitnessor wellness vendors and products and shouldnot rely on this discount program to select orrecommend any vendor or product for you.You should always consult your own physicianbefore engaging in any exercise or fitnessroutine or before using any fitness products,dietary supplements or other products orservices offered by fitness vendors. We havenot inspected or evaluated the facilities,products or services of any of the businessesparticipating in this discount program forsafety, quality or appropriateness; you willneed to inspect, evaluate and make your ownindependent judgment in each case beforeselecting a fitness vendor or product.

The national Blue Cross Blue Shield Association(BCBSA) has launched a new public policy Web site:http://www.BCBSHealthIssues.com. The site, which isaccessible to the public, provides balanced, credibleinformation, reflecting different viewpoints on public-policy issues that affect health care coverage.

Site visitors may register on two levels. If theychoose to register on the first level (news registration),they will receive news and information via e-mail andhave access to a more comprehensive “Health CareHeadlines” section. The second level (activistregistration) encourages users to “Take Action,” whichleads them to the “Action Center.” This center allowsthem to speak out and voice their stand on the issues.Registration on this level automatically matches users totheir congressional and state legislative districts andenables them to send faxes to their congressional

representatives from the site. Activist users also willreceive “action alerts” and e-mail updates on key issues.

Site FeaturesThe major features of the health issues site are:

• “Top Story” is a key message, which will changefrequently and link to additional information.

• “BCBS Top News” lists important breaking news.• “Today’s Health Care Headlines” is a news monitor-

ing service that searches more than 1,000 sources —including Associated Press, Internet Wires, UPI,Knight-Ridder, US Newswire and PR Newswire — fortopics associated with health insurance, managed care,Medicaid/Medicare, and health care legislation.Information is updated throughout the day.

• “Search” engines appear on every page. Users cansearch the entire site or may choose to search morethan 5,000 other public-policy and political Web sites.In addition, users can search federal legislation (via alink to the THOMAS site at http://thomas.loc.gov/)and regulatory information (via the National Archivessite at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/).

• “Sound Off” allows visitors a place to speak theirminds while remaining anonymous.

Three major menu items are accessible at the top ofevery page on the Web site: “Key Issues,” “Congress andState Legislatures” and “News and Research.”

Key Issues• “Key Issues” features a

pull-down menu of links:“Doctors Collective Bar-gaining,” “Right to Sue,”“Coverage for SmallBusiness,” “Patients’ Bill ofRights,” “Prescription DrugCosts for Seniors,” “TheUninsured,” and “RisingDrug Prices.” An overview, “Some Say,” “Others Say,”“BCBSA Position” and “Other Links” to supportingand opposing views are provided.

Political InformationBy clicking on “Congress and State Legislatures,”

viewers may access political information, including a linkthat assists them in registering to vote. Pull-downs are:

• “Guide to Congress” containsinformation, such as voting history,about every U.S. representative andsenator.• “Congressional Schedule” givesdaily House and Senate schedules and

weekly schedules for committee hearings.• “Congressional Bill Status/Tracking” lists the priority

federal bills that the association is tracking.• “Guide to the 2000 Election” examines this year’s

federal and state election races, including informationon the candidates and links to their Web sites.

• “State Capitol Watch” indexes major health legislationenacted in 1999 and identifies the most significantissue trends for 2000.

• “Guide to State Legislatures” provides information onstate legislators.

• “National Conference of State Legislatures” links tothe National Conference of State Legislatures site.

News and ResearchThe “News and Research” menu item at the top of

each page features a drop-down menu, where the factsand news stories about health care can be found. Thelinks include:• “Top Stories”• “Health Care Headlines”• “BCBS Newsroom”• “Understanding Health Insurance”• “Featured Research”• “Politics of Health Care”• “Presidential Candidates on Health Care”• “Health Care Polling Report.”

Health Issues Web Siteprovides public with information,

avenues for action

18

Robert V. Brothers of Rogers, James V. Kelley of ElDorado, and Patty Fulbright Smith of Texarkana havebeen elected to the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue ShieldBoard of Directors, according to Hayes McClerkin,chairman of the board.

“These three individuals bring to the ArkansasBlue Cross board of directors added expertise in theareas of financial management and community out-reach,” McClerkin said. “Their skills will greatly enhancethe ability of Arkansas Blue Cross to assess and servethe health care financing needs of our members andthe state.”

Brothers is president and chief executive officer ofARVEST Bank (formerly First National Bank and Trust) inRogers; Kelley is chairman, president and CEO of FirstUnited Bancshares, Inc., in El Dorado; and Smith isadministrative director of Opportunities, Inc. in Texarkana.

Approximately 95 percent of the victims of domes-tic violence are women.

The sad fact is that someone you know — a co-worker, sister or friend — may have been a victim ofdomestic violence at some point. According to theFederal Bureau of Investigation, approximately one out ofevery four women will become a victim of domesticviolence in her lifetime.

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the LittleRock Commission on Domestic Violence have joinedforces in a campaign to increase awareness in the LittleRock community about domestic violence.

The campaign, which features the slogan “Raise YourHand Against Abuse,” will be funded in part by the cityof Little Rock and will feature advertising in local news-papers and on local radio and television stations. A 24-hour toll-free telephone number is included in eachadvertisement for confidential assistance and referrals.The call center will serve as anoutsourcing center, giving referrals toboth victims and perpetrators.

“Domestic violence has been a‘hidden’ problem in our communi-ties,” said Bob Cabe, chief legalcounsel and executive vice presidentof Arkansas Blue Cross. “Every 15seconds a woman is beaten in our

country. This means that domes-tic violence is not only a serioussocial problem, but also asignificant health risk for manyof our citizens.

“Arkansas Blue Cross is veryproud to take part in a programthat will help Arkansans learnmore about this issue and letthem know there is confidentialhelp available and a place for victims and their childrento stay if needed,” added Cabe.

The Commission currently oversees two interventionand education programs in Little Rock. The DomesticViolence Intervention Program, which offers a 33-weekcourse for domestic violence offenders, served 846 clientsin 1999. After completion of the course, only 18 offend-ers were re-arrested for domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence OutreachProgram, a program for domesticviolence victims, served 1,035 survi-vors in 1999. For more informationon how to stop the cycle of domesticviolence, or for confidential help,call (501) 376-3219.

New Board Members Elected

Brothers Kelle y Smith

Take a stand against

domestic violenceTake a stand against

domestic violence

19Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield strives to be a

good corporate citizen. Our employees raise money andspend many hours helping those causes near and dear tothe hearts of Arkansans.

Drug Prevention WalkBlueAnn Ewe was one of many celebrities on hand

to lead the fight against drugs at the 13th Annual “JustSay No” drug prevention walk hosted by Perritt PrimarySchool in Arkadelphia onApril 21. To help lead thewalk, BlueAnn joined suchfamous folks as Fitz Hill,Arkansas Razorbackassistant football coach andArkadelphia native; RickDial, character actor; RoxieHannah, Miss HendersonState University; LisaAkins, Miss SouthwestArkansas; ArkadelphiaMayor Chuck Hollingshead,Eric Drost from GovernorMike Huckabee’s office;and Barney Badger,Arkadelphia High Schoolmascot. But the specialstars were the hundreds of elementary students, highschool mentors, teachers and administration staff, andcommunity supporters who marched against drugs. Totop off a great event, Dial performed the song, “I’mProud to be an American” made famous by countryrecording artist Lee Greenwood.

“Build a Healthy Sundae” PartiesElementary school students in five lucky classrooms

in Arkansas constructed creamy creations recently withthe assistance of BlueAnn Ewe. The students, who weremembers of the BlueAnn Class Club, completed aHealthy Habits Activity Calendar under the direction oftheir teachers, and thus became eligible for a “Build aHealthy Sundae” party with BlueAnn in their classrooms.To complete the Healthy Habits Activity Calendar,students practiced at least one healthy habit each day —brushed their teeth, got a good night’s sleep, exercised,

buckled their seatbelt, ate healthy foods,etc. — and recordedtheir habits with asticker on a calendarfor 20 school days. Asa reward for theirefforts, BlueAnn Ewepaid a personal visit tothe classroom andserved the studentsbowls of frozen vanilla yogurt, which they topped offwith granola, fresh bananas, multi-grain cereal, strawber-ries, cherries, nuts, sprinkles and fat-free whippedtopping. Students also enjoyed low-fat animal crackers,juice and water with their treats. Following their coolrefreshments, the students played games with BlueAnn,and watched and learned the words to BlueAnn’s newmusical health videos. Each student and the teacherreceived a party favor during the festivities. Winners ofthe sundae parties were: Mrs. Sonya Launius’ second-grade class at Bearden Elementary School; Ms. DianePayton’s kindergarten class at Cotter Elementary School;Mrs. Sherry Bland’s kindergarten class at Caddo HillsElementary School; Mrs. Debbie Dunigan’s third-gradeclass at Riverside East Elementary School in Caraway;and Mrs. Linda Semelka’s kindergarten class at SheridanElementary School.

Thousands visit Olympic VillageAlthough the rain kept the largest crowds away

from Riverfest on Saturday, May 27, more than 75,000turned out in the sunshine on Sunday to partake of thefestivities ... and thousands of those festival-goers paid avisit to the “Caring for the Human Spirit”™ mini OlympicVillage hosted by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.Baptist Health nurses took blood pressure readings andmeasured body fat for interested visitors of the Village.Kids of all ages enjoyed the mini-decathlon, health fairand nutrition center — all in the spirit and excitement ofthe Olympic Games. Sports fans shot hoops, pitchedbaseballs, shot hockey pucks and sprinted againstresistance in the bungee sprint for fun and friendlycompetition. Everyone had a blast ... rain and shine.

Students at Riverside EastElementary in Caraway enjoysundaes with BlueAnn Ewe.

Perritt Elementary studentsget ready to march againstdrugs in Arkadelphia.

I

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue ShieldP.O. Box 2181Little Rock, AR 72203-2181

BULK RATEU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDArkansas Blue Cross

and Blue Shield

— a guide to health insurance terminology

If health care terminology (including abbreviationsand acronyms) leaves your head spinning … ArkansasBlue Cross and Blue Shield would like to help you makesense out of all the jargon. We want you to be an in-formed customer, so in each issue of Blue & You we willexplain the meaning behind those health insurancewords, acronyms and abbreviations that you may en-counter when reading health care-related materials.

Beneficiary — A person who is eligible to receive, or isreceiving, benefits through health care coverage (a termusually used in regard to federal programs).

Benefit period — The period of time for which paymentsfor benefits covered by an insurance policy or health careservice contract are available. Benefit period is usuallydefined by a set unit of time (for example, one year).

Coverage — Specific benefits against specific lossesprovided under an insurance policy (or evidence ofcoverage of the health plan or employer, if self-insured),to the insured member who meets eligibility require-ments and for whom premium payments are paid.

Dependent eligibility — Requiring our members to listtheir dependents at the time of enrollment (as opposed towhen claims are filed on their behalf). This cost-savingmeasure also includes periodic dependent verification.

Group insurance — Any insurance or health servicescontract by which groups of employees (and often theirdependents) are covered under a single policy or contractissued to their employer or other group entity.

Individual health insurance — Health services contractor insurance policy which is purchased by an individualand which covers the individual (and usually theperson’s dependents) in contrast to group insurance.

Open enrollment — A period of time during whicheligible subscribers may elect to enroll in, or transferbetween, available programs providing health carecoverage.

Pre-existing condition — A physical condition ordisease which existed prior to the issuance of a healthinsurance policy or health care services contract and forwhich treatment under the contract or policy may belimited or excluded for a set period of time.

Reserves — Monies earmarked to cover anticipatedclaims and operating expenses for a set period of time.Reserves are an obligated amount and have three princi-pal components: reserves for known liabilities not yetpaid; reserves for losses incurred but unreported; andother reserves for various special purposes, includingcontingency reserves for unforeseen circumstances.

Do you have a comment about this publication?Do you have suggestions for articles or issues youwould like to have included in Blue & You? If you do,please feel free to e-mail all comments or suggestions toBNYou-Ed@arkbluecross.com. We look forward tohearing from you, and we will do our best to respondto all e-mails. Remember if you have a question about aclaim or your health insurance policy, turn to Page 2 inthis publication to find the appropriate telephone numberto call to have your question answered.

We’d like to hear from you!