November 2014 Exclusively for Health Advocate Members

Healthy solutions for your entire family

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Help is Here

It’s National Family Caregivers Month!Learn about help with caring for a loved one >>

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Support for Caregivers Caring for you as you care for your familyKeeping your family healthy is a challenge. Whether you’re raising kids or looking after an elderly parent or family member, there is a lot that goes into taking care of someone—from taking them to doctor appointments to preparing meals. Adding in your own personal responsibilities, like maintaining a full-time job, can leave you with little free-time for yourself.

Turn to us! With Health Advocate you have access to a team of experts readily standing-by to care for you as you take care of others.

In this issue, you’ll learn how your Personal Health Advocate can help with things like….

Locating eldercare services

Supporting children with special needs

Reducing caregiver stress

Answering questions about Medicare Open Enrollment

Plus, in honor of National Family Caregivers Month download a free flyer to learn about all of our eldercare support features

Caring for an Aging Parent?Turn to Our ExpertsCaring for an aging loved one while also raising a family or working can be a challenge. As one member, Matthew, told us, having the support of his Personal Health Advocate really helped him and his wife take back control of their lives.

“My wife and I needed to find someone to help my father with meals while we were at work during the day. Running home to help Dad with his lunch every day, was taking up too much of our time.”

Matthew reached out to his Personal Health Advocate who located a service that was able to deliver hot, nutritious lunchtime meals right to their doorstep.

Did you know? We Can Even Help Long Distance!No matter where your parents live in the United States, we can find in-home services, assisted living, nursing homes, geriatric managers and more! Call us to find out how!

866.695.8622

Web: HealthAdvocate.com/members

24/7 Support

Email: answers@HealthAdvocate.com

Call us anytime you need added help and support.

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Hours:

Health Advocate can be accessed 24/7. Normal business hours are Monday-Friday, between 8 am and 9 pm, Eastern Time. Staff is available for assistance after hours and on weekends.

Your Personal Health Advocate:

• Unlimited access, 24/7 support

• Help with a wide range of healthcare and insurance-related issues

• Typically registered nurses, supported by medical directors and benefits and claims specialists

• Saves you time, money and worry

How we can help:

• Find the right providers; secure second opinions

• Explain conditions; research latest treatments

• Help schedule appointments and tests

• Resolve claims issues; clarify benefits

...and more

Expanded family coverage:

Eligible employees, their spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law are all eligible to use the program.

24/7 Support HealthAdvocate.com/members

866.695.8622

It’s National Family Caregivers Month!Find out about all the ways Health Advocate can make caring for a loved one easier.

Click here for important information

Caregiver Burnout?Advice from Our ExpertsMany people caring for another person tend to push themselves too hard. This can lead to a feeling of being “burned out”. To ease some of the stress of caring for others, one of our Personal Health Advocates specializing in behavioral health suggests the following:

• Define the problem. Set limits on your time and energy.

• Decide on strategies. Figure out what you can reasonably do and what resources you may need ahead of time. If you decide you’ll visit your mother twice a week to cook, enlist family members to help on other days.

• Find personal support. For example, caregiver support groups can be helpful for sharing resources and offering encouragement.

Turn to us. Your Personal Health Advocate can also help by researching resources such as counseling services and support groups, as well as other healthcare and insurance related services.

Did You Know?More than 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 each day and caregiving for an older parent or relative lasts an average of 4.6 years.

-National Alliance for Caregiving

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Medicare Open Enrollment Does Your Plan Still Fit Your Needs?If you’re a Medicare member you still have time to review and make changes to your Medicare plan during open enrollment—you have until December 7. Now is the time to think about your options, and to pick the Medicare plan that is right for you. Medicare members should ask themselves the following questions when reviewing their plan:

• Does the plan cover the services you need? Future healthcare needs are unpredictable, but smart consumers should understand what services and benefits they’re likely to use in the coming year, for example, prescriptions costs or frequent doctor visits.

• What’s the cost? The lowest-cost health plan option might not be the best choice—consider things like premium and deductible charges, hospital, doctor and pharmacy costs, etc.

• Is it convenient? Where is your doctor’s office, and what times are they available? Which pharmacies can you use? Can you get prescriptions by mail?

• Are you satisfied with your plan now? Not all healthcare is created equal, look for plans with a high performance rating—the right expertise and care can make a difference.

Source: Medicare.gov

If you are happy with your current plan, remember that these answers might change next year—it’s important to take time to compare.

Confused about different plan policies? Your Personal Health Advocate can help you review your coverage options, answer any questions, and help you apply for coverage so you can avoid costly penalties, finding the right Medicare plan for you.

Support for Children with Special NeedsMore than 9 million U.S. children under the age of 18 have special needs that include chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions, according to Census data. It can be overwhelming to look for support, find the right providers and services, and handle any insurance issues. But you’re not alone, here’s how we helped one member.

“They found the right services when my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”Kathy called her Personal Health Advocate about special education services for her son. Her Personal Health Advocate located support groups, an art therapist and an after school program for her son. Kathy also received help applying to Medicaid to cover medical, educational and community resources.

Remember, your Personal Health Advocate is here for you when it matters most.

Your Health Advocate website: Expert help 24/7Your Health Advocate member website is packed with important information about your Health Advocate benefit.

Download our “Get Started Guide” to better understand the program

Watch our member video

Access articles and videos about a variety of health and wellness topics

24/7 Support

HealthAdvocate.com/members866.695.8622

Help is Just a Phone Call Away

Question of the month Has a Personal Health Advocate helped you find support for one of your loved ones? If so, tell us how and you may be featured in an upcoming newsletter!

Send us your answers via Facebook or Twitter, and get featured in next month’s issue! For more important health updates and wellness tips, or to share your own thoughts and tips follow us online!

Health Advocate is not affiliated with any insurance or third party provider. Health Advocate complies with all government privacy standards. Health Advocate does not replace health insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment.

©2014 Health Advocate, Inc. HA-CM-1401001-11NL-NOV