Living Healthy Magazine September 2012

Queensland Country Health Fund Member Newslettered.8

livinghealthySEPTEMBER 2012

better health cover shouldn’t hurt

FERTILITY AND

acupunctureTHE MEANS TEST

what it means

FoR You

THE SKINNY oN

fats!

2 Queensland Country Health Fund | September 2012

General ManagerFRoM THE

HEALTH FuND

Financial Year Results

Although business conditions were somewhat challenging through

2011/12 with Australia experiencing a slow economic recovery the

Health Fund achieved some great results and is in good financial

shape. We saw strong demand from consumers for our products

and services with our policyholders increasing by 10% during the

year which is more that 3 times the growth achieved by the Health

Insurance industry. We now cover just over 38,000 people across

regional Queensland. Health Fund assets also grew with total assets

now at $73 million which ensures we have strong reserves to pay

future benefits payments.

Rebate Legislation

Private Health Insurance has certainly received some focus from

Government over the past 6 months. Following on from the Federal

Government budget, the Fairer Private Health Insurance Bills were

again entered into parliament for debate and have been passed.

This has resulted in the introduction of means testing to determine

eligibility for the Medicare rebate. This is a significant change to

health insurance and is likely to affect many of our Members.

This amendment to the rebate does not change the great benefits

available from our health insurance policies but will result in higher

net premiums for higher income earners. I would encourage

everyone to please read the article on page 6 of the magazine to

determine if you are affected by the rebate legislation. It is important

to adjust your rebate with us if you are affected by the legislation

otherwise you may be faced with a tax bill at the end of the

financial year.

Member Survey

On a more positive note, we have recently received the results of

our annual Member satisfaction survey. Thank you to all Members

who took the time to provide valuable feedback. The results showed

a further increase in very satisfied Members which has resulted in

98% of Members advising they are somewhat or very satisfied. This

is a terrific result but the data from the survey has also given us

many areas to focus on and staff are working hard to further improve

our products and service.

Wellness Web Portal

A new initiative that we have introduced as part of our new website

is our wellness portal. The wellness portal has been developed to

provide Members with the ability to complete a comprehensive health

risk assessment that will then provide information about how to

better manage your health. If you have been thinking about a lifestyle

change this might be a way to focus on what’s most important.

Thanks for your support of the Fund and I look forward to bringing

you further information about policy enhancements a bit later in

the year.

Aaron Newman

General Manager

Queensland Country Health Fund

Ph. 4750 3300 Em. [email protected]

CHECK OUT JESS’S BLoG

our very own staff member Jess is

expecting her first child in october

and has been sharing her experience with

us via our blog. If you’d like to join her on

her journey, visit our blog on our website

www.qldcountryhealth.com.au/blog

or follow the link from the home page!

September 2012 | Queensland Country Health Fund 3

national hospital networkWhilst the bulk of our members are based in Queensland, we want you to know that we have an extensive hospital

network Australia wide. We currently have contracts with 520 private hospitals throughout Australia. To check if the

hospital that has been proposed for your treatment is part of this group, you can do a search on our website under

the ‘find a hospital’ link. If the internet is not your thing, give us a call. We urge all our Members to contact us before

commencing any treatment in hospital so you know exactly what you’re covered for.

branch network We have a number of service centres throughout Regional Queensland. We operate in Mount Isa, Willows Shopping

Centre Townsville, Gladstone, Ayr, and Canelands Shopping Centre Mackay. These centres are manned by dedicated

Queensland Country Health Fund staff, and can assist face to face. We are also well represented in Queensland

Country Credit Union branches Queensland wide. Whilst the staffs there are not solely trained in our products, they

are able to assist you with general health insurance queries, and if they are not able to help, they will contact us for

you immediately.

find us on facebookSocial media is becoming an increasingly popular and efficient way to communicate with your family and friends, and

why not your health fund too? Find us on facebook by searching Queensland Country Health Fund, and let us know

what you want to see! We’ll be posting all sorts of health related news, recipes and sharing photos. Post on our page

and tell us what you want to see jump online and like us today!

emailing claims Have you made a claim recently and been unable to get into a branch to drop it off? Feel free to scan and email your

claim to us at [email protected]. Just print and complete a claim form from the website, scan your receipts, and

email it all together in one email to our email address. We have a very quick claim turn around and if you include your

bank details, we can get your money back to you even faster! Always remember to keep your original claim receipts

for up to 7 years for audit purposes.

community involvement We love getting out there and support great community events and initiatives, especially if they’re promoting good

health! Over the coming months we have pledged our support to the Townsville Running Festival, Charters Towers

Cycling Festival and the Bowen Triathlon. Here’s some of our staff getting fit and having fun in the sun!

Did you know?*

t

x

The Smart Investor magazine reviewed Private Hospital covers in May and we received recognition as being one of the two best health funds in Queensland for growing families and established families. The magazine then reviewed hospital and extras in their June edition and we have been again recognised in these two categories. Smart Investor compared hundreds of policies from 22 funds to get their results. It’s heartening to see that we are still one of the best choices available. We aim to keep it that way!

smart investor


In March 2012, a good friend of mine

was diagnosed with lymphoma, after

experiencing lower back pain. Like most

of us, she thought she had just pulled a

muscle and went to see her physio who

recommended a massage. For whatever

reason, the massage therapist was

concerned and urged my friend to have a

scan. Unbelievably, it was lymphoma, and

in several areas not just her lower back.

It was such a shock to hear that a woman

in her early thirties could be facing a

life threatening illness. Mum to young

children and feeling very scared, I was

at a loss as to how to help her. There is

nothing that you can do to ease the pain

or the worry. Aside from offering words

of comfort, or babysitting duties, I wanted

to do something more significant to show

my support. That was when I decided to

participate in the “World’s Greatest Shave”

through the Leukaemia Foundation.

As a demonstration of my support for my

friend, and all those facing the challenges

of dealing with leukaemia and lymphoma,

I made the bold decision to shave off all

my hair. If my friend had to go through

the illness, shaving my hair was the least I

could do.

On 18th April, I and another friend,

surrounded by our work colleagues, shaved

our heads. It was a fantastic experience

and we raised close to $1200. My friend

is now on the road to recovery and feeling

great. In the end such a small thing, like

shaving my head, made a big impact.

Kandi

Kandi’s story

BEFoR

E

AFTER


‘Good’ fat or ‘bad’ fat or

even ‘ugly’ fat? Saturated or

unsaturated? What are trans

fats? Are fats leaving you

dazed and confused? Let me

give you the skinny on fats!

Firstly, lipids (fats) are

transported around your

body and stored in your fat

cells as triglycerides, a type

of cholesterol. High blood

cholesterol levels can increase

your risk of heart disease and

stroke. Your liver makes about

two-thirds of the cholesterol in

your body with the other third

coming from the foods and

drinks you consume. Some

types of cholesterol are good

for your body as they protect

our heart while other types

contribute to the build-up of

plaque in the arteries, which

leads to heart disease

and stroke.

Next, there are different

types of fat, some of which

promote good health, others

can cause ill health.

So which is which?

THE ‘GOOD’Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats

These fats help lower the bad

type of cholesterol (LDL) and

increase the good type of

cholesterol (HDL) in the body.

It is recommended you include

a small serve of good fats

every day, but remember that

even good fats will contribute

to weight gain if consumed in

too large a quantity.

Foods rich in good fats are:

All raw and dry roasted nuts

Seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower, sesame

Olives and olive oil

Canola, rice bran, grapeseed and sunflower oils

Nut oils such as peanut and macadamia oils

Fish especially the oily types such as tuna, salmon, mackerel and sardines

Avocado

Margarines made from canola, olive, rice bran or sunflower oil

THE ‘BAD’ Saturated fats

Saturated fats increase the bad cholesterol (LDL) and decrease the good cholesterol (HDL). You should aim to minimise these fats in your diet.

Saturated fats can be found in:

The fat on meat such as lamb chops, bacon & rump steak

The skin on chicken and other poultry

Full cream dairy products such as full cream milk, cream & cheese

Butter, lard, dripping, copha, ghee, Superfry

Baked products such as pastries, cakes and biscuits

Coconut, coconut milk, coconut cream

Palm oil (used in commercial biscuits and cookies)

Eggs (if eating more than 6 per week)

THE ‘UGLY’ Trans fats

These fats stick to artery walls readily and act in the same way as saturated fats. They only occur in processed foods that use margarine in the cooking process. The best way to check for trans fats is to read the nutrition information panel on the package. Look for the product with the lowest saturated and trans fat level.

Some foods which may

contain trans fats are:

Biscuits

Cookies

Cakes

Baked products

Pastries such as pies and savoury snacks

Foods containing vegetable shortening or partially hydrogenated oils (look in the ingredient list)

THE SKINNY

on fats!Lauren Nugent

Eat Smart

Nutrition Consultant

To enjoy the ‘skinny’ on fats, include the good fats every day and limit the bad and ugly fats!

What about eggs and prawns – aren’t they high in cholesterol?

Eggs and prawns do contain some pre-formed cholesterol:

however they are low in saturated fat. It seems that only foods

that are high in pre-formed cholesterol AND saturated fat affects

your blood cholesterol levels. The National Heart Foundation

recommends limiting eggs to 6 per week and cooking them using

as little added fat as possible, for example, poaching, dry-frying, in

the microwave or using a spray oil. Prawns can be enjoyed a few

times per week as long as they are not deep-fried.



THE MEANS TEST

what it means for you! Prior to July 2012, Australians who held a health insurance policy were entitled to a rebate of 30% provided by the Federal Government to help meet the costs. This legislation has recently changed and could have an impact on how much rebate you are eligible to receive.

From 1 July 2012, the private health insurance rebate will be income tested. This means if you expect to earn more than $84 000 as a single, or more than $168 000 as a family, this financial year, then you will be affected. Using the table below, work out which income tier you will be in and see how these changes will affect you. To avoid a nasty surprise at tax time next year, you need to contact us immediately to make sure you are on the correct tier.

Prior to July 2012 From July 1, 2012

Cover Income tier Taxable income p.a.

Rebate Level Medicare

Levy

surcharge %

Rebate level Medicare

Levy

Surcharge %

Singles Non-tier Less than $84,000 30% 0.00% 30% 0.00%

Tier 1 $84,001 - $97,000 30% 1.00% 20% 1.00%

Tier 2 $97,001 - $130,000 30% 1.00% 10% 1.25%

Tier 3 $130,001 or more 30% 1.00% 0% 1.50%

Families Non-tier Less than $168,000 30% 0.00% 30% 0.00%

Tier 1 $168,001 - $194,000 30% 1.00% 20% 1.00%

Tier 2 $194,001 – $260,000 30% 1.00% 10% 1.25%

Tier 3 $260,001 or more 30% 1.00% 0% 1.50%


No changeYou earn less than $84 000 (single)

You earn less than $168 000 (family)

• If you have private health insurance, you will continue to receive the 30% rebate

• You won’t have to pay the Medicare levy surcharge

• If you or your partner are over 65 years of age you may receive a higher rebate than 30%

Tier 1You earn between $84 001 and $97 000 (single)

You earn between $168 001 and $194 000 (family)

• If you have private health insurance, you will receive a 20% rebate

• If you don’t have private health insurance hospital cover, you will continue to pay the 1 percent Medicare levy surcharge. For example, a Tier 1 single without private health insurance hospital cover will pay a Medicare levy surcharge of $900 if their income is $90 000*

• If you or your partner are over 65 years of age, you may receive a rebate higher than the 20%

Tier 2 You earn between $97 001 and $130 000 (single)

You earn between $194 001 and $260 000 (family)

• If you have private health insurance you will receive a 10% rebate

• If you don’t have private health insurance hospital cover, you will pay a 1.25% Medicare levy surcharge. For example, a Tier 2 single without private health insurance hospital cover will pay a Medicare levy surcharge of $1 375 if their income is $110 000

• If you or your partner are over 65 years of age you may receive a rebate higher than 10%

Tier 3 You earn more than $130 001 (single)

You earn more than $260 001 (family)

• If you have private health insurance you will no longer receive a rebate regardless of your age

• If you don’t have private health insurance hospital cover, you will pay a 1.5% Medicare levy surcharge. For example, a Tier 3 single without private health insurance hospital will pay a Medicare levy surcharge of $2 250 if their income is $150 000

*The Medicare levy surcharge is taxed on your taxable income, reportable fringe benefits and any amounts on which family trust distribution tax has been paid.

WIL

L TH

IS A

FF

EC

T M

E?

WHAT ACTIoN Do You NEED To TAKE?

If you fall into any of the listed income brackets, you need to contact us to advise which rebate you are now eligible for. If you don’t adjust the rebate to match your income, it will be reflected in your tax return.

You can adjust your rebate by logging into your membership via our online member services. If you have not yet registered for a password, please do this first.

To change your rebate online, please follow the following steps:• Go to the my details tab • Click on the change contribution details tab

• Scroll down the page until you reach Government Rebate Income tiers

• Select which tier applies to you • Submit

If you’re not tech savvy, then please give us a call on 1800 813 415 and we’d be happy to adjust your rebate. Be ready with your membership number when you call.

This is brand new legislation and we might not have all the answers for you. If you’re unsure on your taxable income or how these changes will affect you, please contact your personal tax accountant or the ATO.


Fertility focused Acupuncture treatments help to gently nourish the body and increase blood flow to the reproductive organs while balancing hormone and stress levels. These treatments can also improve the lining of the uterus and improve the quality of eggs.

When treating Fertility with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese

Medicine (TCM), it is vital to first understand all aspects of the

menstrual cycle. This includes Pre-menstruation, Menstruation and

Ovulation. These are the stages of the cycle when Acupuncture

treatments are most beneficial. From a TCM perspective, it is

important to observe the length and regularity of the cycle as well as

the colour and texture of the menstrual blood and also to study what

happens to the body pre menstruation, both mentally and physically.

Once we have observed these details of the menstrual cycle it

helps to draw a clear picture and determine the TCM diagnosis and

treatment path.

Pre menstruation

Signs and symptoms we look for in pre-menstruation are Breast

tenderness, bloating, abdominal cramping and fluctuation in emotions

– especially irritability.

From a TCM perspective, we would see these symptoms as a

sign of what we call a Liver Qi Stagnation. Liver Qi Stagnation is

the constriction of energy flow (Qi) at the time when the body is

preparing to shed the lining of the uterus (pre-menstrual). Other

signs that can indicate a Liver Qi Stagnation may be insomnia,

nightmares, waking between 1am and 3am, frequent sighing or

anxiety.

Menstruation

When looking at signs and symptoms of menstruation, there are 2

main elements we focus on.

The 1st is blood deficiency. Signs of blood deficiency could be light

or scanty bleeding with bleeding only lasting for 1 -3 days with

limited use of tampons or pads and menstruation may be irregular.

BENEFITS IN FoCuS - ACuPuNCTuRE

Fertility AND ACuPuNCTuRE

Other signs and symptoms can be dizziness, cold hands and feet,

weak or brittle finger nails, thinning hair, light sleep as well as

fluctuation in emotions - more flat than irritable.

The 2nd element is Blood Stagnation. Signs and symptoms could be

a heavier, dark or clotted flow with lower abdominal pain that is worse

with pressure.

ovulation

From a TCM perspective, Ovulation is related to the kidneys. The

kidneys govern the growth and development of the eggs. If there

is an issue with ovulation whether it be low follicle count or lack of

hormone stimulation it generally indicates kidney deficiency. Other

signs and symptoms of kidney deficiency could be poor memory or

forgetfulness, fatigue, frequent urination and weak or aching lower

back and legs.

Along with the use of Acupuncture and TCM there are also many

things that can be done at home to increase chances of conception.

Some things may include dietary and lifestyle changes with

certain foods being beneficial at certain stages of the cycle. After

Menstruation it is best to increase the intake of blood nourishing foods

such as meat (especially chicken or beef), oysters, eggs, legumes,

green leafy vegetables, wheatgrass, carrots, beetroot, tempeh, coconut

and even vegemite.

After the time of ovulation it is beneficial to consume warming and Qi

moving foods like lamb and beef kidney, salmon, mussel, black pepper,

chive, pistachio, onion, leek, chives and dry ginger.

Michael DareZen Den Acupuncture


We offer great benefits for a range of natural therapies, including Acupuncture. Acupuncture originates in China

and can be used to treat a wide variety of different ailments and conditions. To see what benefits we’ll pay on your

level of cover, please see below.

Always make sure that your Acupuncturist is fully accredited before commencing any treatment.

Acupuncture

Type of ServiceWaiting

Period

Premium Extras$1400 overall limit

per membership year. Limit applies per person covered

Essential Extras$900 overall limit per

membership year. Limit applies per person covered

Young ExtrasAlternative therapies

combined limit applies

Smart StartAlternative therapies

combined limit applies

Initial and

subsequent

consultation

2

months$35 $22 $30 $30

N


Dr Josh Pond

BDSc Hons. (QLD)

One of the many things I hear are that I brush twice a day but I still get holes, so why does this happen?

It’s all about the technique. Cleaning teeth effectively is difficult,

like sweeping the floors with your eyes closed. Most people after

hundreds of times brushing start to form a habit; they start at the

same spot, move around in a certain way and finish at the same spot.

This can lead to spots that are missed or places the toothbrush can’t

get to, like in between the teeth where only floss can reach. Without

flossing bacteria will still build up in between the teeth. This is where

decay starts to form. The majority of decay we see is in the fissures

or grooves of the biting surfaces, around the gums and in

between teeth.

Catch decay early enough, before it breaks or before there is pain

and you may be able to get a filling into it but that doesn’t fix the

technique. The plaque and bacteria continues to build up around

the filling and starts to attack the join between the filling and the

tooth. Soon the filling may fall out or the nerve gets hit and a bigger

hole, pain or even an abscess exists. Root canals, crowns, bridges,

extractions and finally dentures may result, all at more cost and

complexity and this continues the cycle.

This is where Hygienists or Preventive Dentistry comes in. Regular

visits to the dentist or the hygienist allows us a chance to see where

habits might be missing or dietary factors that may be influencing

dental health. Our role is to educate patients on correct techniques

and habits to incorporate these missed areas, like having someone

to guide you whilst sweeping the floors with your eyes closed. New

habits are learnt but new areas may then get missed. It is why regular

visits are so important, to catch things early when a change in the

habit may be all that is needed.

The last time I visited the hygienist, I was missing the insides of the

bottom teeth. This time it was the outside of the bottom left teeth.

Maybe the right side got a bit more love and attention but it goes to

prove even I can’t see my own teeth, so it is lucky I see my Hygienist

every six months.

As part of maintaining

great teeth and gums,

it’s important to visit your

Dentist/Hygienist every 6

months.

At Queensland Country

Health Fund, we provide

great dental benefits

towards diagnostic and

preventative dental

treatments. Please see

the table to the right for

your coverage. Benefits

are paid out of your yearly

dental limit. *Young Extras Dental: General dental, surgical extractions and crown and bridges are covered by a combined limit of $500 per person, up to $1000 per policy

HAvE You BEEN To THE

hygienist recently?

BENEFITS IN FoCuS - PREvENTATIvE DENTAL

Type of ServiceWaiting

PeriodPremium

ExtrasEssential

Extras Young Extras Smart Start

Diagnostic

This includes

examinations,

consultations,

X-rays etc

2

months

$600

Periodic Oral Exam

- $42

X-rays - $30

$400

Periodic Oral Exam

- $27

X-rays - $19

$500*

Periodic Oral

Exam - $32

X-rays - $23

$500*

Periodic Oral

Exam - $32

X-rays - $23

Preventative

This includes cleaning

and scaling, fluoride

treatment, oral

hygiene instruction

and mouth guards

2

months

$800

Scale & Clean

- $70

Fluoride Treatment

- $20

$500

Scale & Clean

- $45

Fluoride Treatment

- $13

$500*

Scale & Clean

- $53

Fluoride treatment

- $15

$500*

Scale &

Clean - $53

Fluoride treatment

- $15


ONLINE MEMBER SERVICES Have you jumped online to look at our updated website? We’ve listened to Member feedback and made some changes, streamlining the look and making it much more user friendly. If you’re busy and can’t get to the phone, then you can use our Online Member Services to do any number of membership changes. You can review benefit limits, update your address, change your bank details & change your contribution frequency and method, the list goes on!

If you are looking for tax statements like rebate statements and claim statements, you can also get these from our website! For a tax statement, please see under the tab Useful Tools and choose which year you would like to reproduce. Claim statements can be found under the claims tab, and select claims history. You can then enter a date range. Due to privacy laws, dependants over the age of 16, will not be shown on the website.

Another excellent function through our new Online Member Services is the ability to order a new Membership Card.

If your card is looking a little on the sad side, if it’s been sat on in your wallet a few too many times, cracked down the middle, or disappeared to the land where all those left socks have gotten to, then you need a new card! You can give us a call on 1800 813 415 and we’ll organise a new one for you, or you can jump online and order it through your membership. Just follow these steps:

• Visit our website www.qldcountryhealth.com.au

• Login to online member services using your Membership number and password, if you haven’t registered you’ll need to do that first

• Once you have logged in , use your mouse, & hover on the tab ‘useful tools’ then select order membership card from the options

• Make sure your address is up to date and if it isn’t follow the prompts to update

• Select who you would like to order a new card for• Request your card via the red tab at the bottom of the screen • Please remember that your membership card is as important as

your credit card or bank card. If you lose it, please notify us as soon as possible.

Wellness PortalAn exciting new feature through our online Member

Services is the Strive for Health Wellness Portal. You

can find this portal when you login into our online

Member Services.

On your first visit you will be prompted to complete a Health

Risk Assessment (HRA). This is an extensive questionnaire

regarding your health and wellbeing. Be prepared to answer

questions regarding your weight, height, dietary and exercise

habits, even your blood pressure. Don’t panic if you don’t have

all this information on you at the time, you can go back and

complete it later. Obviously the more information that you can

provide, the more conclusive your results will be.

The assessment will show you where you may need some tips

regarding your health. Maybe your BMI is too high, or you could

benefit from adding more vegetables into your daily food intake.

You can set up a “to do” list, get health tips and add in your

upcoming Doctor’s appointments. Why not Strive for Health

and use the website as your own personal health management

record which is complimentary for our Members?

If your results suggest that you may be at risk of chronic disease

you may be asked if you would like to participate in a health

management program. This is totally up to you and is free of

charge.

Once you login, use your mouse and hover over the tab labelled

My Details then select the Strive for Health from the drop

down menu.

You will be then be taken to the Strive for Health website and

asked to identify yourself. This means that you and your partner,

or your kids, can use this service individually. You will all have

your own password and your information will not be shared with

anyone else. That also means that the information and advice

given will be unique to your health and wellbeing.

As an incentive to jump online (www.qldcountryhealth.

com.au) and complete the assessment, we are giving

away 3 iPads to three lucky Members who complete

the Health Risk Assessment running from the 1st of

october to 31st December! Jump online and Strive for

good Health today!

better health cover shouldn’t hurt

Documents

Living Healthy Magazine September 2012