• Prepared for Flu and Covid Season • Avoiding Holiday Stress/Depression • Enjoying Fall Weather Activities • 20 Eligible Things for FSA/HSA • Use–Don’t Lose Your PTO • Use Covered Physician Visits • Blue365 Discounts
A Newsletter on your
VOL. 11
FALL EDITION
BE PREPARED FOR FLU AND COVID SEASON Take Steps To Avoid Sickness During The Winter
The arrival of cold weather brings with it flu season. In recent years, winter has also brought with it a rise in COVID cases. Both viruses may be circulating at the same time and cause similar symptoms. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from the flu and COVID. The flu vaccine does not protect you from COVID, but it can reduce symptoms that are easily confused with COVID symptoms. Vaccines can also help lessen the impact on health care providers and hospitals by reducing the number of hospitalizations. In addition to vaccinations, follow these
precautions to reduce the spread of flu and COVID-19:
people with COVID-19 in the hospital and new COVID-19 cases, whether or not you’re vaccinated. If you begin experiencing symptoms related to flu and COVID – fever, cough, muscle aches, tiredness, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache and nausea – visit a doctor’s office to be tested. If you are unable to leave your home, PhysicianNow, available through your BlueCross BlueShield benefits, can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Access it through bcbst.com or by calling 888-283-6691. W m
• Wash your hands regularly. • Avoid touching your face. • Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. • Avoid crowds. • Avoid anyone who is sick. • Stay home if you’re sick. • Clean high-touch surfaces often. • Practice social distancing indoors if you’re not vaccinated. • Wear a face mask in indoor public spaces if you’re in an area with a high number of
Holiday Stress & Depression (Page 2)
FSA/HSA Eligble Items (Page 3)
Take Your Covered Physician Visits (Page 4)
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averittexpress.com • Wellness Matters 2022
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FALL 2022
AVOID HOLIDAY STRESS AND DEPRESSION Put Your Mental Health First This Season
The holiday season is a chance to celebrate with family and enjoy time outside of the cab, but it can also be very stressful. The demands of entertaining, cooking and shopping can weigh heavy on your mind, ruining your holidays and hurting your health. This year, remember these helpful tips to avoid stress and depression during what is supposed to be the happiest season of all. Recognize How You’re Feeling If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones for other reasons, know that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s OK to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy. Be Realistic The holidays don’t have to be perfect. As families change and grow, traditions often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to and
Take A Breather Make some time for yourself. During this break, listen to soothing music, read a book or get out from behind the wheel and take a walk. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or hopeless. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. Health Advocate , provided by Unum, is our EAP benefits partner, and it is available to all associates even if you’re not enrolled in our benefits. To talk to a Licensed Professional Counselor or Work/Life Specialist over the phone, they’re available 24/7 at 800-854-1446. W m
be open to creating new ones. If your adult children or other relatives can’t come to your home, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videos. Or meet virtually on a video call. Stick To A Budget Before you do your gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Instead, take part in a Team
Up Community Challenge, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange. Don’t Abandon Healthy Habits Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Eat healthy meals, don’t go overboard on sweets, and incorporate regular physical activity into your schedule. At the end of the day, make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep.
GET OUT AND ENJOY THE FANTASTIC FALL WEATHER Healthy Activities For Your Favorite Season
Cooler weather, fresh air and the beautiful colors of fall makes it one of the best seasons of the year. Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy activities that are fun, healthy and beneficial before the winter months creep in. Go for a walk, enjoy better sleep Take a walk, navigate a corn maze or go for a hike! All can help you get better sleep at night. Those who go for a brisk walk at least 20 to 25 minutes often fall asleep faster and rest easier at night! Throw open the windows Is there anything better than opening the windows of your house on a pleasant day? Not only will you save some money by shutting off you’re a/c unit, but you’ll also be detoxifying your home! Circulating cool, fresh air flushes out settling dust, pollen and other allergens that can lurk in a sealed home.
Try a new recipe Pumpkin spice may be the most popular flavor of the season, but there are plenty of tasty fruits, vegetables and hot dishes to enjoy for fall! Pick up some fresh carrots, potatoes and broccoli from the farmers market for a healthy homemade soup or stew to enjoy on a chilly night! Get up a backyard football game Falls means football season, so get out in the yard with the family and play! Don’t worry about complete teams or all the nuanced rules of actual football. Just focus on being active and having fun! Plant spring bulbs Begin thinking about your spring garden now! Daffodils, tulips and iris bulbs all need to be planted before the ground freezes to ensure you have a colorful flower bed. More importantly, gardening is great exercise! W m
Wellness Matters 2022 • BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averittexpress.com
PAGE 3
20 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW WERE FSA/HSA ELIGIBLE Discover New Things To Purchase With Your Funds
7 Nausea & Digestive Relief 8 Workouts & Recovery Items 9 Sunscreen 10 Sleep Aids 11 Dentures 12 Bandages & First Aid Items 13 Emotional Support Products 14 Acne Medication 15 Weight Loss Products 16 Shoe Inserts 17 Blood Pressure Monitors If you are enrolled in an FSA, remember to use funds before end of the year. Only $500 will roll over to 2023. For more information about your FSA or HSA account, visit InsideAveritt.com/Benefits . W m 18 Laxatives 19 Vitamins 20 Travel Pillows
If you are enrolled in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account, you know you can use these funds to purchase items not covered by your BlueCross BlueShield benefits. But are you aware there are many eligible products you may not be aware of? As part of the CARES Act of 2020, items like over- the-counter medications without prescriptions are included until the end of 2022! Here are 20 things you didn’t know were FSA/HSA eligible: 1 Cough, Cold & Flu Relief 2 Allergy Medicine 3 Blood Glucose Test Strips 4 Prescription Lenses 5 Baby & Child Care Products 6 Pain Relief
PLAN TO USE YOUR REMAINING PTO Request Time Off Before The End Of The Year
We offer our associates paid time off because we believe spending time with family is important and creates a healthy work-life balance. As the end of the calendar year approaches, associates are encouraged to use their remaining PTO because hours do not roll over to the next year. If you have remaining PTO, log on to InsideAveritt.com/My Portal to request time off. MyPortal can also be accessed through the Infor Go App. All planned time off must be scheduled and approved in advance, except in the case of illness where a doctor’s note is presented. To allow leadership to effectively plan for your time off, you may schedule PTO subject to approval and operational requirements. If you are unsure of your PTO balance, or if you have never requested time off, your totals and instructions for making requests can be found on MyPortal. W m
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averittexpress.com • Wellness Matters 2022
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FALL 2022
USE COVERED PHYSICIANS VISITS BEFORE 2023 Don’t Let Your 2022 Benefits Go To Waste
exam each year, and an annual allowance is available on both the standard and maximum plans. For maximum plan subscribers, your $180 annual allowance can also be applied to frames. For those enrolled in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account,
only $500 of your unused funds roll over to next year. The FSA is a use- it-or-lose-it account. To learn more about your available benefits, visit InsideAveritt.com/Benefits and click “Health Benefits.” W m
Delta Dental provides you with two oral exams and two routine cleanings per year. X-rays are available once per year, and two fluoride treatments are offered every two years for those 19 years old and under. VSP offers members one eye
As an associate, you have access to some of the best health benefits not found anywhere else. If you enrolled in Delta Dental, VSP or a Health Care Flexible Spending Account in 2022, don’t let your covered visits and services slip away with the end of the year!
FIT AND HEALTHY ON THE ROAD WITH BLUE365 Deals And Discounts Through BCBS Membership
Blue365. “My membership gives me access to tons of gyms,” Coleman said. “I may not be near a Gold’s Gym, but my Gympass can get me into an LA Fitness. It gives me and my wife the flexibility to work out almost anytime and anywhere.” In addition to nutrition, fitness and travel, Blue365 offers deals on apparel, footwear, hearing, vision, home and family items. It can help you achieve the lifestyle you desire though an extensive array of exclusive discounts, healthy tips and inspirational stories from fellow Blue365 members on how the program has changed their lives. To start saving money, visit Blue365Deals. com and sign in using your email address and password. If you’ve never logged in before, select “Join” to create an account. W m
Are you looking for a convenient way to Live Well and save money? Through your BlueCross Blue Shield benefits, you can do just that! Blue365 is a free health and wellness discount program available to you as a member of the BCBS system. It offers year-round discounts on gym memberships, fitness gear, healthy eating options and more. Blue365 partners with more than 90 national brands to provide you with access to premier products and services at the best rates. Pay one flat rate to access thousands of gyms with Gympass, prepare healthy meals with a subscription to Blue Apron or book a family vacation to Universal Orlando – all at discounted prices! If you’re an over the road driver, finding a home gym can feel impossible. But Gympass from Blue365 allows you to access thousands of different gyms across the United States for a
single rate. Memphis city driver Ernest Coleman, who was recently featured in the October edition of Team Matters, dropped 131 pounds with the help of a Gympass membership through
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averittexpress.com • Wellness Matters 2022
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