• Benefits Coordination • Dental Care & The Pool • Signing Up For Medicare • Back To School Benefits • Traveling With Teladoc • Voluntary Benefits Options • Protecting Your Vision On Vacation
A Newsletter on your
SUMMER EDITION
VOL. 14
COORDINATION OF BENEFITS Update Your Additional Insurance Information
If you or someone on your benefits plan has any other insurance coverage besides your Averitt BlueCross BlueShield health plan, you may need to update your account information! If your information is not up to date, you may be paying more than you should and payments on your claims may be halted. If your account
OR • Call BlueCross BlueShield at 1-800-200-3740 to use the automated line or to speak with an advisor. If you have any additional questions, contact our Benefits Team at averittbenefits@averitt.com or call 800-233-9944 OPTION 3. W m
information is outdated, here’s what to do:
• Go to BCBST.com/otherinsurance to tell BlueCross BlueShield whether or not you have any other health plans. If you do have other coverage, you’ll need to have those ID cards handy. After you log in or register, you’ll go directly to the form.
Dental Health And The Pool- (Page 2)
Back To School Benefits- (Page 3)
Taking Advantage Of Voluntary Benefits- (Page 4)
Wellness Matters 2023
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averitt.com
PAGE 2 DIVE INTO DENTAL HEALTH Keeping Your Pearly Whites In The Pool
SUMMER 2023
• Purchase pH strips to test the water before jumping in. • If you have a home pool, check the pH balance at least once a week. • Limit how often you swim in chlorinated water. To further protect your smile, try to keep your mouth closed as much as possible – especially when underwater – and rinse your mouth out with water after your swim. Some dentists even suggest scheduling an extra cleaning and fluoride treatment at the start of the summer season. Visit DeltaDentalTN.com to find an in-network oral care provider near you and make the most of your Delta Dental benefits! W m
According to our partners at Delta Dental, the same swimming pool chemicals that can make your eyes burn and turn your hair green – chlorine and copper – also contain high amounts of acid that can erode your teeth over time. If you routinely go for a swim, you may not notice the complications of enamel erosion immediately. Instead, it’s a gradual process that can cause several symptoms, including tooth discoloration, the edges of your teeth looking transparent, and tooth sensitivity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends pools and other treated water have pH levels between 7.2 and 7.8. The concentration of chlorine should be at least 1 part per
million in pools and 3 parts per million in hot tubs. Since chlorine levels can’t be spotted with the naked eye, how can you protect your smile from chlorine? Your dentist has a few tips to safeguard
your smile: • Check the pool linings, railings and ladders for erosion. Water that is too acidic will damage the materials and can have the same effect on your teeth.
AVOID MEDICARE MAYHEM Choose In Confidence With Alliant Medicare Solutions
2. Call 855-346-1519 or visit alliantmedicaresolutions.com.
Signing up for Medicare can be an intimidating task. Along with a maze of choices and a mountain of paperwork, the wrong choice can have serious consequences. Our partners at Alliant Medicare Solutions are here to help you understand your options and simplify the enrollment process. When am I eligible for Medicare? What does it cost? How does it work with employer coverage? What plan should I choose? There are many questions that surround Medicare, but an Alliant representative can explain your options and help you enroll at no cost. How does it work? – Just make a call 1. Gather your current medical coverage information (plan, cost, prescriptions, preferred doctors and hospitals, etc.).
3. Talk with a licensed insurance agent about your Medicare options. 4. Alliant Medicare Solutions helps you enroll or emails you the policy materials for you to review and enroll later. Don’t let the task of signing up for Medicare frighten you – use our resource with Alliant Medicare Solutions to help you get the coverage you need. For more information about the benefit, scan the QR code with your phone’s camera. W m
Wellness Matters 2023
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averitt.com
PAGE 3
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BENEFITS Ensure A Healthy Start To The Academic Year
As the school year starts, you want to make sure your kids are happy and healthy! Plan their yearly physicals and sport-specific exams to avoid scheduling conflicts, surprise bills and paperwork headaches. The fresh start of a new school year is an opportune time to check these items off your child’s back-to-school list:
• Annual checkup and physical • Yearly eye exam • Dental visits • Covered immunizations • Sports physicals
Take advantage of your wellness benefits and schedule your health exams today. Refer to your Benefits Check-In Guide or visit InsideAveritt.com/BenefitsCheckInGuide to see more ways your benefits help make life easier – today and down the road! W m
TRAVELING WITH TELADOC Stay Well On Your Summer Adventures
all lead to minor or major accidents that cause injury. Review your route in advance and pay close attention to other drivers, bikers and pedestrians. If traveling with young children, make sure the car has the right-sized car seats. If you’re touring by plane or cruise ship, you’ll be in close quarters with many other travelers. These carriers aren’t just for people – they carry germs, too! These bacteria and viruses can lead to nasty infections. The best safeguard for you and your loved ones is to wash or sanitize hands often, and keep them away from your eyes, mouth and nose. Safe Adventuring Insect bites and stings will put the hurt on any outdoor adventure. Use repellant containing DEET or picaridin on exposed skin to keep bugs away. Cover skin entirely at dawn and dusk if you notice mosquitos in the area. This is also a good practice for sun safety; wear UPF sun-protective clothing and a broad- brimmed hat, especially at peak exposure times between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., experts recommend. Apply a 30 SPF or higher sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside, reapplying every
two hours. Seek shade as much as you can during your trip; a sunburn can cause great discomfort and even more serious symptoms like fever, chills and blistering. Treating Yo’Self Once you’re in vacation heaven, unplug from work and worries, surrendering to the present moment. Exercise, meditate and enjoy quiet moments. Don’t pack your schedule with too many new experiences. Take naps or rest periods to feel refreshed. Use an eye mask, ear plugs or a white-noise machine to minimize disruptions. If anything compromises your physical or mental health during vacation, remember that remote medical help is available. Travelers can arrange a virtual doctor visit through Teladoc, which provides 24/7 access to board-certified physicians via phone, secure video, internet, and mobile devices. For more information, visit Teladoc.com , call 800-835-2362, or download the Teladoc mobile app. W m
Nearly a third of people say at least two days of their vacation plans are interrupted by sickness or injury of a family member. You don’t want R&R to lead to the ER! Our partners at Teladoc are here to help with some strategies for staying healthy so you and your family can make feel- good memories. Prepare Wisely From planning out the fine details of your trip to disruptions to your daily schedule, organizing and taking a vacation can cause stress on the mind and body. Be sure you’re getting enough sleep and sticking to your usually eating and exercise routines as much as possible. And in preparing for your trip, visit your doctor for a checkup about one month before you leave. Your doctor may recommend vaccinations and can provide other tips to boost your immune system for the journey. Getting There Car crashes are the leading cause of death among healthy travelers. New roads, unfamiliar surroundings, and bizarre traffic patterns can
Wellness Matters 2023
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averitt.com
PAGE 4
SUMMER 2023
COLONIAL LIFE AND UNUM OPTIONS Voluntary Benefits Provide Additional Coverage
In addition to medical, vision and dental coverage, you also have the option to select various voluntary benefits - including life, accident and critical illness insurance – during October’s open enrollment. These options are available through both the online and telephone enrollment processes, and it’s never too early to begin thinking about your future benefits selections. These voluntary benefits are offered by our partners Colonial Life and UNUM. For more information about Voluntary Benefits, scan this QR code with your phone’s camera . W m
VACATION VISION Three Ways To Protect Your Eyes On Holiday
If you are an avid contact lens wearer, bring your cleaning solution and back up eyewear. You never know when one of those little guys might pop out. Even if you wear glasses, a back-up pair in the glovebox can be handy for some of life’s unexpected moments. 3. Eye Drops You may need to adapt to different climates when you’re traveling. Even airplanes have drier air than your eyes might be used to. Keeping some artificial tears on hand can help you deal with environmental factors or even flush out irritants like smoke or pollen. Your eyes are a very important part of your health, and our partners at VSP are here to make sure you continue seeing your best! Visit VSP.com to find a doctor in our network and to schedule your next eye exam. W m
Our benefits partners at VSP are providing three easy tips to follow for protecting your eyes this summer while you’re on vacation or simply out and about! 1. Sunglasses If there’s one thing to not leave home without (besides your wallet, phone and keys) it’s a trusty pair of sunglasses. No matter where you’re headed, sunglasses are the perfect accessory to keep your eyes comfortable on sunny and overcast days. Make sure that they provide 100% UV protection. Did you know you can use your VSP benefits to purchase sunglasses and prescription sunglasses? You can apply your yearly allowance toward a new pair of shades at your next eye exam!
2. Spare Glasses/Contacts
Wellness Matters 2023
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION: 800.233.9944 / Option 3 • averittbenefits@averitt.com
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