Your Health

February is National Wise Health Consumer Month!

Become a more well-informed medical consumer and take advantage of your great health plan! Use Compass SmartShopper to shop for procedures like MRIs, CT scans, outpatient surgeries and preventative screenings. Find out what it costs for your medical services with just a two minute phone call or online search. Earn financial rewards for the services you need and take charge of your healthcare decisions!

For a complete list of services or for more information, call Compass at 800-824-9127 or lon on to www.compasssmartshopper.com.

The January 2012 Primex Wellness Newsletter offers tips for better health in the New Year -- as well as a recipe for squash casserole. Read the newsletter here.

Founded in 1979, the New Hampshire Public Risk Management Exchange (Primex3) is a public entity risk pool organized and operating as a trust on behalf of member municipalities, schools, counties and other governmental entities.

Learn more at http://www.nhprimex.com/

State Employees: Health Benefits Update

January 5, 2012

State Employees: Have You Had FSA Card Issues? Read On.

Just in from Karen Hutchins, Director of Personnel:

You may have been aware that there was an unexpected delay in the data file transmission from the Common Census system of the FSA (medical and dependent) Open Enrollment elections. Although the FSA benefit has been available since January 1, 2012, the funds were not loaded and available for use on the Combined Services card. Eligible transactions processed between January 1 - 5, 2012, can be submitted for reimbursement by using the Combined Services form located on our HR website at the following link:
http://www.combinedservices.com/pages/formdownloads.php#flexben

By the end of the day today, for employees who are renewing an election, FSA dollars will be available on their debit cards.

Employees who elected an FSA account for the first time (effective 1/1/2012) dollars will be available via paper reimbursement until their cards are mailed to their homes. This process always runs about 3 weeks due to the high volume of new elections at the beginning of each plan year.

Technical Difficulties at Anthem
Also regarding state employees The Health Risk Assessment tool on the Anthem website is currently giving the following message when members logon : An error occurred while processing your request. We're sorry, we cannot complete your request at this time. Please try again later. We have checked in with Anthem and they are having technical issues. They hope to resolve them soon.

Health Benefits Update
January 11, 2012

Unfortunately the State is continuing to have some technical difficulties related to our Health Benefits. The State is working with the all the venders to straighten these out. As a result, new Anthem ID cards have not yet been mailed out to those employees that added a dependent or changed plans during the Open Enrollment event (new Pharmacy and Dental cards were not scheduled to be issued). The lack of card at this time does not mean that employees that added a dependent during Open Enrollment do not have coverage. If you have an immediate access to care issue (a procedure or prescription needed within the next two weeks), please contact your agencies human resource office.

Some employees may experience processing issues with the Health Assessment Tool (HAT) and Compass. The State is working closely with Anthem for a solution for the processing issues we will keep you updated on the status.

Apparently some members are able to complete the HAT – over 1,100 completed it the first week. Anthem reports the technical issue has been identified and it is moved to a high-level priority to have the HAT up and running for all by the end of the week. Anthem is requesting everyone that has an issue with the HAT or Anthem website to call the SoNH/Anthem Customer Service number which can be found on the insurance card (800-933-8415). Some issues have to do with one’s own individual computer, or system they are operating from, or even pop-up blockers, and can be handled over the phone. For others, Anthem needs to track all calls for follow up purposes. Anthem can consistently track all issues if anyone having a problem accessing the HAT contacts the Customer Service line, so Anthem recommends directing any inquires/issues to that number.

The Most Important New Year's Resolution You May Ever Make

The New Year is a symbol of renewal and can be a time to prepare for new beginnings. It is a time to set goals and make them public so that you can get support and encouragement from friends and family. Many smokers use the New Year's holiday as motivation to quit. For some, this is the first time they've tried to quit; for others, they may have tried before. Regardless, this may be the most important resolution a smoker ever makes.

As the New Year begins, resolve to make 2012 the year that you quit smoking. Free help is available to you from the NH Tobacco Helpline - quit for good this year by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or by visiting www.TryToStopNH.org. All SEA members can access this benefit.

The State Executive Branch Collective Bargaining Agreement includes some quit smoking benefits. Your Anthem Community Health Education Program (CHERP) benefits provide smoking cessation reimbursement - Anthem Community Health Education Reimbursement Program (HMO & POS) reimburses employees up to $150 per family per calendar year to participate in an Anthem approved counseling program. Call Anthem Customer Service at 1-800-933-8415 or go to the State’s website at http://admin.state.nh.us/hr/formsH&D.html for more information about the Health Education benefit and to obtain a list of approved counseling programs.

The State of New Hampshire Employee Assistance Program offers the American Lung Association’s “Freedom from Smoking” Program. Call 800.852.3345 ext. 4336.

Anthem Better Health Digital Health Coaching offers Better Breathing. Based on seven key principles, the Better Breathing program crafts a quit plan that plays to your strengths to help get you past old roadblocks. Log on to www.anthem.com, select the purple health & wellness page and click on the better health icon. http://admin.state.nh.us/wellness/tobacco.html

So, go ahead – take the plunge and get some help. It will be the absolute best thing you ever do for your health!

'Tis the Season for Sneezin’ and Wheezin’

While many of us are enjoying the traditional sounds, sights, scents and tastes of the holiday season, others are living with holiday induced allergies. These people are not necessarily scrooges, they are simply walking in a winter wonderland of potential allergy and asthma triggers.

To make everyone more comfortable during this season of giving, we need to educate ourselves about what can cause flare-ups and how to avoid them. If you or a loved one has allergies and/or asthma, read the full article here. You may just save yourself from a Doctor’s visit.

The State of New Hampshire and Anthem both issue publications to help you learn to take better care of your health. Please take the time to read through them for tips on things you can do every day to avoid getting sick and special programs that are available for State of New Hampshire employees.

State of New Hampshire Employee Wellness News	Anthem Healthy Solutions
November 2011	September 2011