Monthly Archives: October 2017

hands holding pink ribbon during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Mammogram 101

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Approximately 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point, the second most common kind of cancer in women2. The month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about steps women can take to decrease their risk and to detect this disease, including having a mammogram.

If you are a woman who is age 40 through 49, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises1 that you talk with your doctor about a plan for your breast health, including when to get a mammogram.

If you are a woman who is age 50 to 74, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises1that you get mammograms every 2 years. You may also choose to get them more often.

Here are some questions to help you start the conversation with your doctor about mammograms:
  • Do I have risk factors for breast cancer?
  • Based on my risk factors, what are my chances of getting breast cancer?
  • What will happen when I go to get mammograms?
  • How long will it take to get the results of my mammograms?
  • If I don’t hear back about the results of my mammograms, does that mean everything is okay?
If you are under age 50, you might want to ask:
  • Should I start getting regular mammograms? If so, how often?
  • What are the pros and cons of getting mammograms before age 50?
If you are between ages 50 and 74, you might want to ask:
  • How often should I get mammograms?
  • What are the pros and cons of getting mammograms every 2 years instead of every year?

While most women can survive breast cancer if it’s detected and treated early 1, there are several lifestyle factors that your clients should consider when assessing risk, including:

  • Consuming dairy (with risk of death increasing for those who continue to consumer dairy after diagnosis)3
  • Being overweight or obese4
  • Not being physically active4
  • Regularly drinking alcohol5
  • Taking hormone replacement therapy5
  • Taking hormonal birth control4

With our leading edge tools and technologies, we’re upgrading how you experience your choice of coverage.

Stay tuned to our next blog post!

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Sources:

1: “Mammograms: Questions for the Doctor.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/doctor-visits/talking-with-the-doctor/mammograms-questions-for-the-doctor

2: “October: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/OctoberToolkit.aspx

3: “High – and Low-Fat Dairy Intake, Recurrence, and Mortality After Breast Cancer Diagnosis.” Candyce H. Kroenke Marilyn L. Kwan Carol Sweeney Adrienne Castillo Bette J. Caan. https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/105/9/616/986948/High-and-Low-Fat-Dairy-Intake-Recurrence-and

4: “Lifestyle-Related Breast Cancer Risk Factors.” American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/lifestyle-related-breast-cancer-risk-factors.html

5: “Lifestyle: How Our Lifestyle and Choices Affect Breast Cancer Risk.” Breast Cancer Now. http://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/what-can-cause-breast-cancer/lifestyle

 

 

 
stethoscope during Open Enrollment

Prepare for Your 2018 Healthcare Coverage Needs

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Open Enrollment is just around the corner, and it’s the ideal time to evaluate your healthcare coverage needs in the coming year. Consider the following:

  • Do you anticipate seeing your provider more frequently?
  • Are you facing an illness?
  • Will you need to need to see a specialist?
  • Does your current plan meet your budget needs?
  • What changes to your healthcare budget are you considering?
  • Has your family size changed?
  • What coverage changes do you need to make to account for family members?

With the confusion surrounding healthcare legislation, it’s more important now than ever to seek the expertise of those well versed in coverage options and updates.

If you’re considering ACA coverage, here are some important dates to remember:

November 1, 2017

Open Enrollment Period begins

December 15, 2017

Open Enrollment Period ends

January 1, 2018

Plans sold during Open Enrollment become effective

If you’re considering other options, short-term medical coverage may be an appropriate fit for your needs. This type of coverage addresses the needs of those who are:

  • Graduating from college and/or in need of replacing their student insurance
  • Transitioning between jobs
  • Waiting for employer insurance to begin
  • Rolling off parents’ coverage
  • Retiring soon and waiting for Medicare coverage to become effective

Additionally, if you miss the Open Enrollment period, short-term medical coverage may help you face your healthcare needs. You can enroll in that type of coverage at any time!

It’s important to understand that short-term medical coverage plans are limited in duration to a maximum 3-month term. After the plan expires, you will no longer receive benefits under it. You must reapply to receive coverage after the plan expires. Additionally, there may be limits on how many times you can renew short-term medical coverage.

Short-term medical plans can provide features such as:

  • Flexibility in timing of enrollment – there is no special enrollment period enrollment period
  • Preventive care for you and for your family
  • Lower rates than other types of plans
  • Access to providers of your choice
  • Convenience of filing a claim in your provider’s office with an additional option to submit your own claims for reimbursement

Short-term medical coverage is not a replacement for major medical insurance or ACA plans. It does not provide the minimum essential health benefits that are required and it won’t help avoid the fee for not carrying health insurance.

Additionally, there are restrictions and limitations of short-term medical plans. For example, pre-existing conditions are often not covered. Before you make a decision to purchase a short-term medical plan, fully review the benefits, limitations, restrictions, and costs associated with the plan.

With our leading edge tools and technologies, we’re upgrading how you experience your choice of coverage.

Stay tuned to our next blog post!

Click here to join our Facebook community for more information about your health and your healthcare coverage.