A Matter of Life and Death

Did you know that women have a 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime?
More than 300,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. For 20% of them, it will be caught early and their 5-year survival rate will be 100%.
For 40,000 of them, it will be too late.

That’s why early detection is vital. You can reduce your risk of dying from breast cancer by getting a mammogram, a service your Health Plan covers at 100% in keeping with the US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines:

  • Women 50 to 74 years: One mammogram every two years
  • Women 40 to 49 years: Ask your doctor when you should begin mammogram screening

Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 or older, but about 10% of all new cases are found in women younger than 45.

Ladies, you can’t stop it, but you can take steps to detect it early. Get the free booklet, 3 Steps to Early Detection, to help you learn how to find breast cancer before it spreads.

Learn more about breast cancer and your Health Plan’s mammogram services:

Is Your Number Up?

It’s so common, 1 in 3 adults have it but of those, 20% don’t even know it.
It’s so dangerous, 1,000 people die EVERY day in the U.S. because of it (directly or indirectly).
It’s so manageable, you can take steps to control it.

High blood pressure magnifies your risk for two leading causes of death in the US: heart disease and stroke, but here’s how you can improve your odds:

  1. Know your numbers. There are no warning signs, so the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to measure it with a cuff—in a doctor’s office or pharmacy, for example. Normal is 120/80, high is 140/90 or above.
  2. Live healthy. Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Keep salt to a minimum. Limit alcohol. Exercise at least 2.5 hours a week. If you’re overweight, get to a healthy level. If you smoke, quit.
  3. Take your meds. Your doctor may prescribe medication. If so, follow instructions. As your blood pressure improves, your doctor may reduce the dosage.

Learn how your Health Plan helps you manage high blood pressure:

Save Money. Enjoy. Repeat.

You could be saving money on things you already do. Like belong to a gym. Wear eyeglasses or contacts. Take yoga classes. Use diabetic supplies. Wear hearing aids. Belong to a weight-loss program.

Find out how much you could save:

. . . And the list goes on. Enjoy healthy meal services. Get acupuncture. Buy workout gear. Go to the movies, sporting events or theater. And so on . . .

PS: Don’t forget! As a PPS employee, you can also save on Weight Watchers memberships. Go to sdtrust.com for more information.

. . . And There’s More

While we’re on the topic of member-only benefits, you may also be eligible for perks as a PPS employee.

Join a credit union. Save with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).* Take advantage of free, confidential counseling services through the EAP. Save for retirement. Get professional development support.

Get details fast on sdtrust.com/my benefits/health benefits. Just click Menu, then More Benefits.

*Are you eligible for an FSA? Do you anticipate significant health care expenses in 2019? Do you have regular childcare costs? You owe it to yourself to see how much you could save with an FSA. Click here to learn more.

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