YES, You Should Get a Flu Shot!

Remember last year’s flu season? It was the worst in a decade, sending a million people to the hospital and killing thousands, including 172 children.

Getting a flu shot every year is the best way to protect yourself (and those around you) from getting sick. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone (6 months and older) get a flu shot every year.

The seasonal flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu by up to 40%-60%. And if you do get the flu, it may make your illness milder and reduce your risk for hospitalization.

So, get vaccinated before flu season begins in October. Remember, it takes two weeks after you get the shot before the vaccine is fully effective.

Your School District No. 1 Health and Welfare Trust benefits cover flu shots at 100%:

High Cholesterol Is No Joke

If your cholesterol is elevated, your risk for a heart attack or stroke could be double the risk of someone with normal cholesterol levels.

The only way to know your cholesterol numbers is to have a blood test, which your Health Plan covers at 100%, in keeping with preventive care guidelines.

Know the facts:

  1. There are no warning signs of high cholesterol until a person has a heart attack or stroke.
  2. Medicine is not the only way to control cholesterol. Lifestyle changes (healthy eating, physical activity and weight loss) are often enough to reach a healthy range.
  3. LDL “bad” cholesterol levels tend to increase as people get older. If you’re over 40, you really need to know your cholesterol levels.

Generally, adults over 20 should have their cholesterol checked every five years, or more often if they have high blood pressure, are overweight, have a family history of high cholesterol or other risk factors.

Don’t know your numbers? Make an appointment with your healthcare provider at least once a year for a preventive care exam and find out!

Already Paid Your Annual Deductible?

If your Health Plan has an annual deductible, check to see how much you’ve paid so far this year. (Log in on your Health Plan carrier’s website to view your account information. Need a link to the website? That’s easy. Go to Health Benefits, and then follow the prompts.)

If you’ve already paid your deductible for 2018, make the most of it by scheduling any needed appointments, tests or procedures by December 31. Because you’ve already paid the deductible, you’ll only have to pay any applicable copay or coinsurance.

Keep in mind that on January 1, the annual deductible starts over for Active and Early Retiree members.

Open Enrollment the Way You Like It

Whether you prefer to read about your benefits options for next year online or on paper, we’ve got you covered.

Open Enrollment for benefits-eligible Active and Early Retiree members is coming soon: October 15-November 9. Everything you need to know about your benefit options will be available to you in two formats: printed and online.

  1. Watch for a printed packet in the mail a few days before Open Enrollment begins. The packet includes a Benefit Guide, plan comparisons, rates and more.
  2. Once Open Enrollment begins, everything in the printed packet will also be available to view on sdtrust.com. Simply click the banner on the home page and follow the prompts to select your group and status.

You can view the documents from anywhere; but to enroll online you must be in a PPS building and connected to the PPS Wi-Fi network. (Early Retiree members must fax or mail a printed form to enroll.)

Note: Open Enrollment for benefits-eligible Substitute Teachers was August 20-September 14.

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