HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? It’s Time to Rethink Your Drink
It’s no surprise that numerous studies have found that alcohol consumption has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as more of us are drinking to deal with stress. But that has serious health risks.
Even drinking within the recommended limits (up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women) may increase the overall risk of death from cancer and heart disease. And consuming alcohol in excess of recommendations increases the risk for liver disease, cardiovascular disease, injuries, and alcohol use disorders.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a good time to take look at your drinking patterns and see if you need to make any changes. This short, confidential online quiz can help you make sure you are making healthy drinking choices.
Your benefits can help you (or a covered dependent) develop strategies to help control drinking:
- Kaiser Permanente: Find out the steps to take in getting help with alcohol use.
- Providence: Discover services and activities that empower patients to develop their own solutions related to alcohol use. (Bonus! Here are more strategies to improve your well-being.)
- Regence: Access counseling services using telehealth (by phone and video) or in person.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Get help to solve problems that may interfere with work, family, and life in general. Confidential counseling (5 free sessions per situation, per year) and a 24-hour crisis help are always available to you and anyone in your household.
NOT JUST FOR KIDS: Adults Need Vaccines, Too
Unlike most medications, which treat or cure diseases, vaccines prevent them. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.
Millions of adults have already received the COVID-19 vaccine which were developed under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. They are safe and highly effective, and the CDC recommends adults get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible.
- Get details here: COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon | COVID-19 Vaccine in Washington.
But that’s not the only vaccine you need. Adults need to keep vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines—such as tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough—can wear off over time. Adults over 50 are also at risk for different diseases, such as shingles and pneumococcal disease.
Recommended vaccines are covered by your Health Plan at 100%. There is no cost to you! Talk to your doctor about the vaccines that are right for you, based on your age, gender, job, lifestyle, travel or health conditions.
- Find out what vaccines you need.
- View our vaccine infographic – You’re Never Too Old for Vaccines.
- See recommended vaccine schedules by age.
CHOOSE AN IN-NETWORK PROVIDER: You’ll Be Glad You Did
If you choose a health care provider (medical, dental or vision) because the office is near your workplace, or because it accepts your insurance, or because you can get an appointment right away … you may be paying more than necessary.
To save money, it’s important to choose a provider who is in your Plan’s network. (If you participate in the Kaiser Permanente or the Providence Personal Option Health Plan, there is NO out-of-network coverage except for emergency care.)
To find an in-network provider who is conveniently located and accepting new patients, go to your Plan’s website:
- Go to sdtrust.com, click Menu, My Benefits, then Health Benefits.
- Choose your Bargaining Unit and Status, then click Go.
- Find your Plan and click the link to your Plan’s website. (Tip: register and log in, so you only search your Plan’s in-network providers.)
Watch our short video to learn how you save money by staying in-network.