ENDLESS SUMMER: Get Fit for Life, Not Just Summer
There's something about summer that naturally brings out healthy habits in all of us. Plan now to keep the momentum of summer's healthy habits going into the fall and winter months. Try these tips:
- Get Outdoors. Hiking, cycling, and paddling easily transfer to exercise equipment at home or in a gym when the days get shorter.
- Make it a family affair. Keep family fitness a fun priority…switch to an indoor rec center to shoot hoops, run a ninja course, or swim in an indoor pool.
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Winter has its own bounty: pears, oranges, kiwis, squash, brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes (to name a few). Aim for 8 servings every day.
- Wear a swimsuit. Fact: It's easier to hide those extra pounds under layers of clothing. Keep them off by using a food tracker app to help you watch what you eat. Then try on your summer clothing throughout the winter months to stay on track.
- Breath fresh air. If you smoke, quitting is the best thing you can do for your health—plus, you'll stop creating dangerous secondhand smoke for others.
Your Trust benefits can help. Click below to learn about the "extra" benefits available—at low or not cost—to you:
- Work with a wellness coach to help you lose weight, reduce stress, or reach another healthy goal. There’s no cost to you!
Kaiser Permanente | Providence - Get discounts on gym memberships, classes, fitness products, and home equipment.
Kaiser Permanente | Providence - Quit smoking for good with the support of a tobacco cessation program.
Kaiser Permanente | Providence - Get bite-sized skills training (on your phone!) to develop your resilience and mental fitness.
Uprise Health: PPS Employee Assistance Program
PROTECT YOURSELF: Keep Your Immunizations Current
Vaccines, which help your immune system develop antibodies to fight off diseases, can reduce your risk for severe illness.
Make sure your own immunizations are up-to-date while you’re taking care of the kids’ back-to-school requirements. Vaccines recommended for adults protect against:
- HPV (human papillomaviruses): Protect yourself against diseases (including cancer) caused by this sexually transmitted infection; get vaccinated by age 26.
- Shingles: If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you can get shingles, a painful rash that develops in 30% of the population. Vaccination in adults 50 years or older reduces their risk by more than 90%.
- Pneumococcal disease: This bacterial infection can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or meningitis. Vaccination in adults 65 years or older reduces the risk of serious illness and death.
Your Health Plan pays 100% for recommended vaccines received from an in-network provider. It’s easier than ever to get vaccines at your local in-network pharmacy or call your doctor’s office to schedule an appointment and discuss which vaccines that are right for you.
Resources:
- SD-1 Trust Library: You’re Never Too Old for Vaccines
- Providence: Vaccinations Made Simple
- Kaiser Permanente: Immunizations
- CDC: Recommended Immunization Schedules
GOT QUESTIONS? Get Answers Fast
Now it’s easier than ever to get answers online: our short video shows you how.
Just remember 1-2-3:
- If you have questions about your benefits enrollment:
- Substitute Teachers and Early Retirees: Log in to your secure account on edge.zenith-american.com.
- Active employees: Log in to selfservice.pps.net with your PPS username and password.
- Call the Trust Administrative Office at (833) 255-4123 (toll-free) or (503) 486-2107.
- To use your benefits, go to your benefit carrier's website. Register for a secure personal account with your carriers (Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Delta Dental, and VSP). Search for a provider, get benefit coverage details, see health information, and more.
- For general information about your Trust benefits, go to sdtrust.com. You can update benefits midyear, get forms, view your benefit handbook, and much more.
Resources:
- SD-1 Trust Library: Get Answers to Your Benefit Questions