EYE HEALTH MATTERS: Protect Your Vision with Regular Eye Exams

You might not think you need to get eye exams if you don’t wear glasses. But if you have diabetes or other chronic conditions, are over age 65, or have a family history of eye problems, you have a high risk for vision loss.

Here are three ways that comprehensive eye exams help keep your vision strong:

  1. Find eye diseases early. Many common eye problems go unnoticed for a long time. A routine exam detects eye diseases in the early stages, when treatment to prevent vision loss is most effective.
  2. Detect other health issues. Your eye doctor can see behind your eyes and check for signs of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and much more.
  3. Correct your vision. Many people think their eyesight is just fine without realizing they may need glasses or contact lenses…but about 11 million Americans over age 12 need vision correction.

Your Vision Plan covers an annual vision exam for all enrolled family members. Go to sdtrust.com and click on “Current Plan Year Information” on the home page, then choose your bargaining unit and status to get information about your specific Plan.

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LIVE HEALTHIER: Omada Is a Health Program Built Just for You

Whatever ‘healthy’ means to you, Omada helps you get there with a plan built around you, with all the tools and support you need. Omada is available at no cost to you and your eligible dependents, age 18 and over, who want to:

  • Lose weight to reduce health risks.
  • Manage diabetes better or reverse prediabetes.
  • Lower their blood pressure.
  • Relieve joint and muscle pain.

Unlike other programs, Omada doesn’t tell you what to eat, make you count calories or points, or limit your exercise options. Instead, you’ll learn how to make the best choices for yourself, while building healthy habits that you can sustain over time. The program includes:

  • A dedicated health coach for ongoing one-on-one guidance to personally help you in ways that work for you. (A licensed physical therapist provides ongoing support to help members improve joint and muscle health.)
  • Connected smart devices (like a scale, blood pressure monitor, or glucose meter) are mailed to you and automatically synced to your Omada account—all at no cost to you.
  • Weekly interactive lessons help you explore physical, social, and psychological components of healthy living. Your coach will also provide behavioral health support to help you develop skills to maintain a healthy mindset as you live with ongoing conditions.
  • An online community of peers with similar health conditions and challenges provides real-time encouragement, sharing, and support.

Omada is quick and easy to start. Begin with a short questionnaire to determine if you’re eligible and which program is right for you. Once you’re enrolled, download the app on your smart phone or tablet and create a password to protect your privacy. Next, you’ll be paired with a health coach and a peer group, and shipped a welcome kit before your program kicks off.

Ready to be a healthier you? Click here to get started.

HAPPY NEW PLAN YEAR: View 2025 Benefits on sdtrust.com

The SD-1 Health Trust website (sdtrust.com) is your go-to reference for benefit information anytime you have a question.

Here’s where to look for answers to most common questions:

  1. Current Plan Year information: Click on “Current Plan Year Information” on the home page, then choose your bargaining unit and status to see information about current Plan Year benefit coverage. Plus, you can view your Plan’s documents including the Benefit Guide, Summaries of Benefits and Coverage (SBCs) and the monthly contribution rate sheet.
  2. Using your benefits: To access your benefits, go to your Plan’s website (Kaiser Permanente, Providence, etc.). Create an account and log in to find an in-network provider, schedule an appointment, see claims, and more.
  3. Eligibility and enrollment information: Need a reminder about who you’ve enrolled or have a question about eligibility? Contact the Trust Administrative Office on edge.zenith-american.com (Substitute Teachers and Early Retirees) or the PPS District Benefits Office (or log in to your account on selfservice.pps.net) for Active Employees.

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