Inside This Issue

Is it Urgent or Life Threatening?.............................. 1

Get Relief From Heartburn ........ 2

Stay Healthy as You Get Older .................................. 3

Healthy Reminders .................... 4Whenever you go to an emergency room for nonemergency care, you’re in for a long wait because the most critical patients are treated whenever they arrive. And, you’ll pay more for the care you receive because your health plan requires an ER copay (up to $250 based on your plan).

On the other hand, most urgent care centers are open evenings and weekends, and see patients without an appointment. Plus, when you choose an in-net-work clinic, you’ll generally only pay only your plan’s usual doctor’s office visit copay. So it pays to think twice about where you get care.

First, assess the situation.•Choose an urgent care clinic

for conditions that require prompt attention but do not pose an immediate, serious threat to your health or life. For example, an increasingly painful ear infection or a badly swollen ankle.

•Go to the nearest emergency room or call 9-1-1 for sudden, unexpected medical conditions that could endanger a person’s life or seriously harm the person’s health if not treated immediately. For example, a heart attack or stroke, bleeding that will not stop, major burns or suspected poisoning.

•Get reliable medical advice if you’re not sure what to do. Call your doctor’s office, or for 24/7 assistance, call your plan’s nurse line:

– REGENCE MEMBERS: Call the CareEnhance Nurse Advice Line at 800-267-6729 (toll-free).

– GROUP HEALTH MEMBERS: Call the Consulting Nurse Service at 206-901-2244 (in the Seattle area) or 800-297-6877 (toll free - outside the Seattle area).

Second, find an urgent care clinic near you. It’s easy to search for a provider online. If you don’t have internet

Is it Urgent or Life Threatening?Think Twice Before You Go to the Emergency Room

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access, call the phone number on your health plan ID card.

•REGENCE MEMBERS: Go to myRegence.com, select My Navigator, and then click Provider Search and ER Alternatives. You’ll see a list of in-network clinics near you.

•GROUP HEALTH MEMBERS: Go to Group Health’s website (ghc.org) and click on Providers and Facilities Directory, then choose Urgent Care Centers to locate a clinic near you.

Be prepared to take quick action by locating the nearest urgent care center right now. Then keep that information in your wallet, along with your health plan ID card, and your doctor’s office and nurse line phone numbers.

H-2 receptor blockers when necessary.Many OTC medications are available to re-

lieve the pain of heartburn.

•Antacids. These neutralize stomach acid and give fast, short-term relief. Brand names include Maalox, Rolaids and Tums.

•Acid-reducing drugs, called “H-2-receptor blockers” don’t act as quickly as antacids, but they provide longer relief. Brand names include Tagamet HB, Pepcid AC and Zantac 75.

•Medications called “proton pump inhibitors,” or PPIs. These drugs control acid and heal the esophagus. Prilosec OTC and Prevacid 24 HR are the over-the-counter brands; other PPIs are available by prescription. While short term use of PPIs can be helpful, high doses or long-term use increases health risks, such as: acid rebound (the medication causes the stomach to produce even more acid), decreased vitamin B12 absorption and weakened bone strength.

You know it when you have it. Heartburn is a painful, burning sensation in your chest that happens when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. It usually occurs after eating a big meal or while lying down.

Many people get heartburn once in a while; usually, it’s nothing serious. Over-the-counter remedies can relieve the discomfort, and if you watch what you eat and drink, you may be able to prevent it entirely.

However, if you have heartburn more than twice a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This serious condition requires medical treatment.

Heartburn Prevention TipsAvoid occasional heartburn with these strategies:

•Eat moderate quantities and choose high-protein, low-fat foods

•Avoid spicy or acidic foods, caffeine and alcohol

•Wait at least 2 to 3 hours after eating before lying down

•Avoid wearing tight clothes or belts

•Raise the head of your bed with blocks

•Talk with your doctor about alternatives to medications that can make heartburn worse, like aspirin, ibuprofen, sedatives and high blood-pressure medicines

How Do You Spell Relief?Both the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Academy of Family Physicians agree that the best approach for heartburn and mild reflux is lifestyle modifications, including diet changes, over-the-counter (OTC) antacids and

Get Relief From Heartburnlifestyle Changes and medication Can help

Stay Healthy as You Get OlderTen Tips Keep You Going strong

Getting older has some silver linings that might surprise you. People over age 70 are generally less troubled by anger, stress and worry than younger folks. People over age 60 are less likely to be depressed. Studies show that as we age, our wisdom grows, marriages get healthier, friendships are more satisfying and happiness increases.

Taking steps like these to stay well reduces your risk for debili-tating illnesses like cancer, heart disease and stroke:

1Lower your blood pressure. More than 70% of people over

age 60 have high blood pressure. Talk with your doctor about how to maintain a healthy level.

2Stop smoking. Even a lifelong smoker who quits at

age 70 will have dramatic health benefits. Within a few weeks, you’ll feel better…and within a few years, your increased health risks are cut in half.

3Have cancer screenings. Tests for colon, breast and

cervical cancers are safe and highly effective. Talk with your doctor about when you should have screenings for these and other cancers.

4Get immunized. Get vaccinated against the flu,

pneumonia and shingles. Talk to your doctor about vaccinations for other diseases and make sure you stay up-to-date.

5Reduce blood sugar. If you are at risk for developing type

2 diabetes, losing weight and increasing your physical activity can reduce or eliminate your risk by lowering your blood glucose levels.

6Lower your LDL cholesterol. About one in three American

adults have high LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, which doubles their risk of heart disease.

7Be active. Experts say we all need two-and-one-half hours

of moderate activity a week. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, either all at once or in three 10-minute intervals.

8Maintain healthy bones, joints and muscles. It pays

to stay flexible with stretching, core and strengthening exercises. Include fish and calcium in your diet.

9Make friends. Spend time with other

people, whether it is family, friends, community organizations or doing volunteer work. Relationships help people of all ages stay emotionally healthy.

10 Fight depression. Although everyone is sad

at times, being depressed is not a normal part of aging. Talk with your doctor if you feel depressed for more than two weeks--and get help to feel better.

Your Health Plan Helps You Stay HealthyMake an appointment for an annual wellness exam and talk with your doctor how you can stay healthy. Your Health Plan pays 100% for preventive services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and no deductible is required. (See the entire list at uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.)

Benefits Toolbox provides general information about MBA Health Insurance Trust benefits. For more information, please refer to your benefit booklet. In the event of conflicting information, the Plan documents and insurance contracts will govern.

EPK & Associates15375 SE 30th Place, #380Bellevue, WA 98007

Healthy RemindersThe 2014 plan Year Will Be here Before You Know it

The MBA Health Trust Plan Year endsonDecember31,2013. Just a reminder that the new Plan Year will begin on January 1, 2014. Makethemostof2013! If you’ve already met your deduct-ible, be sure to schedule any procedures your doctor has rec-ommended before the end of the year. If you haven’t had a routine checkup in 2013, schedule one and make sure any tests your doc-tor advises are completed by De-cember 31. Health Care Reform. As the Af-fordable Care Act (ACA) continues to take shape, it’s important to be aware of several changes in 2014

that will affect everyone. Being a part of the MBA Health Trust pro-vides you and your family access to resources and guidance on any questions that you may have. Here are few key changes to keep in mind: 1. The Individual Mandate be-gins January 1, 2014. This provi-sion requires everyone--including spouses and dependents—to have health insurance or face po-tential penalties imposed by the IRS. The penalty is the greater of a flat fee or a percentage of your income. 2. Health Insurance Marketplac-es or Exchanges. Beginning Octo-ber 2013, people without access

to employer-sponsored coverage will have an option to purchase health insurance through on-line marketplaces run by individual states. 3. Many of the mandated ben-efit changes, such as free preven-tive care, have been a part of the MBA Health Trust plans for years. However you will see increased benefits in many of the health in-surance plans starting in 2014. The ACA is a large and sweep-ing change to the health insurance industry, but rest assured the MBA Health Trust is here to help you every step of the way. For more information please visit www.healthcare.gov