Inside This Issue:Your Trust Plan – A January 2018 Snapshot

Medicare Card Changes Coming in April

Have Your Eyes Checked Regularly

Your Trust’s Board of Directors – Apply Now to Join the Board!

Bonus Content:– Turkey Sausage Quiche Recipe– Health Benefits of Hiking

News for You, from Your Trust BoardMarch 2018

Your Trust Plan – A January 2018 Snapshot 2018 has started strong, with over 98% of our Trust’s Members re-enrolling for the new plan year, as we continue to deliver on our mission of Retirees Looking Out for Retirees.

We welcome all of our new Members, including 451 new Medical Plan Members, effective January 1, 2018:

• 248 who previously had Dental/Vision only

• 164 moving from another plan

• 30 who just turned 65 in January, and

• 9 pre-merger retirees (Northwest, Republic, etc.)

What does this mean? Your non-profit Trust’s Group benefit program is recognized as having exceptional benefits and additional services that are not available elsewhere, at competitive premiums. The Plan is actively managed to control premium costs for the entire growing Membership. Our negotiating power continues to increase, and we are stronger than ever!

New 2018 BCBSGa Medicare Advantage PPO Plan!

813 Members joined our new Medical Plan option for January 2018.

The Plan is available to residents of all 50 states, and is a passive PPO, which means you have the freedom to see any provider, without a referral, as long as they accept Medicare and the Plan. Members pay the same copay or coinsurance percentage when seeing either in- or out-of-network providers.

Visit itdr.com to learn more about the Plan.

Medicare Card Changes Coming in April – Are you Ready?

Your new Medicare card:

• will no longer list your Social Security number as your identifier; it will be replaced by a new 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) made up of randomly generated letters and numbers. Spouses will have their own individual MBIs.

Has Your Address Changed?

Make sure that your home address is up to date with the Social Security Administration, so you will get your new card.

To update your address:

• Call Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 ~ TTY 1-800-325-0778 Monday through Friday, 07:00 AM to 07:00 PM; or

• Visit your local Social Security Office; or

• Go online to create your “my Social Security” account by visiting www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ and updating your address under the “My Profile” tab.

Visit us online at www.ITDR.com and check the Message Center often for updates. Send your suggestions to trustmailbox@itdr.com. Contact a Personal Health AdvocateTM with any personal claims, benefits, or administration-related questions or concerns at 1-877-325-7265, Option 2.

Watch out for red flags!Medicare will NEVER call you to verify medical information, personal Information, banking information, or charge you a fee for the card. They will also NEVER threaten to cancel or change your benefits.

If this happens to you, it is a scam and you should report it to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us.

Scammers may think this transition time will be a golden opportunity to try and steal your identity. Stay current and learn more about scams and identity theft at www.bbb.org.

• will show the same effective date as your old card – the date you became eligible for Medicare.

• will no longer have a gender or a signature line.

• will be effective for use immediately when you receive it.

Also, this will be a time to be very diligent and watch out for scammers.

Have Your Eyes Checked Regularly by an Eye Care ProfessionalThe Trust’s vision plan with Superior Vision allows for the following:

SERVICES / FREQUENCY (based on date of service) COPAYS

Exam 12 months Exam $10

Frames 24 months Materials $10

Contact Lens Fitting 12 months Contact Lens Fitting $25

Lenses 12 months (standard & specialty)

Contact Lenses 12 months

Adults over age 60 should have dilated eye exams yearly. During this exam, the eye care professional will put drops in your eyes to widen (dilate) your pupils so that they can look at the back of each eye. This is the only way to find some common eye diseases that have no early signs or symptoms. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, be sure to have your prescription checked. See your doctor regularly to check for diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. These diseases can cause eye problems if not controlled or treated.

Common Eye ProblemsThe following common eye problems can be easily treated. But, sometimes they can be signs of more serious issues.• Presbyopia (prez-bee-OH-pee-uh) is a slow

loss of ability to see close objects or small print. It is normal to have this problem as you get older. People with presbyopia often have headaches or strained, tired eyes. Reading glasses usually fix the problem.

• Floaters are tiny specks or “cobwebs” that seem to float across your vision. Floaters can be a normal part of aging. But, sometimes they are a sign of a more serious eye problem, such as retinal detachment. If you see many new floaters and/or flashes of light, see your eye care professional right away.

• Tearing (or having too many tears) can come from being sensitive to light, wind, or temperature changes, or having a condition called dry eye. Wearing sunglasses or using eye drops may help. Sometimes tearing is a sign of a more serious eye problem, like an infection or a blocked tear duct. Your eye care professional can treat these problems.

• Eyelid problems can result from different diseases or conditions. Common eyelid problems include red and swollen eyelids, itching, tearing, and crusting of eyelashes during sleep. These problems may be caused by a condition called blepharitis (ble-fa-RI-tis) and treated with warm compresses and gentle eyelid scrubs.

Tips for Healthy Eyes• Protect your eyes from too much sunlight

by wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a hat with a wide brim when you are outside.

• Stop smoking.• Make smart food choices. In our online

version, check out this healthy recipe!

• Be physically active, maintain a healthy weight.• Maintain normal blood pressure.• Control diabetes (if you have it).

For more information about eye care:National Eye Institute MedlinePlus 1-301-496-5248 National Library of Medicine www.nei.nih.gov www.medlineplus.gov

Please use the above address for account specific correspondence, including premium payment, insurance plan eligibility, enrollment status, medical claims status or questions, and Delta subsidy information. To contact the Trust Board, please send correspondence to ITDR Member Care, 2405 Satellite Blvd., Suite 125, Duluth, GA 30096.

ITDR Service CenterP.O. Box 14464Des Moines, IA 50306-3464

Your Trust’s Board of Directors – Apply Now to Join the Board!It’s YOUR Trust, and YOU can make a difference.

Apply to join our committed Board of Directors. Help us grow, strengthen, and protect our insurance benefits now, and into the future.

Participate on our non-profit Board for a rewarding experience - an opportunity to give back to the Delta family by contributing the skills and expertise you have, while learning more about your benefits, making new friends, and broadening your professional network.

You are eligible to join the Board if you are a current Member of the ITDR Medical Plan, or an individual who will be joining the plan, but is not yet participating due to age.

Visit our website to learn more and access the application: itdr.com/ContactUs/JointheBoard.

Please direct any questions to trustmailbox@itdr.com.

Turkey Sausage Mini Quiche

Ingredients:

1 (12-ounce) package JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Breakfast Sausage Links

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 green pepper, chopped

2 cups sliced small mushrooms

2 cups egg substitute or 8 eggs

¼ cup milk

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese

⅓ cup thinly sliced green onions

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12 muffin cups with cooking spray. Cook sausage as specified on the package. Always cook to well-done, 165°F as measured by a meat thermometer. Chop into pieces.

2. In large skillet over medium-high heat, add oil, green pepper, mushrooms. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are cooked.

3. In large bowl, whisk eggs, milk and cilantro until well mixed. Stir in cooked sausage, cheese, mushroom mixture and green onions. Spoon mixture into muffin cups, filling approximately ¾ full. Bake 20 minutes or until set.

* If you like, you may also add 1 tablespoon finely chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with your green pepper and mushrooms….for added kick.

12 Servings

Serving size: 1 mini quiche

This recipe makes 12 mini quiches and is great to freeze and then pop in the microwave for a quick and healthy breakfast!

Health Benefits of HikingIt’s no secret that for people of all ages, regular exercise is one of the key factors to a healthy lifestyle. However, as they age, many seniors have difficulty finding a safe way to stay active, which can compound their existing health issues.

Dr. Michael Pratt, the acting chief for the Physical Activity and Health Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (CDC) told American Trails that “statistics show that most older adults aren’t getting enough activity and we know that they stand to benefit from regular exercise.” When it comes to regular activity, walking is one of the best forms of exercise for seniors. “Walking is a tremendously good activity for senior citizens. It’s cheap, it’s simple, almost anybody can do it,” Dr. Pratt says. “It helps seniors and has very real benefits for maintaining mobility and independence.”

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society showed that “seniors who walked at least four hours per week reduced their risk of hospitalization as a result of cardiovascular events.” Hiking is a great way for seniors to get out and enjoy a regular walk, and because hiking trails are often softer on joints than asphalt or concrete, hiking can actually be easier for frail seniors than going for a walk on the street.

The benefits of hiking are well documented, showing that seniors who hike regularly experience:

• Improved circulation

• Improved cardiovascular health

• Reduced arthritis, joint and knee pain

• A boost in bone density which can improve bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis

• Lower levels of depression and feelings of isolation

• Improved muscle strength when hiking on a slight incline.

Studies also show that seniors who go on one or two hikes per week experience an increase in their cognitive function and higher scores on tests for memory and reaction time.

This article, by Kimberley Fowler was posted on a senior living blog on April 7, 2017.