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Life SupportA Message from Your CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund A new year is a great time to think about your health, and to take advantage of the many benefits offered Unit Six members.The CCPOA Medical Plan was designed by Blue Shield of California to meet the needs of correctional officers-bringing you quality, comprehensive benefits at a reasonable cost. We're pleased to offer the same great benefits for the 2008 benefit plan year. Here are a few things we'd like you to keep in mind this year. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room Each year, millions of Americans use emergency rooms for routine medical care. Unnecessary ER visits can delay care for people with true emergencies, and end up costing all of us billions of dollars. It's important to remember that the best care for non-urgent conditions is in a doctor's office. With your personal physician, you can build a relationship and develop medical treatments that address your individual needs. Knowing your family health history, your personal physician can also plan appropriate preventive measures, and be available for follow-up care to ensure your treatment is effective. An emergency is any unexpected severe medical condition, including a psychiatric condition, exhibited by symptoms (including pain) so severe that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably result in any of the following: 1) placing the patient's health in serious jeopardy; 2) serious impairment to bodily functions; or 3) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. Remember, if you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital immediately. Urgent care is a convenient alternative when your doctor is not available during evenings or weekends. Urgent care centers are open for extended hours to treat patients with conditions that need immediate attention, but are not life threatening. Blue Shield offers access to a number of urgent care centers in your area. For a listing, go to Blue Shield's website, blueshieldca.com, and click the Find a Provider tab for the latest information on urgent care facilities in your area. At the Benefit Trust Fund, we know that not all areas of California have urgent care centers. If you live in an area with an urgent care center, check it out the next time you have an after-hours medical concern. Or, you can use the CCPOA Medical Plan NurseHelp as a first step in determining how to address your medical issue. (More on that below.) Generic Drugs Choosing FDA-approved generic drugs whenever possible can save you money at the pharmacy and help keep insurance premiums affordable. Generics are just as safe and effective as name brands because they contain the same active ingredients in the same amounts as their brand-name counterparts. Talk with your doctor to determine what's best for you. If you have a question about your prescriptions, visit the Pharmacy section at blueshieldca.com. With the Ask the Pharmacist feature, you can submit a confidential, online question to a pharmacist at the University of California, San Francisco, and receive a personal, confidential response in two business days. Another tool that can keep costs down for your maintenance medications is the mail order pharmacy, PrimeMail, available through Blue Shield. To access this, visit the Blue Shield website. The benefits of your CCPOA medical plan membership are many, including: Chiropractic Care - 20 visits per calendar year at just $10 per visit with participating providers. NurseHelp 24/7 - You can talk to registered nurses and master's-level counselors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to seek information and support regarding your physical and emotional well-being. Registered nurses and licensed counselors are available by calling (866) 543-3728. You can also chat online with a registered nurse, find program details, and request a consultation online by registering at blueshieldca.com and going to the Health & Wellness section. Healthy Lifestyle Rewards - This interactive online program gives you the resources, motivation, and support you need to start and stay on the road to better health. You'll find tools to help with your goals of getting in shape, eating right, reducing stress or quitting smoking. How about earning $200 (subscriber only) just for participating! To learn more, visit blueshieldca.com/hlr. Alternative Care Discounts - Access alternative health and wellness services-at least 25 percent off published fees for acupuncture and massage therapy services from participating practitioners. To take advantage of the Blue Shield discount program, go to the Health & Wellness section of blueshieldca.com or call American Specialty Health Networks (ASH Networks) at (888) 999-9452. Then make an appointment and present your CCPOA medical plan member ID card when you arrive. Continue Reading: Page 1 | Page 2  Print This PageBack to Volume 25, Issue 1 Back to PEACEKeeper Main Page |
