Special Features - Healthy Red Deer

Fall 2012

•Physical Activities for Seniors •Breast Cancer Awareness •Dental Misconceptions

2 Red Deer Express, HEALTHY RED DEER

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Seniors keep fit at the Golden Circle

BY ALF CRYDERMAN Red Deer Express

“Just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean you don’t want to do new things and zumba’s one of them. It’s not about the real When it comes to keeping active and age, it’s the feel age. fit, and engaged with the community, the “Fitness is an important component Golden Circle offers many opportunities. (not only to health but) to chronic disease “We have yoga classes (eight differ- management. For example, when it comes ent ones and they are all full), we have to managing diabetes, the first thing in square dancing, line dancing and move everything you read is about fitness. Reand groove; a warm up cardio, cool down, search into dementia shows exercise helps stretch, balance, improve cognition. strength program Fitness plays a very ‘PEOPLE SAY MY JOINTS ARE STIFF – all the exercises important role in AND I CAN’T DO EXERCISES, BUT you need to mainkeeping people moMOTION IS LOTION, YOU’VE GOT TO tain functional bile and exercise mobility,” said Exalso releases natuKEEP MOVING, USE IT OR LOSE IT.’ ecutive Director ral endorphins, so Monica Morrison. mental health is also MONICA MORRISON “We even have a improved. sit and be fit program for people who are “People say my joints are stiff and I can’t wheelchair bound or not able to stand all do exercises, but motion is lotion, you’ve the time. And we just started a tai chi pro- got to keep moving, use it or lose it. If you gram on Thursday nights.” don’t keep the large joints moving and luEvery Monday morning from 10:30 to bricated, you’re in trouble. Even with se11:15 a.m. the Zumba Gold program takes vere arthritis you still need to move.” the popular Latin-dance inspired workDancing is a great exercise for seniors out of zumba and makes it accessible for so every Thursday evening there’s a dance seniors, beginners or others looking for a with a live band. Card games are also popnew exercise routine. ular, and while there’s no physical activity It builds cardiovascular health by chal- involved, bridge, military whist and even lenging the heart and working the mus- scrabble keeps your mind agile with the cles of the hips, legs and arms with dance strategic thinking. moves.

“It’s all part of the social aspect of being Morrison said it’s the most popular pro- a healthy senior.” gram they have, as many as 45 seniors take Morrison said their surveys show that part and they have to move the furniture to meeting new people, especially for those fit everyone in. who’ve just moved to Red Deer and don’t

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have a circle of friends, is the main attraction of the centre. Fitness is just part of it.

“This is a great place to get reconnected or create a new social network. Actually, we get a lot of people who say, ‘I’m too young for the seniors’ centre, I’m not going there’.

But we want to provide opportunities for people to have fun, like zumba.”

The Golden Circle opened its doors in

1977 (a Kiwanis Club project) as a place for seniors to meet and enjoy the company of their peers.

It provides a wide variety of activities and programs for older adults, their families and caregivers. Check out their web site for more information or call 403-3436074. acryderman@reddeerexpress.com

Pamper yourself with a manicure and pedicure After a summer of fun in the outdoors, we may have neglected our hands and feet.

Going barefoot and wearing sandals can take their toll on feet while gardening and playing sports can be hard on your hands.

We can help our hands and feet with a manicure and a pedicure.

Manicures and pedicures are very similar treatments performed on different parts of the body and they are just what is needed to get them both back to looking and feeling amazing.

First your aesthetician will start you out with a soak to prepare your feet and hands for the treatment. This will be a sanitizing soak as well as help with softening of the cuticles. You will probably soak your feet longer than your hands.

Both treatments will include shaping of the nails.

You can choose to have a square shape or round depending on your preference.

This will make both your hands and feet look

Natasha

KREIGER better and will even make your feet feel even better in your shoes.

Your feet will also have the calluses removed which will make your shoes fit better and make your feet feel baby soft.

These services also include a sugar scrub. Your hands, feet and legs will be massaged with a sugar scrub which helps to remove old, rough skin.

Removing the old skin will allow your newer skin to shine through with a healthy glow.

To maintain this healthy glow, you will receive a luxurious moisturizing massage for your hands, feet and legs followed by a paraffin wax treatment.

Your hands and feet will be immersed in warm paraffin which alleviates joint pain and helps to lock in

the moisture created in the massage, which helps to maintain your vibrant new skin.

Once the paraffin is removed your aesthetician will clean your nails again in preparation for the last step which is polish.

There are many different colours to choose from and if colour isn’t for you, you could opt for a French polish.

Upcoming holiday parties are the perfect reason to be a little daring with your colour.

Taking care of your hands and feet may seem like a luxury service that isn’t necessary, but we use them every day and we should take care of them.

You can also extend the results after your treatment by taking care of your feet and hands at home.

Most spas sell the products that they use during their treatments so that you can use them at home between treatments.

Natasha Kreiger is a director at Medi-Aesthetics Institute of Canada in Red Deer.

For more information call 403-347-3900 or email at natasha@mediinstitute.ca.

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HEALTHY RED DEER, Red Deer Express 3

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

You don’t want to be this kind of ‘Iron Man’

BY TANIS REID Red Deer Express Inherited hemochromatosis, an iron overload in the body, is Canada’s most common genetic disorder. However, many Canadians are not aware this disorder and the effects it could have on their lives.

Normally, 10 to 20 mg of iron is ingested daily, of which 1-1.5 mg is absorbed in the intestinal tract and the rest is excreted through the bowels.

Hemochromatosis causes the body to absorb two to three times the normal

amount of iron. If left untreated, the excess iron builds up in vital organs, tissues and joints, where it can cause a number of debilitating and potentially fatal complications and diseases.

Complications and diseases can include chronic fatigue, depression, abdominal pain, aching joints, discolouration of skin, Type II diabetes, hypothyroidism, disease of the heart muscle and arrhythmia, leading to heart failure, liver cirrhosis or cancer. People with hemochromatosis are also four times more likely to have a stroke.

Complications, diseases and premature

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death due to iron overload can be prevented however, diagnosing the disorder while still in the early stages, before irreversible damage is done, is extremely important.

For men, these complications can appear in their 30s to early 40s. For women, these complications usually appear after menopause, when there is no more loss of iron during menstruation.

Statistics show that approximately one in 300 people have these elevated iron levels. According to the Canadian Hemochromatosis Society there is an estimated 12,000 Albertans who have two copies of the gene that puts them at risk of iron overload.

In the entire country, this number is estimated at greater than 110,000 Canadians in this category.

To test for hemochromatosis there are simple blood tests that a doctor must order to determine the ferritin and transferrin saturation in the blood. These measurements reflect how much iron is stored in the body and how much is being transported.

If the results come back elevated, hemochromatosis may be indicated. Genetic testing will be able to confirm the diagnosis of hemochromatosis.

“Testing is one of the most important things when it comes to hemochromatosis.

If you have a first degree relative with hereditary hemochromatosis no matter what your blood panel says you should be going and getting genetically tested,” said Tara Jacques, who is starting a Hemochromatosis Society Chapter for Central Alberta.

Genetic testing is different than just

getting a blood screen. Genetic testing is a simple blood test that gets sent to a lab to see if you have specific genes associated with hemochromatosis such as C282Y, H63D or S65C. “Getting genetic testing could save your life,” said Jacques. “If [hemochromatosis] isn’t treated it will kill you.”

Currently the most effective way of treating hemochromatosis is having a phlebotomy. A phlebotomy is the act of opening a vein for letting blood as a therapeutic measure.

However, this will only treat the iron levels. Symptoms from side effects of the disorder must be treated separately.

“De-ironing you won’t necessarily make those things go away.”

Jacques and her husband Paul Jacques, who has hemochromatosis, recently went looking for support and found the Canadian Hemochromatosis Society however they discovered that there was not any support group in Central Alberta. They will be opening a Central Alberta chapter of the Hemochromatosis Society and it will be based out of Innisfail.

“Our biggest goal is to get people tested - educating people and getting people to be aware and get tested.”

The Canadian Hemochromatosis Society (CHS) is a registered non-profit organization that was founded in 1980.

CHS was established to create awareness of hemochromatosis, to ensure its early recognition, testing and treatment in order to prevent needless and premature death. treid@reddeerexpress.com

4 Red Deer Express, HEALTHY RED DEER

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

national

breastcancer breast cancerawareness awarenessmonth month Support is critical to surviving breast cancer

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express It’s been more than two decades since Blackfalds resident Reta Coubrough heard the doctor utter those dreaded words about breast cancer. It came after a self-exam and the discovery of a lump in her breast.

“I was laying in bed and something just told me to do this,” she recalls of the self-examination. “Right away, I was off to the doctor.”

The cancer was also found to have spread to a lymph node.

That abrupt and radical shift in her life’s direction was in

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early 1991, followed by prompt surgery and weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. She was 53 at the time, and what made it all even worse was that she had lost her own mother to breast cancer just a few years earlier. Several other relatives had been stricken by the disease as well.

Today, Coubrough explains how dealing with the cancer and the treatments changed her life, and also made her realize how important it is to let others into your life to help you journey through those dark days.

In fact, it wasn’t long before she became involved in a support group at the time called Reach to Recovery through the Canadian Cancer Society.

“The mission of that group was for people to be able to talk and to share their stories,” she said. Volunteers who had had breast cancer met with patients both before and after surgery to help meet emotional and practical needs.

These days, those battling cancer can find a rich source of support via what’s called CancerConnection. For more information about CancerConnection, call 1-800-263-6750.

“They will find somebody that has the same condition,” she explains. “They match you by age, gender and family circumstances. You tell them your story and they will find someone. It’s really important to find that support. It was my life-saver because I got involved with Reach to Recovery right away, and it made such a difference.”

She’s also been involved with an organization called Look Good, Feel Better.

“It was created with the idea that if a woman has cancer she still wants to look good,” says Coubrough with a smile.

Launched in 1992 by a charitable foundation of the Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA), Look Good Feel Better is Canada’s only cancer charity dedicated to empowering women to manage the effects that cancer and its treatment have on their appearance, and often on their morale.

More than 130,000 women have been helped through the workshop. “It’s such a neat program. We have someone come in with wigs as well, and that’s a great thing.” Locally, a chapter of the organization meets the third Thursday of the month at the Central Alberta Cancer Centre, which is located at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.

Meetings run from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information or to register, call 403-343-4526.

For Coubrough, each day is a gift to be cherished. She’s got a warm, welcoming and friendly personality and it’s obvious she is also a caring woman with a big heart. She’s also quick to smile and see the lighter side of life – despite the difficulties she has endured.

Ultimately, she’s also thankful for the years she’s had post-diagnosis to enjoy her family and friends. “I’m amazed, because my mother didn’t survive any more than 20 months.”

But she aims to keep busy with her focus set on easing the pain of others. She enjoys supporting them as they walk a path she understands all too well.

“It’s my way to help. You can talk to someone and feel like you’ve given them something to help keep them going.” editor@reddeerexpress.com

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HEALTHY RED DEER, Red Deer Express 5

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

national

breastcancer breast cancerawareness awarenessmonth Raising the awareness of breast cancer

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express Shades of pink are dawning retail outlets and various community events, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The number of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer is staggering. According to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation web site, an estimated one in nine Canadian women are expected to develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. In 2012, it is estimated that 22,700 Canadian women and 200 Canadian men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

The web site states that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canadian women and the third leading cause of death after heart disease and lung cancer.

Risk factors for breast cancer include gender and age – being a woman is one of the strongest risk factors, although men can also get breast cancer as well.

The reason the disease is more prominent in women is because their breast duct cells are more developed than men’s, and women’s breast cells are constantly exposed to the female hormone estrogen, which is essential to women’s normal growth, development and reproduction. However, it is also a risk factor in the development of breast cancer.

The risk of developing breast cancer increases as women age, but women of any age can develop the disease. It is reported that 80% of breast cancer cases and 90% of breast cancer deaths in Canada occur in women over the age of 50.

Although the disease in women under 50 is less common, younger women do get breast cancer as well – one in six

women who die from breast cancer are diagnosed in their 40s.

Other risk factors for breast cancer include early menstruation and late menopause. Breast cancers in younger women, who are pre-menopausal, tend to be more aggressive than those that are found in older women.

Other risk factors include personal and family cancer history, as well as genetics, breast conditions, breast density, radiation exposure, the birth control pill, fertility treatment and hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

As for the detection of breast cancer, there’s nothing better than mammography but often women are frightened of the screening test and put it off because of fear.

Guidelines used are someone who has a first-degree relative with breast cancer be screened 10 years younger than when that relative was diagnosed. The Alberta Breast Cancer Society advocates that women without any history start being screened at 50, however, officials encourage women to start discussing screening with their doctor at age 40.

Also, if a woman is pre-menopausal screening should take place annually. Women who have gone through menopause can be screened anywhere from one to two years.

In addition, there are many things women can do to help prevent breast cancer. Women can make positive lifestyle choices including staying at a healthy body weight, eating a more balanced diet, getting regular physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption and not smoking. By also reducing exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment, it can also help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Meanwhile, many successful fundraising campaigns have been held in support of breast cancer research. One of

the biggest events that was held was the CIBC Run for the Cure, which took place last month in Red Deer and across Canada. Over $30 million was raised. In Red Deer alone, there were 1,235 participants at the event and more than $256,500 was raised here.

Continuing to raise awareness, talk about the signs and risk factors of breast cancer as well prevention measures, treatment options and having the most up-to-dateresearch will help keep the topic top of mind for everyone and hopefully one day a cure will be found. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

- With files from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

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6 Red Deer Express, HEALTHY RED DEER

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The misconceptions about dentists “No offense Doc, but I hate you guys” is a phrase that I am sure every dentist hears at least once a week. I know, because I have heard this greeting for over 30 years in my practice. Most dentists reply, “None taken” and then scoot off to book their next therapy appointment. How is it that people with an arm full of tattoos, a nose ring and six earrings can come to the dentist and try to explain his/her fear of the needle? Somewhere along the way dentistry has failed to hire the best available public relations agency. In the movies we are portrayed as maniacal sadists, on television as blundering albeit lovable buffoons. In defense of our profession, here are some of the common dental misconceptions I would like to dispel:

Dr. Brian

SABY 1. Dentists are not tooth obsessed. I have met thousands of dentists and I must say that, for the most part, this is not true. We do get into many tooth-related conversations in social interactions, but these conversations are typically ice-breakers initiated by curious non-dental members of the public. The notable exception to the take-your-work-homewith-you rule is the local guy who has a penchant for collecting dead guy’s teeth. Most dentists choose more conventional hobbies that

don’t include dental themes or human remains.

2. There has never been a technique for extracting a tooth where the dentist puts his knee on a patient’s chest and pulls.

3. No one has ever picked up audible radio transmissions from their fillings, except Gilligan.

4. If four out of five dentists recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum, what is the other guy recommending?

5. Dental fillings have never been made of lead, even in China.

6. Just because a dentist invented a toothbrush or some other dental thing, does not necessarily mean it is not a piece of crap.

7. Contrary to what happened to Barney Rubble, dental laughing gas will not make you float.

8. The dental needle is not a

repurposed veterinary syringe, nor is it the size of a hunting spear.

9. No one has ever grabbed a dentist in a rather sensitive anatomical area and said, “We are not going to hurt each other are we?”

10. Note to Sir Lawrence Olivier: It is safe, so stop hurting Dustin (Marathon Man) Hoffman- it’s bad for business.

We are currently in the golden age of dentistry. Dental advances in the past 25 years have revolutionized dentistry and today’s modern dental techniques allow dentists to help their patients achieve almost any dental desire.

We can now replace missing teeth with fixed teeth utilizing dental implants instead of dentures.

Cosmetic dental procedures can

give you the smile you have always dreamed about having for that next family photo or photogenic driver’s license. Anesthetic procedures have become pain free and dental sedation can make your dental care more comfortable than has ever been possible since the frontier days of very strong whiskey. The list goes on.

My goal for future columns is to provide you with all of the information about advancements in modern dentistry. I hope to inform you about modern dental options available today that will help you achieve the smile and function that you want and deserve.

Dr. Brian Saby is a general dentist with Smiles by Saby. For more information call 403-340-3434 or email at info@saby.com.

Creating challenging obstacles for yourself Sometimes life creates obstacles for us and sometimes we create our own.

I think obstacles are a requirement of life. In fact, I think that obstacles are not a problem at all. I believe that the only problem is thinking that life is going to be free of obstacles, and then getting upset when the inevitable obstacles appear.

I have made a career in creating them

Scott

McDERMOTT and teaching people to overcome them.

Further, I am here to tell you, the benefits of those habits are far-reaching and powerful. Think about it – if you go around looking at life as a school for overcoming obstacles, it kind of changes everything doesn’t it? There is a lot of truth to this if you stop and think about it. My wife and I have a

six-month old baby and his world revolves around learning about new obstacles and how to overcome them. He cannot walk or crawl yet. The floor between him and his toy is an obstacle that he is starting to get frustrated with and wants to overcome. He sees us move, he sees a toy that he wants, but he cannot get there yet, so he is starting to try and learn how to overcome this.

Without the obstacle, my son would never get very far and neither would any of us.

Gravity is an obstacle – remove it and we are in trouble. I was watching a film with my mom today on the first years of NASA and the space program. I was reminded of the day the scientists realized that astronauts could hardly walk when they returned to earth from the first space flight in zero gravity. Why was this happening they wondered? Of course now we know that without resistance (gravity in this case) muscles atrophy and are absorbed by the body because the body, ever adapting, decides the muscles are not required.

As my mom finishes her third week in the

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hospital she is experiencing what the astronauts did, her muscles are going away because she cannot move from her bed, and the body gets rid of what it does not need. This is the number one biological fact that I work with as a personal trainer – effective resistance creates adaptation.

My job is to create obstacles for people in an effective manner to help their body change to make beneficial adaptations.

Going beyond that, our boot camps are designed to be fun so the obstacle of boredom doesn’t stop progress. There are other areas where we also work to remove obstacles, such as learning to overcome poor nutrition and poor eating habits.

To be fit and healthy, you must overcome obstacles of life – like work, kids, time and money etc. This requires planning, commitment and making fitness a priority.

Further, it requires you to create obstacles that challenge your body to grow or regrow strength, agility, flexibility and balance.

Myself and several friends and clients

attended a race in Calgary this summer called a Spartan Race. It was a 5 km run.

Now, a 5 km run is pretty straight forward but what made this race so awesome, attracting nearly 5,000 people – were the obstacles. Yes, it was a 5 km run filled with over 15 obstacles. Things like hills, tires, logs, mud, walls, bricks, sand bags etc. The obstacles made the 5 kms a ton of fun!

On Oct. 27th, we are hosting a 3 km Zombie Run in Sylvan Lake filled with obstacles and games to make the event more fun than a simple 3 km run. Again; obstacles making life better.

So the next time you find yourself wishing that life was easier,or had less obstacles, understand that they are there, (if you are willing to accept it) to serve you and make you adaptable, smarter, stronger and have a better life.

Scott McDermott is a personal trainer and owner of Best Body Fitness in Sylvan Lake. He can be reached at 403-887-7667 or check out www.personaltrainersylvanlake.com for more information.

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HEALTHY RED DEER, Red Deer Express 7

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Stationary bikes get Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ahead

BY TANIS REID Red Deer Express Earlier this October the corporate world of Red Deer traded in their suits for t-shirts, shorts and sneakers to Gear-Up! in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Ride for Diabetes Research- a stationary bike challenge to help bring this foundation ahead.

This year the annual event took place across 21 cities in Canada. 2012 marked Red Deer as an official site for the Ride for Diabetes Research. Red Deer’s Ride was at Bower Place where participants came together to partake in a fun and unique stationary bike-a-thon fundraising for diabetes research.

This was Red Deer’s first year as an official Ride site, however, last year volunteers coordinated a ‘micro’ ride. The 2012 Red Deer Ride more than doubled in the number of participants at last year’s event. This year there were 22 Ride teams.

During the Ride, teams of five competed for 40-minutes (seven minutes per rider) on stationary bicycles with the goal of raising the most money. Teams rode in one-hour intervals so that participation could fit into any work schedule.

This high energy and fun competition event also awarded incentive prizes for raising the most funds, showing the most spirit and wearing the best costumes.

“Without the support from our corporate business community and local residents, the Ride for Diabetes Research would not be the successful event that it is today,” said Andrew McKee, president and CEO of JDRF Canada.

“As business professionals we are always aiming to reach that next goal or business objective, and to be successful you need to be able to work as part of a team,” said Judy Goldring, executive vice-president and CEO of AGF Management Limited. “The JDRF Ride for Diabetes is a wonderful opportunity to work with your colleagues as a group towards a common goal of raising much

needed funds for diabetes research and ultimately helping JDRF with their mission of finding a cure for diabetes.”

The Ride has raised more than $30 million over the past 24 years. In 2012 Ride was expecting to attract over 24,000 participants with a national fundraising goal of $7.9 million.

To date, the Red Deer Ride has raised more than $26,000 of their $30,000 goal.

However, ATB Financial has provided JDRF Red Deer with a team-autographed Oilers jersey to auction off during the Nov. 30th Rebels game. All proceeds will go towards the Ride. Diabetes is the name given to disorders in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. There are two major types of diabetes -- Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 diabetes, the most

severe form of the disease, is a non-preventable autoimmune disease affecting more than 300,000 Canadians. It strikes suddenly, causing dependence on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications such as blindness, nerve damage, kidney and cardiovascular disease, amputation and even death.

Canada has the sixth highest incidence rate of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in the world. According to the Canadian Diabetes Associations, diabetes accounts for approximately $12.2 billion in health care costs in Canada each year.

The goal of JDRF research is to improve the lives of all people affected

by T1D by accelerating

progress on the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating and preventing T1D. JDRF is now the largest charitable supporter of T1D research.

“Every dollar brings us closer to our goal, and we need your help to continue funding groundbreaking research,” said McKee. “With more than 80 per cent of JDRF’s expenditures going directly to support research and research-related education, every participant and donor can be assured their money will help find new treatments, prevention and ultimately a cure for type 1 diabetes.”

For more information join JDRF Red Deer on facebook or follow them on Twitter (@JDRFRedDeer). treid@reddeerexpress.com

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www.symphonyseniorliving.com

(403) 346-1134

8 Red Deer Express, HEALTHY RED DEER

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Because there’s nothing more important than your family’s health...

Alberta Blue Cross individual health and dental plans help you and your family stay healthy by providing practical benefits you’ll use on a regular basis.

At the same time, you get affordable protection against the high cost of unexpected illness, accidents, ambulance trips and medical conditions.

If you’re age 65 or over, ask us about our affordable Seniors Plus plans.

dental

prescription drugs

Please call us today for your free information package Toll-free 1-800-394-1965 www.ab.bluecross.ca ambulance

vision

extended health benefits

ABC 82965 (2011/12)

If you’re without employer-sponsored health benefits, we’ve got an individual health and dental plan to meet your needs...and your budget.