Network Health - Fall 2013 Balance

a publication of

F A L L

2 0 1 3

l i f e , h e a lt h & w e l l n e s s

Cancer can

kick you in the face.

With perseverance and support, Network Health member Michael Olson is now a cancer survivor.

from the president

Dear Readers

A

s the autumn season arrives, changes are in the air. Children are back at school, the temperature begins to feel crisper and the leaves will soon change colors. At Network Health, change is in the air, too. As we prepare for many health care reform changes that go into effect in 2014, we’ve been busy working to ensure a smooth transition for all of our members.

In this issue of Balance, you will read about two Sheila Jenkins new ways we are making President health insurance easier Network Health for you. On page 15, you can learn about our new smartphone app. It will allow you to access your member ID card from your smartphone.

This means you’ll never lose your ID card or leave it at home again. Make sure to read the article to learn how to access and use this new feature.

The second update is our primary care

C

O

N

T

E

N

T

S

provider verification tool. With the launch of this new tool, we are giving away $50 Visa® gift cards to 10 randomly-selected members who use the tool. All you need to do is log into your personalized account and verify who your primary care provider is. If you do not have one, the tool will guide you through the process of choosing one. Turn to page 15 to learn more about accessing this feature and becoming eligible for a reward.

I also encourage you to log onto cocreatewi.com to learn about our newest endeavor, CoCreate. The CoCreate campaign is a joint effort between Network Health and the people of Wisconsin to share ideas that will improve the health insurance experience.

By listening to what the people of our community are saying, we believe we can improve the health insurance industry.

As you can see, we’ve been busy lately, and we don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon. As we welcome in a new season, we look forward to serving you and continue to strive to improve the health insurance experience for all of our members.

life 3 Take a Load Off

How much is too much for a child’s backpack?

4 Finding the Right Care

EDITORIAL STAFF President Sheila Jenkins Chief Administrative Penny Ransom Officer Publications Sam Darcy Coordinator Graphic Design Darren Brzozowski Coordinator

Editorial Board Peggy Huss, David Weiss, Dawn Rady, Deborah Anderson, Renee Corral, Barb Gore, Chuck Rynearson Balance is published quarterly by Network Health. The health information contained in Balance is meant to supplement, not replace, the advice of health care professionals. © 2013 Network Health. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without written permission from Network Health.

Tell Us What You Think If you have questions or suggestions or would like to tell us how Network Health improved your life, send us an email at balance@networkhealth.com.

You can also write to us at: Network Health Attention: Sam Darcy 1570 Midway Pl. Menasha, WI 54952

FEATURE 8 Something to Smile About

After years of battling cancer and complications, Network Health member Michael Olson is all smiles these days

Determining whether you need emergency or urgent care

4 Member Satisfaction

Resolving Network Health-related issues

health 5 What Can Quitting Do For You?

2 | balance • F a l l 2 01 3

08

A timeline of health benefits associated with quitting smoking

6 Know Your Fats

Recognizing the differences between good and bad fats

7 ADHD in Girls

Symptoms of ADHD in girls

wellness 12 Should You Get a Flu Shot?

A brief overview of everything you need to know about the annual flu vaccine

13 Concussions

How to identify the signs of a concussion

14 It’s More Common Than You Think

Explaining chlamydia and its prevalence

15 Access Your Insurance Card On The Go

Network Health’s new insurance ecard, accessible from your smartphone networkhealth.com

life

Information to help you get the most out of your coverage

Take a Load Off F

or your child, a backpack serves as a snapshot of his or her school day. This sometimes includes textbooks, homework, lunch, gym shoes, sports gear and just about anything else you can imagine. Unfortunately, filling a backpack with the necessities of a school day can put a heavy burden on your child’s back.

Heavy backpacks can cause health problems for both children and teenagers. Not only can they contribute to back, neck and shoulder pain, as well as posture problems, they can also throw off balance, which can lead to twisted ankles and falls.

So, how much is too much for your child’s backpack?

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, kids should carry no more than 10-15 percent of their body weight. For example, a 100-pound child should not carry a backpack that weighs more than 15 pounds. To test how much your child’s backpack weighs, simply place it on your bathroom scale. This will give you a general idea if your child is at risk for developing back pain.

Choosing the Proper Backpack When choosing a backpack for your child, look for some of these features. » Lightweight » Two wide, padded shoulder straps » Padded back » Waist strap » Wheels for rolling

To help ease the weight of your child’s backpack, make sure he or she wears and tightens both shoulder straps, lifts properly and packs the heaviest items closest to the back.

Remember, although linked to pain and posture problems, heavy backpacks do not cause scoliosis. If you think your child might suffer from back problems or scoliosis, contact your child’s doctor. networkhealth.com

S ay W h at ?

Scoliosis – A sideways curve of the spine that often shows up in children during adolescence.

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life

Never forget your insurance card at home again with Network Health’s new member ID ecard.

Turn to page 15 to learn how to access your ecard by using your smartphone.

{ YOUR COVERAGE }

Finding the Right Care I

f you get hurt or become very ill, panic and confusion can make it difficult to know what to do. If you feel it’s an emergency, it’s important to get to the nearest emergency room or call 911. But, sometimes you might not be sure if it’s an emergency. If it’s not, many times your primary care provider or a walk-in clinic can help.

Here are the answers to two of the most common questions we get about knowing what type of care you need.

so you don’t develop a serious problem.

You typically receive emergency care at the emergency room. You may get urgent care at your primary doctor’s office, a walk-in clinic or an urgent care facility.

Here are some of those hotlines: > Affinity NurseDirect at 800-362-9900 > Bellin Health On-Call 888-758-7373 > Prevea On-Call 888-277-3832 > ThedaCare On-Call 800-236-2236

What’s the Difference Between Emergency Care and Urgent Care?

Emergency care and urgent care are not the same. An emergency is an illness, injury, symptom or condition so serious that a reasonable person would seek care right away to avoid serious harm. Urgent care is for an unexpected injury or illness that is not life threatening, but still needs attention quickly

What If I’m Not Sure If It’s an Emergency?

Knowing what to do before an emergency can help you make the right decisions quickly.

If you are not sure whether you should go to the emergency room, call your doctor.

Several health systems also have 24-hour hotlines you can call to speak to a nurse or health professional for advice. Ask your doctor for this number ahead of time.

Don’t Forget to Ask Questions Anytime you visit the emergency room, a walk-in clinic or see your primary doctor, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions about your care is the best thing you can do to ensure your safety. If something doesn’t seem right or make sense, ask about it. Remember, there’s no such thing as a dumb question, especially when it comes to your health.

Member Satisfaction I

f you have a concern regarding any aspect of Network Health, contact the customer service department and a representative will review your situation and help resolve the issue. If the complaint cannot be addressed immediately, the representative will offer and explain the complaint process to you. If you choose to file a formal complaint, the issue will be forwarded to a member advocate for a complete investigation that typically involves requesting medical records, if needed, and speaking with the noted parties (physicians, facilities, etc.). The member advocate will contact with you with the outcome.

4 | balance • F a l l 2 01 3

networkhealth.com

health

News and tips to help you maintain a healthy and happy life

What Can Quitting Do For You?

B

y now, most everyone has heard about the harmful effects of smoking. It causes cancer, shortens your life expectancy and puts you at risk for other serious illnesses. But what about the benefits of quitting? Let’s look at what you will gain from quitting, instead of what might happen to you if you don’t.

How Long After Quitting Until You See the Health Benefits?

2 HOURS The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal

20 MINUTES Your heart rate and blood pressure drops

TWO WEEKS TO THREE MONTHS

ONE TO NINE MONTHS

FIVE YEARS

ONE YEAR

Circulation improves and lung function increases

Risk of having a stroke is the same as a nonsmoker’s

10 YEARS

Lung cancer death rate is half of a smoker’s

Coughing and shortness of breath decrease

Risk of coronary heart disease is half of a smoker’s

15 YEARS

Risk of coronary heart disease is equal to a nonsmoker’s

In addition to the health benefits, you will also see other immediate rewards like better breath, whiter teeth, better sense of taste and smell and no more smoke stench following you wherever you go.

Successful Quitting

Many people have found medications helpful when trying to quit.

However, counseling and other types of emotional support can boost success rates higher than medicines alone. If you are a chronic smoker or have just started smoking and want to quit, talk with your primary care provider about your plan of care. You are also encouraged to contact us regarding your benefits for smoking cessation. networkhealth.com

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health

Bilingual language assistance or translation services are available for members to discuss utilization management issues. Network Health also offers TTY services for deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired members. Members who need these services should call 800-947-3529.

Know Your Fats M

ost foods contain multiple kinds of fat, and some are better for you than others.

Cutting all fats from your diet isn’t necessarily beneficial, as some fats actually help promote good health. But which fats raise cholesterol and which fats help to decrease heart disease? Here’s a quick guide for your reference.

Saturated Fats

Found mostly in foods from animals and some plants, saturated fats raise cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, which can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Examples of saturated fats include bacon, ribs, cheese, pizza, sausages and beef.

Unsaturated Fats

Unsaturated fats come in two types, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated.

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Monounsaturated fats – Found in oils and foods like an avocado, this type of fat improves cholesterol levels and lowers your risk of heart disease.

Polyunsaturated fats – These fats also help lower cholesterol. One type of polyunsaturated fat, omega-3s, can be especially beneficial to your health. You can find omega 3s in some types of fatty fish.

Examples of unsaturated fats include salmon, trout, herring, avocados, olives, walnuts and liquid vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, safflower, canola, olive and sunflower.

Trans Fats

Although they do occur naturally in some foods, most trans fats are made during food processing through hydrogenation of unsaturated fats. These synthetic trans fats can increase unhealthy LDL levels and raise your risk for cardiovascular disease.

Examples of trans fats include margarine, french fries, cake mixes, doughnuts, potato chips and cookies.

As you can see, fats come in a variety of ways, with many different health effects. Just try to keep it simple and remember out with the bad, in with the good. Make an effort to choose foods with healthy fats and you could lower your cholesterol and decrease your risks for heart disease.

S ay W h at ?

Low-Density Lipoprotein – Type of cholesterol that can lead to buildup in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain.

Hydrogenation – A chemical process that adds hydrogen atoms to an unsaturated oil, making it saturated and unhealthy. networkhealth.com

For a complete list of recent changes to our provider network, go to networkhealth.com/providerchanges.

ADHD in Girls W

hen you picture a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, your mind probably imagines a hyperactive young boy disrupting a classroom. That’s probably because boys (13.2 percent) are more likely than girls (5.6 percent) to be diagnosed with ADHD in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although boys are diagnosed more, they may not be more likely to have ADHD. Their symptoms are just easier to spot. Girls with ADHD aren’t usually hyperactive or impulsive. Instead, they tend to have the attention-deficit part of the disorder, which may make ADHD harder to diagnose.

According to the American Psychological Association, girls with untreated ADHD are at risk for low self-esteem, underachievement and problems like depression and anxiety.

Girls with untreated ADHD typically carry their problems into adulthood. Women with untreated ADHD are also more likely to have children with ADHD. Many women finally receive a diagnosis when their children are diagnosed.

If you suspect your child may have ADHD, it’s important to understand the different forms it can take. There are three types of the disorder, all characterized by different symptoms. The types include:

Most children show signs of inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity at one time or another. A child’s attention span usually depends on his or her interest level. These behaviors don’t necessarily deem that a child has ADHD. Remember, for a child to receive an ADHD diagnosis, he or she must exhibit symptoms in more than one setting, such as home and school.

Inattentive ADHD > > A difficulty to organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details or follow instructions or conversations. The person is also easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines.

Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD > > A difficulty to sit still, interrupts conversation, grabs things from people or speaks at inappropriate times. This person also may have more accidents and injuries than others.

Combined ADHD > > For people with this form, symptoms characterize both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.

networkhealth.com

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8 | balance • F a l l 2 01 3

S T O C O V E R Y

e m S iL

SOMETHING TO

ABOUT

After years of battling cancer and complications, Network Health member Michael Olson is all smiles these days.

When Michael Olson headed for the woods to go hunting on an ordinary November day, he knew just where to go, just what to bring and just what to do if a trophy buck presented himself. But what Michael didn’t know was that in a short few hours, his life would suddenly change. > > >

B y S a m D a r c y | Photographs by Shane Van Boxtel, Image Studios

networkhealth.com

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S T C O V E R R Y

When Michael returned home that night in 2011, he realized he was significantly bleeding, the first sign something was off, and an indication of the health adversities that he and Michele,

“ Yvonne got us whatever we needed.

She made everything happen, and got everything approved.

She was a champ for me.”

S ay W h at ?

Colostomy – A procedure that brings one end of the large intestine out through the abdominal wall. Stools moving through the intestine drain into a bag attached to the abdomen.

Stoma – A surgical opening where waste passes through to a pouch or collection device.

Neuropathy – A result of nerve damage that often causes weakness, numbness and pain in the hands and feet, but it may also occur in other areas of the body.

10 | balance • F a l l 2 01 3

his wife of 22 years, would soon face.

Fearing the worst, the Olsons went straight to the emergency room at Berlin Memorial Hospital. Once there, Michael found out that the bleeding had been caused by rectal cancer.

“When we found out the diagnosis, we didn’t break down,” Michael said. “We just thought, what’s next and how can we fight this?”

Once diagnosed, Michael remained in the hospital for three days, as doctors attempted to surgically remove the cancerous tissue. He had to return the next month to have more tissue removed. After that, the Olsons were told that Michael was in the clear.

Unfortunately, when Michael visited his doctor the following April, he found out that the rectal cancer had come back.

“It just sucked,” Michele said. “But Michael taught me that life is what you make of it and with everything that happens, you get stronger.”

Once again, Michael decided to do whatever he could to fight his cancer. So, from June through August of that year, he got up early, drove from his home in Neshkoro to Fond du Lac for oral chemotherapy and then directly to work in Berlin.

Despite Michael’s treatment, he had to return in September 2012 for colostomy surgery, due to the damage that his cancer had caused.

It was a life-changing procedure that the Olsons had hoped to avoid, but found it was inevitable.

Following his colostomy surgery, Michael once again started chemotherapy treatment, except this time it was a combination of both oral and IV chemotherapy. Michael also developed neuropathy from his treatment, which caused extreme sensitivity to anything cold.

“I had to wear a glove to reach into the freezer, cover any exposed skin to go outside into the cold and could only drink warm beverages,” Michael said. “But what I really just wanted was a cold beer.”

The biggest problem Michael faced after surgery involved his permanent stoma. According to Michael, his stoma protruded inward, instead of outward like most other stomas. This caused many complications for Michael, as he was filling his waste bags faster than a normal patient.

“I couldn’t work,” he said. “It was embarrassing to be somewhere and run into problems.”

Throughout his health struggles, Michael and Michele always had access to Network Health Case Manager Yvonne Morrow. Yvonne worked to help answer questions and coordinate care and coverage for Michael.

After seeing her husband struggle with his stoma, Michele felt helpless. She hit her breaking point and reached out to Yvonne for help.

“I called Yvonne, and all I could get out was my name because I broke down in tears. I felt so bad that I wasn’t able to do enough for my husband,” Michele said. “Yvonne let me cry. She was calming, patient and together.” networkhealth.com

“When we found out the diagnosis, we didn’t break down.

We just thought, what’s next and how can we fight this?”

According to Yvonne, Michael had a lot of difficulties with his colostomy and other complications, which became a huge source of frustration and difficulty for the Olsons. With the complications from his stoma, Michael was going through one bag a day, instead of one every three days, which is typical. Thanks to Yvonne’s help, they were able to get things under control and get Michael the medical supplies he needed.

“Yvonne got us whatever we needed,” Michael said. “She made everything happen, and got everything approved. She was a champ for me.”

But things still weren’t quite right, so Yvonne suggested the possibility of a getting second opinion to help fix the stoma. Working with Jeanean Bauer, a wound-care/ostomy nurse, Yvonne was able to get Michael a consultation with Dr. Wagner at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. Following that meeting, the Olsons immediately felt comfortable with the idea of reconstructive surgery on Michael’s stoma.

“I don’t know what she did or who she called, but Yvonne made it happen,” Michele said. “Yvonne was always there for us.”

And last April, on Michael’s birthday, he went in for reconstructive surgery on a Friday. The next day, the Olsons were greeted by a surprise visitor. networkhealth.com

“Yvonne came and visited us in the hospital,” Michele said.

“That was cool; you don’t expect that personal touch. You don’t expect your case manager to show up in your hospital room. She came on a Saturday, her day off. It’s indescribable. Who would do that?”

For Yvonne, after spending so much time with members over the phone, she jumped at the chance to meet the Olsons face-to-face.

“It’s extremely rewarding,” Yvonne said. “It feels so great to feel that you have been able to help in a small way as our members are traveling this tough journey.”

Since his surgery last spring, Michael has spent his time doing as much as he can. A man of many interests, he’s spent his summer swimming, snorkeling, golfing and riding his motorcycle. The Olsons have even put together a “bucket list” that includes traveling to Europe and making memories together.

“Michael taught me to live for today,” Michele said. “You can’t look down the road, so we don’t.”

And while the Olsons look toward the future, they appreciate Network Health and Yvonne for helping them get through everything.

“Yvonne called me the other day and said that she might have to close the file on me pretty soon,” Michael said. “I don’t want to lose her, but I hope I stay healthy enough that I don’t need her anymore.”

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wellness

Tools to empower your personal health

Should You Get a Flu Shot?

A

s the seasons change from summer to fall, it also moves us closer to another flu season. Although we don’t want to think about it now, getting infected with the flu can leave us feeling miserable, put us in the hospital and in some extreme cases, lead to death.

An annual flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your chances for getting the flu this season and will prevent you from spreading it to others. Although many are skeptical of the flu shot, the more people that get vaccinated the less it can spread through our communities.

Still not sure if you need a flu shot this year? Here is some information to help you decide.

How Does the Vaccine Work?

The flu vaccine causes the body to develop antibodies about two weeks after vaccination. The antibodies then protect you from getting infected by viruses that are in the vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccine works to protect you from the three most common viruses. Each year, one flu virus of each kind is used to produce the vaccine.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone over the age of six get a flu shot. Vaccination is especially important for people with a high risk of developing complications due to the flu, including: > > Pregnant women > > Young children > > Older adults Certain chronic conditions can also increase your risk of flu complications. Talk to your primary care provider to find out if you’re at risk.

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S ay W h at ?

Antibodies – A protein produced by the body’s immune system when it detects harmful substances.

Should Anyone Not Get Vaccinated?

If you are severely allergic to eggs – Some flu vaccines contain a small amount of egg proteins. If you have an egg allergy, talk to your doctor about special precautions to take before receiving the vaccine.

If you’ve had a severe reaction to a past flu shot – Check with your doctor if you’ve had a bad reaction to the flu shot in the past.

Can the Flu Shot Give You the Flu?

No. The flu vaccine can’t give you the flu, but you might develop symptoms despite getting the shot. These symptoms might develop because of a bad reaction to the vaccine, getting sick in the two-week window before the antibodies build up, getting sick with a different illness that has flu-like symptoms or getting a flu virus that doesn’t match one in the vaccine.

Although not 100 percent effective, the flu shot will offer you better protection than going without a vaccine. Flu season can start as early as October, so get vaccinated as soon as the shot becomes available in your community. To find out where you can get the vaccine, ask your doctor or use the flu vaccine locator at http://flushot.healthmap.org. networkhealth.com

Concussions How to identify and treat head injuries

W

hen a child plays sports, the threat of injury always puts worries in the back of a parent’s mind. No one wants to see a child end up in a cast because of a broken arm, leg or ankle.

But what about injuries that are harder to see?

Certain injuries, specifically concussions, are difficult to spot.

For years, concussions were taken lightly and just classified as “getting your bell rung.” But with fall sports in full gear, it’s important to understand concussions, know what symptoms to look for and if your child should seek medical attention. Here are some things you should know.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head.

Signs and Symptoms

Concussions don’t necessarily have to result from serious collisions—even a bump to the head can be serious. If you think your child has a concussion, it’s important to know what symptoms to look for.

–

> Headache > Nausea or vomiting > Dizziness > Blurred vision > Sensitivity to light and noise > Confusion > Memory problems

If You Think Your Child Has a Concussion

Seek Immediate Medical Attention – Only a health care professional can determine the severity of a concussion and the proper timetable for a return to sports.

Stay on the Sidelines – Give the concussion time to heal. Don’t let your child return to play until cleared by a health care professional.

Children who come back too soon have a greater risk of sustaining another concussion. A string of concussions can cause brain damage, and affect your child for life.

Talk With the Coach – Let your child’s coach know if he or she has previously sustained a concussion. It might be the only way for the coach to know about past incidents.

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wellness

Network Health is a proud sponsor of the 2013 Fox Cities Marathon.

Come check us out September 20-21 as we’re the title sponsor of the marathon’s health and wellness expo. To learn more, go to foxcitiesmarathon.org.

Self-Management Workshops Fall Schedule For more information or to sign up for a workshop, call us at 920-720-1655 or 800-769-3186, extension 01655. Or, visit us at networkhealth.com/workshops.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions This workshop meets once a week for six weeks.

St. Elizabeth Hospital, Fowler Conference Room Three 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton, WI 54915 Meets Wednesdays, Sept. 11 - Oct. 16 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

It’s More Common Than You Think

O

ne of the least talked about yet most common sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in the U.S. is chlamydia. How common is chlamydia? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,412,791 cases were reported in 2011, but an estimated 2.86 million infections occur annually.

In 2012, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 3,800 cases of chlamydia in northeast Wisconsin, alone.

With the prevalence of chlamydia, it’s important to raise your level of awareness on the disease, as most people don’t even know they’re infected.

What is Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is an STD caused by a bacterium. It can affect both men and women and can cause serious, permanent damage to a woman’s reproductive organs.

Who’s at Risk?

Any sexually active person is at risk for chlamydia. It’s especially common because most people with chlamydia don’t have symptoms and don’t get tested. Chlamydia is 14 | balance • F a l l 2 01 3

most common in young people. The CDC estimates that one in 15 sexually active women aged 14-19 have chlamydia.

What are the Effects on Your Health?

Many times, chlamydia shows no symptoms.

However, even if no symptoms are present, the disease can still cause damage to a woman’s reproductive organs. The damage can lead to long-term pelvic pain, infertility and a number of serious pregnancy problems including pneumonia and eye infection in the newborn baby.

Testing and Treatment

The CDC recommends yearly chlamydia testing for all sexually active women age 25 or younger, older women who have a new or more than one sex partner and all pregnant women.

Any sexually active woman should discuss her risk factors with a health care professional to determine if more testing is needed. Sexually active men should also be tested.

Fortunately, chlamydia is easily treated and cured with antibiotics. If you or someone you know has chlamydia, make sure they have their partner tested as well.

Healthy Living with Diabetes This workshop meets once a week for six weeks.

St. Elizabeth Hospital, Fowler Conference Room One 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton, WI 54915 Meets Wednesdays, Sept. 11 - Oct. 16 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

C.O.P.E with COPD Education and support to help with chronic lung disease.

Oshkosh Senior Center 234 N. Campbell Rd., Oshkosh, WI 54902 Second Tuesday of every month, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Better Breathers A community-wide support group for people with COPD and other chronic lung diseases. Families and caregivers are welcome to attend.

St. Elizabeth Hospital, Fowler Conference Rooms 1506 S. Oneida St., Appleton, WI 54915 Meets the fourth Wednesday of every month. Fall class dates are Sept. 25, Oct. 23 and Nov. 27.

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. program, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. social hour Fox Valley Diabetic Education and Support Group Open to people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and/or their loved ones. Classes are free. No registration is needed.

Appleton Fox Valley Technical College Room C190C, Use Entrance 15 1825 N. Bluemound Dr., Appleton, WI 54914 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 12 - How to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy with Diabetes Oct. 10 - Dealing with the Holidays and Special Occasions Nov. 14 - Seeing is Believing, How Blood Sugar Monitoring Can Improve Your Diabetes Management

networkhealth.com

Access Your Insurance Card On The Go N

etwork Health is making things easier for you by introducing our new member ID card app.

It enables you to access your member ID card even if you don’t have it with you. You can use the app at the doctor’s office by emailing or faxing your card right from your smartphone. The app also gives you peace of mind knowing that your family members who are away from home will always have their insurance card, too. For example, if your child is off at college, he or she can download the ecard so it will always be accessible in case of emergency.

Get Your eCard Today

To get your ecard, follow these simple steps. > Scan the Quick Response (QR) code at the top of this page or visit networkhealth.com/mobile. > Download your Network Health ID card application to your smartphone. > Open the application and enter your member identification

number (found on your member ID card underneath the Network Health logo). > Enter your four-digit PIN (found on the back of this publication underneath your address). There is one PIN per household, so your entire family can use the same one.

With this app, forgetting your insurance card is virtually impossible.

If you have any questions about this new app, please call our customer service department at 920-720-1300 or 800-826-0940 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Win a $50 Visa Gift Card ®

N

etwork Health is giving away 10 $50 Visa gift cards to randomly selected non-Medicare members who verify their primary care providers using our new PCP verification tool.

To find the tool, go to networkhealth.com and sign in to your account. Once logged in, click on Verify Your PCP listed under the My Health column in the middle of the page. You will need to verify your PCP by November 30, 2013 to be eligible for the drawing.

Winners will be notified on December 10. If you do not have access to a computer, but would still like to be eligible for the drawing, contact our customer service department at 920-720-1300 or 800-826-0940 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays to verify your PCP. networkhealth.com

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1570 Midway Pl. Menasha, WI 54952

MAILED ON 9/13/13

Network Health Medicare advaNtage

getting older has its grandkids, retirement and health insurance for as little as $

advantages–

0 a month.

Learn more at NetworkHealthMedicare.com or call 800-983-7587.

Network Health Medicare Advantage plans are PPO plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Network Health Medicare Advantage plans depends on contract renewal. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

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