Living Healthy Magazine February 2015

F E B R UARY 2015

LIVING HEALTHY

IN TR O D U C IN G Q U E E N S LA N D C O U N TRY D E N TA L LAURA GEITZ NETBALL CLINICS

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PAIR OF GLASSES

C O N T E N TS ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

GE NE RA L MA NAGE R UP DAT E.. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

OU R NE W HE AD OF FIC E....... ..... .....

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QU EE NS LAN D CO UN TRY DE NTA

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INI CS ...... 6 FU ND LAU RA GE ITZ NE TBA LL CL QU EE NS LAN D CO UN TRY HE ALT H ..... ..... ..8 ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

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YO W NE R, YEA NE W ..... ..... ..... ..... 7 ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

ON LIN E CL AIM ING ...... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

MO UTH GUAR DS . ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

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..... ..... ..... ....1 1 TIV E AN D DIAGN OSTIC DE NTA L....

BE NE FITS IN FO CU S: PR EVE NTA LASSES....1 4 ESCRIPTION GLASSES AN D SU NG PR OF R PAI HT RIG THE G SIN OO CH ..... ..... ..... ...1 6 ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

BE NE FITS IN FO CU S: OP TICAL......

WI LKI NS ON ...... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

STA FF IN SP OT LIG HT: DR SA RA H . ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

CH EQ UE S AR E CH EC KIN G OU T. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

UP DAT ING YO UR DE TAI LS....... ..... .....

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S PAI N....... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....

CA N YO U EAT YO UR WAY TO LES

Queensland Country Health Fund awarded a CANSTAR Award!

We are excited to announce that we have been awarded the CANSTAR award for outstanding value private hospital cover for 2014! This means we have been recognised as offering the best value hospital products in Queensland.

annual review of health insurance products offered in the marketplace and then measures the value of health insurance products based on benefits and price.

CANSTAR is the most widely used and recognised online comparison site for financial services products. CANSTAR completes an

Further confirmation that we offer our Members excellent value health insurance products.

Front Cover Image: Queensland Country Health Fund Brand Ambassador and Australian Netball Captain, Laura Geitz.

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FR OM TH E

GENERAL MANAGER H EALTH FU N D The past six months has been a busy period for staff of Queensland Country, with the establishment of our new dental practice and the completion of our new head office building in Townsville.

The new head office is located in Aitkenvale in Townsville and has been constructed to meet the future needs of both Queensland Country Health Fund and Queensland Country Credit Union. This facility allows all of our administration and management staff to be based in one location and provides us with the space to expand as our businesses require.

It is a wonderful new facility with many technological advancements which will enable a very efficient and professional service to Members. It also demonstrates our commitment to North Queensland and reflects the confidence we have in regional Queensland.

The establishment of Queensland Country Dental in Townsville has been done to give Members the option of receiving cost effective dental treatment Queensland Country Dental will be an exclusive service to Queensland Country Health Fund and Credit Union Members. We are conscious that not all Members will have access to this dental practice and we are taking other steps to help Members access more affordable dental care in all areas. We have almost completed the process of developing a dental preferred provider network across Queensland and we will provide more information about this in the next couple of months.

As part of a Member owned group, we look for ways to support the communities that support our businesses. One way that we do this is to sponsor community based events that promote a healthy and active lifestyle. This includes sponsoring running festivals, triathlons and cycling festivals. We currently do this in Mackay, Bowen, Townsville and Charters Towers. We also support the crucial service that the NQ rescue helicopter provides in Mount Isa. During December we also sponsored three netball clinics in Cairns, Townsville and Mackay featuring Laura Geitz the Australian netball captain and brand ambassador for Queensland Country Health Fund. Laura provided these netball clinics to junior netball players to help them develop their skills and enjoy further success in their sport.

The Federal Government has recently conducted a review of natural therapies to determine the clinical efficacy of the therapies. A wide range of natural therapies were reviewed and included Bowen Therapy, Homeopathy, Massage therapy, Naturopathy and Pilates. Following the completion of the review, the Government will introduce a list of natural therapies that have demonstrated clinical efficacy and

can continue to attract the Medicare Rebate.

This means that health insurance products that include other natural therapies not included on the list will no longer be eligible for the Medicare rebate. This proposed change is not one supported by Queensland Country as it has the potential to either reduce the natural therapies available to Members that we can pay benefits for, or it will increase the cost of the product through the loss of the Medicare rebate. The Government is yet to make a decision on whether there will be some natural therapies excluded, although the proposed implementation date is the 1st April 2015. We will provide Members with further information when it becomes available.

Wishing you well for the rest of 2015

Aaron Newman | General Manager anewman@qccu.com.au

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O U R N EW H EAD O F F I C E

WE HAVE NOW MOVE D I NTO OU R N EW H EAD OFFICE I N TH E QU E E N S LAN D COU NTRY CE NTR E LOCATE D AT 333 ROSS R IVE R ROAD, AITKE NVALE, TOWN SVI LLE. Our new head office features your new Member only dental practice, Queensland Country Dental, with over 40 dedicated Member car parks, and a new Health Fund Service Centre located within Queensland Country Credit Union’s new Aitkenvale Branch. The Health Fund Service Centre will allow Members to process claims and speak directly with a Member Service Officer or Health Insurance Specialist. The Optical Superstore Aitkenvale is now located in the foyer of the new Queensland Country Centre.

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QUEENSLAND COUNTRY DENTAL

N OW O P E N

YOU R EXCLUS IVE M E M B E R ON LY D E NTAL PRACTICE I S NOW OPE N! Queensland Country Dental offers Members a full range of dental services and focuses on improving the oral health of Members. Members with Premium Extras cover will be able to access high quality dental care with no or low out of pocket expenses on preventive treatments including check-up, scale and clean and mouthguards.

Queensland Country Dental’s Principal Dentist, Dr Sarah Wilkinson makes mouthguards in practice for patients requiring them for sports that involve contact to the face or other activities including Rugby League, Cricket, BMX and more.

To make an appointment with the Queensland Country Dental team contact them on 1800 4 QCDENTAL or www.qldcountryhealth.com.au/dental Contact the team at Queensland Country Health Fund on 1800 813 415 to check what level of cover you have.

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Laura with some of the lucky Mackay winners and Queensland Country Staff Peter and Morelle.

LAURA GEITZ NETBALL CLINICS I N M I D-D ECE M B E R 2014, QU E E N S LAN D COU NTRY H EALTH FU N D’S B RAN D AM BASSADOR AN D AUSTRALIAN N ETBALL CAPTAI N, LAU RA G E ITZ HOSTE D TH E QU E E N S LAN D COU NTRY H EALTH FU N D LAU RA G E ITZ N ETBALL CLI N ICS I N CAI R N S, TOWN SVI LLE AN D MACKAY.

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Laura with the lucky Townsville winners and Queensland Country Health Fund Staff Kristin and Kylie.

In each city, over 70 aspiring netball stars joined Laura and ex-Firebird Lauren Nourse in junior and senior clinics to learn and hone key netball skills and techniques. The 30 excited winners of Queensland Country Health Fund’s Laura Geitz competition enjoyed one on one time with Laura to discuss tips and successes as well as a few Commonwealth Game stories.

Future netball stars who attended each of the clinics enjoyed lots of laughs with Laura and took home some great new skills. Many of the girls popped into the Laura Geitz Pop Up Shop and took home a souvenir from the day.

Laura and Lauren with the Mackay Clinic Girls.

Laura with the Cairns winners and Queensland Country Managers, David and Dianne.

LAURA IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HEADING UP NORTH FOR FUTURE NETBALL CLINICS WITH QUEENSLAND COUNTRY HEALTH FUND IN 2015!

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N EW YEAR N E W YO U !

SO, IT’S A N EW YEAR AN D TH I S I S D E FI N ITE LY GOI NG TO B E TH E YEAR THAT YOU AR E TH E MOST FIT, FAB U LOUS, AN D E N E RG ETIC VE R S ION OF YOU R S E LF THAT YOU HAVE EVE R B E E N.

By Lauren Kelly Personal Training

CU E FE B R UARY. All of a sudden those resolutions seem a thing of the not so distant past and your gym membership already seems like a waste of money. Maybe you’ll just buy bigger pants to accommodate the Christmas ham holiday spread. And unpacking the dishwasher is a good core workout, right? If this sounds familiar, welcome to the mighty fall from the new year’s resolution list. It’s a lot of pressure that we put on ourselves each year to often drastically change what we are currently doing in favour of something new or healthier.

So how do we stick to these resolutions for the entire year, and beyond?

The key is BABY steps. Take the time to sensibly ease into this new lifestyle change. Firstly, look at your regular schedule. Can you afford to take an hour out of your day for exercise, or is twenty minutes more realistic? This can be the deciding factor on whether you attend a group fitness class at your local gym or complete a shorter, high intensity workout session.

Start with two or three weekly workouts of short duration, and as the weeks progress, increase the frequency and duration. Always ensure that you have at least one or two rest days per week, and that your workouts include strength and cardio training, as well as stretching. It’s crucial that our body has adequate rest time.

Working long days and doing big gym sessions can inhibit fitness and weight loss progress by further stressing the body, so make sure your workout week is balanced. Finally, be patient. Long lasting results don’t happen overnight, so give your body a chance before you throw in the towel on your new exercise program. Focus on how strong you’re getting, how well your clothes are fitting you, and the compliments you receive, rather than a number on the scales (those scales can be fitness mojo squashing party poopers).

Let’s be realistic. You’re probably not going to look like Jessica Alba or Channing Tatum so just aim to be the best version of you that you can be – because THAT is pretty fabulous!

THE KEY IS BABY STEPS. TAKE THE TIME TO SENSIBLY EASE INTO THIS NEW LIFESTYLE 8

CHANGE.

ONLINE CLAIMING YOU CAN NOW MAKE CLAI M S ON LI N E! WITH SO MANY OF US LIVI NG VE RY B USY LI FE STYLE S WE HAVE MAD E CLAI M I NG FOR CE RTAI N S E RVICE TYPE S EVE N EAS I E R FOR OU R M E M B E R S. To claim online, you will need to be registered with our Online Member Services (OMS). You can register for this service via the home page of our website under “Register”. If you need help to do this, just send us an email or give us a call. Once you are registered for OMS simply follow the step by step guide below to claim online.

1.

2.

3.

Log onto Online member Services at

www.qldcountryhealth.com.au/members/online-member-services

Hover over “Claims” and select “Online Claiming” ead the terms and R conditions, then select “Next”. Confirm the bank account details are correct and Select “Next”

4.

Complete the “Add Claim Lines” section with the service details.

NOTE: The service date cannot be older than 3 months prior to the date of lodging this claim. To add another service click on “Add New Service”. If you have finished adding all services click on “Next”

5.

6.

eview the details of the R claim/s you have entered.

Confirm your claim by ticking the Declaration boxes and then clicking “Next”

Now click on "Submit"

Next

If there is an error you will see a RED MESSAGE under “claim line assessing”. This means that this particular claim has not been processed and you need to contact the health fund for further information. If the message reads a green APPROVED, your claim has been processed and payment will be made within 2 business days. You will also at this stage be provided with the claim result, benefit limit remaining after this claim has been paid and your claim number.

TE R M S AN D CON D ITION S DO APPLY FOR ON LI N E CLAI M I NG S E RVICE. YOU CAN FI N D TH E S E ON OU R WE B S ITE WWW.QLDCOU NTRYH EALTH.COM.AU 9

A mouthguard helps absorb the shock experienced by a blow to the face, which might otherwise result in an injury to the mouth or jaw.

M O U T H G UA R D S EVE RY YEAR THOUSAN D S OF CH I LD R E N AR E TR EATE D FOR D E NTAL I NJ U R I E S, WH ICH COU LD HAVE B E E N PR EVE NTE D, OR TH E S EVE R ITY M I N I M I S E D, BY WEAR I NG A PROTECTIVE MOUTHG UAR D. ANYON E WHO PARTICI PATE S I N A S PORT THAT CAR R I E S A R I S K OF CONTACT TO TH E FACE S HOU LD WEAR A MOUTHG UAR D.

Dr Sar ah Wi lki ns on , Qu ee ns lan d Co untr y De nt al

This includes obvious sports such as football, boxing and rugby, and also collision sports where unexpected contact often happens. These can include rugby league, soccer, boxing, basketball, hockey, netball, BMX bike riding, skateboarding, trampolining, cricket (wicket keeping or batting without a helmet) and water skiing.

Why do you need a mouthguard?

A mouthguard helps absorb the shock experienced by a blow to the face, which might otherwise result in an injury to the mouth or jaw. A heavy collision can result in chipped or broken teeth, internal damage to a tooth, tooth loss, injuries to the soft tissue of the mouth, and, in severe cases, concussion or a broken jaw.

Dental injuries can result in time off school or work to recover, can be painful and disfiguring, and may involve lengthy and complex dental treatment to restore teeth and the mouth back to normal function and appearance. The cost of an injury to your teeth or jaw far exceeds the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard.

WHEN SHOULD I WEAR A MOUTHGUARD? MOUTHGUARDS SHOULD BE WORN WHILST PLAYING AND TRAINING FOR ANY SPORT THAT COULD INVOLVE CONTACT TO THE FACE. 10

Source: Australian Dental Association Fact Sheet

O th e r Mo ut h g u ard Tip s: The Australian Dental Associatio n (ADA) and Queensland Coun try Dental recommend that only a professionally-fitted cus tom mouthguards should be wor n. This means a mouthguard made specifically for you by a den tal professional. These mouth guards are closely fitting and still allow you to breathe and talk with ease.

Check your mouthguard every time you wear it for fit and pro tection. Bring it to your dental check-ups so that your dentist can ensure it is still providing optimal prot ection for your teeth. This is particularly important when children are in the mixed dentition stage betw een baby and adult teeth. As adult teeth come though, mouthgu ards will need to be replaced to ens ure a close fit is maintained.

Keep your mouthguard clean by washing in cold water after use , air dry, and store in a rigid container, away from heat to ensure it maintains its shape.

Source: Australian Dental Associatio

n Fact Sheet

B E N E FITS I N FOCUS

PREVENTIVE & DIAGNOSTIC DENTAL PR EVE NTIVE D E NTAL CAR E I S I M PORTANT AS IT I S A D E FE NCE AGAI N ST TH E D EVE LOPM E NT OF D E NTAL PROB LE M S FU RTH E R DOWN TH E TRACK. It is therefore important to visit your dentist regularly for preventive checks. Untreated dental disease can sometimes lead to other serious health problems. Good oral health is just as important as the health of the rest of your body!

Queensland Country Health Fund Members have always received great preventive and diagnostic dental benefits, and policy holders can now access our new Member only dental practice, Queensland Country Dental, located in Townsville. The practice offers Members with Premium Extras, no out of pocket expenses on diagnostic and preventive care. Members with other levels of cover will receive discounted diagnostic and preventive care. See over page for more information.

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B E N E FITS I N FOCUS CONTI N U E D LIMITS PER MEMBERSHIP YEAR AND WHAT WE’LL PAY TYPE OF SERVICE PREMIUM EXTRAS

Preventive

Scale and Clean Fluoride Treatment Mouthguard

2 Month Waiting Period

Diagnostic

Periodic Oral Exam X-rays

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2 Month Waiting Period

ESSENTIAL EXTRAS

YOUNG EXTRAS $500 per person up to $1,000 per policy per membership.

SMART START

$1400^overall benefit limit per person per membership year for all Dental services (excluding Orthodontics which has separate claim limits).

$900^overall benefit limit per person per membership year for all Dental services (excluding Orthodontics which has separate claim limits).

Sub limit# of $800 applies

Sub limit# of $500 applies

No sub limit. Benefit entitlement would be subject to overall policy limits above.

$70

$45

$53

$53

$20

$13

$15

N/A

$150

$96

$113

$113

Combined limit claimable for General and Major Dental^ (^Surgical Extractions, Crowns and Bridges only)

$500 per person up to $1,000 per policy per membership.

$500 per person up to $1,000 per policy per membership.

No sub limit. Benefit entitlement would be subject to overall policy limits above.

$1400^overall benefit limit per person per membership year for all Dental services (excluding Orthodontics which has separate claim limits).

$900^overall benefit limit per person per membership year for all Dental services (excluding Orthodontics which has separate claim limits).

Sub limit# of $600 applies

Sub limit# of $400 applies

No sub limit. Benefit entitlement would be subject to overall policy limits above.

$42

$27

$32

$32

$30

$19

$23

$23

Combined limit claimable for General and Major Dental^ (^Surgical Extractions, Crowns and Bridges only)

$500 per person up to $1,000 per policy per membership.

No sub limit. Benefit entitlement would be subject to overall policy limits above.

# Dental Sub Limits: the maximum benefit amount claimable per person for treatment/service in a specific area of dentistry per membership year. This is providing an individual person’s overall dental benefit limit for the membership year has not already been reached. If this was the case no further dental benefits can be claimed by this individual on any area of dentistry until new membership year commences. Individual dental item benefits apply. ^Overall dental benefits increase by $50 per year for the first 5 years of cover on Premium and Essential Extras products only

Laura Geitz

Australian Netball Captain.

PASS + SCORE!

REFER A FRIEND TO QUEENSLAND COUNTRY HEALTH FUND AND IF THEY JOIN AND PURCHASE AN ELIGIBLE POLICY BEFORE 31ST MARCH 2015, WE’LL REWARD YOU WITH A $150 GIFT CARD!* Don’t forget to tell your friend when joining to provide us with your name and contact details so we can send you your reward.

*Offer valid from 16th February 2015 to 31st March 2015 and is subject to all financial obligations under the policy being met. Excludes all Public Hospital and Young Extras only covers. Offer is available with the corporate discount offer but is not available with any other offer.

The referring person must be an existing Queensland Country Health Fund policy holder. Terms and Conditions apply and are available at qldcountryhealth.com.au. Queensland Country Health Fund Ltd ABN 18 085 048 237.

CH OOS I N G TH E R I G HT PAI R OF

PRESCRIPTION GLASSES AND SUNGLASSES CHOOS I NG TH E R IG HT PAI R OF G LASS E S OR SU NG LASS E S CAN B E TR ICKY AN D FU N. WE SOM ETI M E S LOOK AT OU R FR I E N D S AN D CE LE B R ITI E S WITH E NVY FOR TH E I R FRAM E S E LECTION AN D WON D E R HOW TH EY GOT IT R IG HT. B E LOW AR E 7 TI PS THAT WI LL H E LP YOU CHOOS E TH E R IG HT FRAM E TH I S S EASON.

m et ri st s

1. Your prescription: all eyes are different

3. Colour: Match it!

Depending on your prescription, some frames will be a better choice than others for both aesthetics and comfort. For example, if you have astigmatism and a high prescription, the resulting lenses will generally have thicker edges. That’s why smaller frames or upgrading to thinner lenses may be a better option. Many brands have many unique frames in sizes that will work best for your prescription.

Unlike choosing the shape, the colour of your frame should actually match either the hue of your hair or eye colour. The good news is that black goes with all! Though to explore other options, if you have red hair, go for warm neutral colours, such as cream. Blonde hair, on the other hand, is considered cooler; therefore, explore blue or even pink tones.

2. Face shape and size: contrast works best Find a frame that contrasts the shape of your face in order to balance and bring out your facial symmetry. If you have a round face, then choose a narrow or rectangular shaped frame. Whereas, if you have an oblong face, choose a larger frame such as aviators, which will broaden the appearance of your slim structure. For an oval structure, customers should avoid frames that are wider than their faces, as this can often look overpowering and distort the soft and balanced symmetries.

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By N ur h an B ab az ad e, St acey & St acey O pto

Frames that match your eyes will often bring out your eye colour. Therefore, if you have blue eyes, don’t be afraid to try out a blue or grey frame! Hazel eyes, alternatively, will look great with brown, green, or even gold. As long as it’s a colour that compliments your features, you can’t go wrong with your choice!

4. Lifestyle: Everyone has different

hobbies & routines Depending on your lifestyle, there are several options you can choose from that will be best suited for your needs. So if you’re an active outdoorsy type, then consider titanium, stainless steel, memory metal or carbon fibre, as these materials are strong, sturdy, and lightweight. Lightweight plastics are also a great option for activities such as cycling and running. Alternatively, thicker plastics are a great option for glasses wearers that need a balanced and comfortable lightweight frame, which boasts fashion and style.

5. Fashion: What’s in and what’s YOU this season?

Bright colours, oversized glasses, and dark tones are what’s essential this season.

Take risks, play with bold colours in conjunction with your outfits, and have fun with it! Glasses also play the role of an accessory. In fact, who says we can only have one pair?

6. Lens Coatings and Tints: It’s never too much to add more!

Don’t forget that there are several additional features that can be applied to your specs.

Ready for a walk along the Queensland coast: Make sure that when you buy your sunnies, you upgrade your lenses to polarised in order to reduce the maximum amount of glare possible!

Two in one: If you’re the type that prefers to stick to one pair of glasses and would like to save the extra trip, then consider photochromic lenses, which turn darker when exposed to sunlight.

YOUR OPTOMETRIST WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVICE SPECIFIC TO YOUR HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE NEEDS, WHILE YOUR OPTICAL DISPENSER WILL HELP FIND THE PERFECT FRAME FOR YOU.

Complete and convenient: Multifocals look better than bifocals and allow for you to see near and far into the distance, giving you complete convenience.

Clarity: Anti-reflective coating will make your lenses clearer, giving you a sharper look and vision.

Thin it out: High script? No worries, as there are many options to thin the lenses!

7. Your Optometrist and Optical Dispenser:

Trust the expert Your optometrist will provide you with advice specific to your health and lifestyle needs, while your optical dispenser will help find the perfect frame for you. So take advantage of your trusted and experienced sources!

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US B E N E F IT S I N F O C

O P T ICA L

OPTICAL I S D E FI N E D AS TH E TR EATM E NT OF OR R E LATI NG TO TH E EYE OR TO TH E S E N S E OF S IG HT; AI D I NG VI S ION OR COR R ECTI NG A VI SUAL D I SOR D E R. An Optometrist can diagnose and treat eye disorders and vision problems, prescribe and dispense glasses and contact lenses, and provide expert advice on eye care. We pay generously on optical services and have discounts available with our preferred optical providers.

TYPE OF SERVICE

WAITING PERIOD

PREMIUM EXTRAS

ESSENTIAL EXTRAS

YOUNG EXTRAS

SMART START

Single Vision Bifocal Spectacles Multi-focal Spectacles Repairs to frames / spectacle frames only / replacement lenses

2 months

Total benefit Total benefit Total benefit for Total benefit for for optical items for optical items optical items optical items or services is or services or services is or services is limited to a is limited to a limited to a limited to a maximum maximum of maximum of maximum of of $275 per $185 per $200 per person $200 per person person, per person per up to $400 up to $400 membership year membership year per policy per per policy per membership year membership

Optical Discounts Queensland Country has negotiated agreements with a large number of optical providers across Australia.

When you visit one of our preferred optical providers you will receive great discounts on frames, lenses and contact lenses.

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Further details of these providers can be seen at www.qldcountryhealth.com .au/yourcover-explained/understandin g/ preferred-provider

STAFF IN SPOTLIGHT

DR SARAH WILKINSON Dr Sarah Wilkinson is the Principal Dentist of our new Member only dental practice located in the Queensland Country Centre in Townsville. Sarah was the Director of Oral Health for Townsville Hospital and Health Service for 7 years before making the move to Queensland Country Health Fund in mid-2014 to establish Queensland Country Dental. Sarah takes a holistic approach to the practice of dentistry and has a particular interest in education, prevention and minimum intervention philosophy.

For more information on our new Member only dental practice or to book your appointment, call 1800 4 QCDENTAL or visit our website www.qldcountryhealth.com.au/dental

Di d yo u kn ow ?

Pr in cip al De nt ist Qu ee ns lan d Co untr y De nt al

CHEQUES ARE CHECKING OUT!

From 1 January 2015 Queensland Country Health Fund is no longer sending cheques for payment of claim benefits. This change allows us to help you save time (queuing to deposit cheques and then waiting for them to clear) and will also assist us to process claims even faster!

What does this mean?

Members will now receive their claim paid directly into a nominated Australian financial institution account. We cannot remit claim benefits to a credit card account.

If your nominated bank account details are not currently held by us, all claims lodged (excluding HICAPS) will be rejected. If this should occur we will contact you

to request that you submit these bank account details.

Your claim will be returned unpaid if we cannot make contact until such time as your bank account details are supplied.

Paying benefits straight to your account is safer, faster and more reliable and that’s better for everyone!

If you require a Benefit Statement (which is a statement outlining all the claims that you have made in the last financial year) you can also view this online by logging onto Online Member Services (OMS) www.qldcountryhealth.com.au online membership or drop us a line at info@qchfund.com.au For more information or to inform us of your bank account details please call us on 1800 813 415.

UPDATING YOUR DETAILS Don’t forget to update all your contact details with us!

You can now receive communication from us via SMS alerts and by email. However this requires all your contact details to be up to date on our system.

You can update your contact details by giving us a call on 1800 813 415, emailing us at info@qchfund.com.au or using Online Member Services (OMS) via our website www.qldcountryhealth.com.au 17

CA N YO U E AT YO U R ?

N I A P S S E L O T Y WA CH RON IC OR S HORT-TE R M I NJ U R I E S, OR S I M PLY TH E ACH E S AN D PAI N S OF AG I NG M USCLE S, BON E S

By Lauren James EatSmart Nutrition

& JOI NTS CAN H I N D E R YOU R EXE RCI S E R EG I M E. WH I LE M E D ICATION I S A QU ICK AN D E FFECTIVE R E LI EVE R, COU LD EATI NG CE RTAI N FOOD S, OR NOT EATI NG OTH E R S, CONTR I B UTE TO LOWE R PAI N, R E D UCE D I N FLAM MATION OR B ETTE R R ECOVE RY FROM ACH E S AN D PAI N?

Omega 3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Many people would know some fish are high in Omega 3, particularly cold water oily fish but flaxseeds, canola oil and pumpkin seeds are also rich in Omega 3. There are other beneficial fats and oils such as those found in avocado, olive oil and nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pecan and brazil nuts. There is also evidence linking higher fruit and vegetable intake to lower rates of inflammation. This may be due to fruits and vegetables containing the micronutrients required to reduce inflammation or it may be that people who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables also do other helpful things to reduce inflammation such as keeping active.

While it would be great to eat our way to pain free living, there are also some foods to avoid eating.

For many people they are well-loved treat foods such as high fat meats (think processed meats like devon, bacon, salami, highly marbled red meat); high sugar foods, particularly those with a high glycaemic index like lollies, soft drink, cakes and desserts; and it is thought highly processed foods contribute to inflammation also. Our modern lifestyle of convenience means many more packaged foods are being consumed than would have been by previous

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generations. Foods that come from an animal, from the ground or a tree with minimal or no processing are not only going to aid inflammation but also provide many other health benefits.

Chronic lifestyle diseases such as obesity may also be related to inflammation. Recent research has linked low-grade systemic inflammation to diabetes, heart disease and weight issues. Inflammation seems to influence glucose and fat metabolism - and not in a good way! The culprits seem to be high glycaemic index carbohydrates, saturated and trans fats and perhaps processed foods. To combat this, foods such as vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, unsaturated oils and herbs and spices seem to be anti-inflammatory - as well as tea and small amounts of alcohol such as wine. Â Beware though, as overdoing a tipple may increase inflammation! Regular physical activity is also protective - although high intensity/long duration exercise actually increases the inflammatory response.

Losing weight is also a positive step. In a nutshell, the correct energy balance with moderate regular exercise and a leaning towards a Mediterranean style diet is still the way to go.

What does an anti-inflammatory diet look like?

A good quality breakfast of eggs with spinach, tomato, mushroom and grainy bread or oats with berries, yoghurt and a sprinkle of nuts. Excellent snack choices include fresh fruit, nuts & seeds, fresh vegetables with nut butter or hummus. A delicious lunch would be a rainbow salad (think veggies from all colours of the rainbow) with tuna or salmon, some avocado and a sprinkle or nuts or seeds for extra crunch. Dinner should include a lean source of meat or chicken or perhaps a vegetarian protein with a delicious salad of spinach, sweet potato, orange and pecans.

A GOOD QUALITY BREAKFAST OF EGGS WITH SPINACH, TOMATO, MUSHROOM AND GRAINY BREAD OR OATS WITH BERRIES, YOGHURT AND A SPRINKLE OF NUTS.

Inflammation can affect the most elite of athletes, those enjoying their more senior years as well as the general fitness enthusiast. Having a well balanced diet, packed with anti-inflammatory foods will not only improve your health and sporting prowess, but may just help keep that troublesome knee or ankle from slowing you down.

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