LifeTimesYo u r G u i d e t o H e a l t h , We l l n e s s & F i t n e s s

®

Fall 2014 • Vol. 5 No. 4

By Cindy Richards, Editor

Welcome to the annual strain on family relationships: the winter holidays. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, with stops at Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice, and any other winter holiday you might celebrate, this time of year is reserved for family get-togethers, gift giving, and fabulous food. Depending on your family dynamics, personal budget, and willpower, it can be a time of great joy or great stress. These tips will help you navigate potential pitfalls of family holidays.

Family dynamics Accept that you can’t control the behavior of your curmudgeonly brother-in-law or irritating aunt. Instead, try to control the way you react to them. Put distance between you and your nemesis by putting that person at

the other end of the table or spending time in other parts of the house with family members whose company you do enjoy. Kathy Gruver, author of Conquer Your Stress with Mind/Body Technique, recommends deep breathing. “It may not make the crazy drunk uncle behave himself, but it makes you handle it better,” she says. Consider inviting non-family members to the gathering. “Outsiders”

generally encourage people to behave better. Invite a friend or, if you have a military base or senior home nearby, offer to host a recruit or senior resident.

The holiday buffet Big, calorie-laden feasts lie at the heart of many holiday get-togethers. Prepare for that meal by eating a piece of fruit or cut-up vegetables and drinking plenty of water to help fill you up before you go. If you arrive famished, chances are you won’t have the willpower to resist the cookies and candy. “The worst thing to do is ‘save your calories’ because that will only lead to over-indulging later on,” says Chris Cooper, co-owner of Active Movement and Performance in New York. Better yet, do everyone a favor by bringing a dish that’s healthy, such as cut-up veggies and low-fat dip.

Stay financially healthy Most family holidays involve some gift-giving. If this isn’t in your budget, try talking with family members about it. You may find they, too, are overwhelmed by the money and time involved in buying expensive gifts for everyone. Perhaps they would be open to a gift exchange in which each family member pulls one name and buys only for that person. And set a spending limit—$100, $50, or even less—so no one feels pressure to spend beyond their budget. If a gift swap doesn’t fly, consider giving homemade baked goods or coupons for gifts such as a weekend of babysitting your grandkids so your daughter and her husband can get a little time alone. As much as possible, stick to your “eating right, exercising, and getting-enough-sleep” plans. If one more holiday party is too much, say “no.” People will excuse you. More importantly, if you haven’t been invited to a holiday party, don’t stay home alone. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, help hand out gifts at an orphanage, or invite someone to your house for a cup of coffee and quiet conversation. Finally, if you find the stress of the holidays is overwhelming, talk to your doctor. Counseling or medication might help. ■

Stay healthy in body, mind, and wallet at the holidays

More exciting content, now online at bcbstx.com/lifetimes. Sign up to have Lifetimes delivered to your email inbox each quarter.

“LifeTimes” is published quarterly by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, 1001 E. Lookout Drive, Richardson, TX 75082. Writers’ views don’t necessarily reflect those of “LifeTimes” or Health Care Service Corporation. ©2014. All rights reserved.Executive Editor . . . . . . . . . Thomas E. LaueEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cindy RichardsMedical Editor . . . . . Stephanie VomvourasCommunications Consultant . . Lisa TannerDesigner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary TurekPrinted by Blue Island Newspaper Printing

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When reading LifeTimes...“LifeTimes” articles are for educational and informational purposes and are not intended to diagnose any disease or condition, or substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your physician about any health concerns. Inclusion in “LifeTimes” does not constitute endorsement of any product, business, or service mentioned in “LifeTimes” articles.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

Blue Cross®, Blue Shield® and the Cross and Shield Symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

Prescription drug plan provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, which refers to HCSC Insurance Services Company (HISC), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. A Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in HISC’s plan depends on contract renewal.

PPO plan provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, which refers to HCSC Insurance Services Company (HISC), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. HISC is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in HISC’s plan depends on contract renewal.

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has awarded $1.54 million in grants to 29 organizations throughout the state as part of its Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® (HKHF) initiative. Currently in its fourth year, HKHF is a community-based program designed to improve the overall health of Texans. “This program has become a focal point among our charitable initiatives and is an opportunity to truly help move the needle on key public health issues, such as diabetes and obesity,” said BCBSTX President Bert Marshall. “We recognize the role we can play, and we’re proud to stand with these local organizations that are dedicated to improving children’s health in meaningful ways by impacting lifestyle habits at an early age.”

The 29 HFHK grantees this year are: Active Life, Alliance for Women & Children, American Diabetes Association, APhA-ASP Texas A&M Rangel College of Pharmacy Project SHINE, AVANCE, Bexar County Community Health Collaborative, CAN DO Houston, CATCH Global Foundation, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Chisholm Trail Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Cyberways & Waterways, Dallas Chinese Community

Center, Dallas Concilio, and Easter Seals of Greater Houston. Also, Family Place, Harris County Hospital District Foundation, Kids Meals, Marathon Kids, Martinez Street Women’s Center, Playworks Education Energized, Real School Gardens, Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth, South County Community Clinic, Texas CASA, Texas Health Institute, Texas Medical Association Foundation, University of Texas Foundation, Women’s Center of Tarrant County, and YWCA of Metropolitan Dallas. Originally launched as a three-year campaign in 2011, the HKHF program is committed to engaging children and their families in understanding the importance of four focus areas: nutritious food, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and promoting safe environments. Under the program, BCBSTX has awarded $4.9 million to more than 60 charitable organizations. ■

BCBSTX invests $1.5 million to promote health and wellness for children

How to know you’re talking to BCBSTX Members may get phone calls from con artists claiming they work for “Blue Cross and Blue Shield.” The callers seek personal information, including Social Security numbers, to steal identities, use member insurance, and commit crimes. How can you tell if a call is real or fake, since Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas does call members to answer questions or explain benefits? When we call, we use our full name — “Blue Cross

and Blue Shield of Texas.” It’s never shortened to “Blue Cross and Blue Shield.” We give our names and job titles and say why we’re calling. When explaining benefits, we may ask if ID card information is correct and for your birthdate/address. When you call us, we may ask for your ID number, Social Security number, or address. We only ask for your Social Security number by phone if you call us. If you get a suspicious phone call from “Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” please let us know. We need your help in making sure you and other members aren’t victims of health care scams. Call our Fraud Alert Hotline at 1-800-543-0867. ■

Learn how doctors, BCBSTX and you can fight fraud at bcbstx.com/lifetimes.

3Fall 2014 LifeTimes

Tom Laue, Executive Editor

The world can be daunting. But picture the headaches your survivors will face if they can’t find valuable documents and online files when you die or can’t manage your affairs. Financial, legal, and other key matters gradually pile up over a lifetime. But when they hit your survivors all at one time, a mish-mash of disorganized or missing files often leaves them at a loss as they struggle to piece together your important papers and online data. So do everyone a big favor: Put your vital information in one place and tell a trusted family member or friend how to find it.

Big or little files? The extent of important leave-behind files can vary widely. One Texas church, as a service to its members, whittled it all down to a two-sided piece of paper. A much longer “Checklist of Important Legal Documents and Financial Statements” is offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. at fdic.gov/news/conferences/affordable/hcachecklist.pdf.

Standard documents■ Wills, living wills, and powers of

attorney. These tell survivors exactly what you want done with your assets after your death and how you want to be cared for before you die. Check these

documents every year to be sure they still reflect your wishes.

■ Birth, marriage, and divorce certificates. In a case reported by the American Bar Association, a surviving spouse had to get copies of her marriage certificate from another state before she could get her financial affairs in order.

■ Mortgage and lease documents. Do you own your home? Do you own a second place you rent out?

■ Trusts. If you have a trust, note where the documents are stored. A trust may be managed by a bank, attorney, or estate executor.

■ Cemetery contracts. If you have made arrangements for your own burial or cremation, be sure to include papers spelling out the contracts.

■ Auto titles, keys. More often than you may think, this is a huge problem for those sorting out your business. They see your car, sure enough. But how can they drive it or sell it without keys and a title?

■ Safe deposit boxes, keys. This is a very important point. After all papers are pulled together and listed, most people put everything in a bank lock box. Sometimes, though, there’s this nagging question: Where are the keys? Tell somebody. The same holds true for home safes. Where are they? How do you get in?

■ Tax returns. These may come into play in sorting out your estate.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of things to consider, but it will get you going on the right track.

Online information challenge At first blush, allowing survivors access to your online data and records via passwords, security questions and answers, and PINs (personal

identification numbers) may seem flat wrong. We’re told all our lives to keep them super-secret – never jot them down on paper where they can be seen. But consider this: In many cases, a survivor (let’s say a husband who had a joint bank account with his wife) lost or forgot data needed to get into the joint account. That’s OK, right? Just ask the bank. Not so fast. As one bank spokesman put it, “Only account holders may provide data needed to get in. So if a partner’s credit card and records have been destroyed because the card won’t be used again, this will prevent you from providing that security data. You simply won’t get in.” The American Bar Association suggests putting all your online user names, passwords, security questions, and PINs in something lawyers call a “digital asset trust.” It’s not a part of your will which becomes a public record, it survives death, and it’s easier to change than wills. Authors say the best answer will be when all 50 states pass uniform laws ensuring powers-of-attorney gain online access, estate executors can administer and distribute assets, and heirs can take ownership. ■

Sources: Operation HOPE, Inc.; American Bar Association, Probate & Property Magazine, January/February 2012; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

When death or disability hit, have important papers and online data on hand

Download and print a checklist of important documents at bcbstx.com/lifetimes.

4 bcbstx.com/medicare/lifetimes.html

Your Medicare Plan: Look at your options for 2015Blue Cross MedicareRx (PDP)SM offers three plans from which to choose that may meet all of your prescription drug needs. Each plan offers lower copays when you use a preferred network pharmacy.

* You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year.

† SilverSneakers® is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc. Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program is a wellness program owned and operated by Healthways, Inc, an independent company.

‡ This is not a mail-order card.Blue Cross®, Blue Shield® and the Cross and Shield Symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

CVS/Pharmacy logo horizontal 4-color process uncoatedFile Name: CVS_H_CMYK_uncoat.eps

Blue Cross MedicareRx

Basic (PDP)SM

Blue Cross MedicareRx

Value (PDP)SM

Blue Cross MedicareRx Plus (PDP)SM

Monthly Premium* $26.20 $55.10 $119.50

Annual Deductible $320 $275 $0

Initial Coverage Period Copays As low as $1 As low as $0 As low as $0

Prescription drug coverage at Preferred Pharmacies

As low as $0 As low as $0 As low as $0At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, we are committed to making our Medicare plans easy to understand. If you have any questions, call us to talk one-on-one with a product specialist. We’re here to help.

Call 1-866-939-2953 • TTY/TDD 711

We are open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., local time, 7 days a week. If you are calling from February 15 through September 30, alternate technologies (for example, voicemail) will be used on weekends and holidays.

Visit getbluetx.com/pdp for details.

These are your Blue Cross MedicareRxSM plan options for 2015:

Need help?

Other pharmacies are available in our network. Visit getbluetx.com/pdp/pharmacies for a current network pharmacy listing.

Y0096_MRK_TX_LFTMSAEP15 Accepted 10012014

To get the most from your plan, use our preferred network pharmacies.

5Fall 2014 LifeTimes

Your Medicare Plan: Look at your options for 2015

Prescription Drug Plan Notice:Prescription drug plan provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, which refers to HCSC Insurance Services Company (HISC), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. A Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in HISC’s plan depends on contract renewal.

Medicare Advantage Plan Notice:Plans provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, which refers to HCSC Insurance Services Company (HISC) (PPO plans), and also to GHS Insurance Company (GHS) (HMO plans). HISC and GHS are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. HISC and GHS are Medicare Advantage organizations with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in HISC’s and GHS’ plans depends on contract renewal.

Remember!

Medicare’s annual enrollment season for 2015 runs from October 15 through December 7. This is the time to evaluate your current coverage and decide if you need to enroll in a different plan.

If you’re satisfied with your plan, do nothing. Your coverage will continue automatically.

Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (PPO)SM and Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (HMO)SM are all-in-one plans that offer the coverage of Original Medicare — plus benefits not covered by Medicare. With Blue Cross Medicare AdvantageSM, you save money.

Visit getbluetx.com/mapd for details.

2015 Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Benefits

Monthly Premium* $0-$55

Primary Care Provider (PCP) copay

As low as $15

Prescription Drug Deductible $0

Some plans offer full drug coverage in the gap for Tier 1 and Tier 2

SilverSneakers®† Fitness Program

Monthly over-the-counter (OTC) purchase allowance‡

Dental, vision, and hearing benefits

Blue Cross Medicare Advantage keeps your costs low:

HMO plan available in Chambers, Fort Bend, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, and Orange counties.

PPO plans available in Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Chambers, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fayette, Fort Bend, Harris, Hays, Lee, Montgomery, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson counties.

Why you should get a flu shot (and pneumonia shot, too) Sometimes fighting people’s ideas about the flu are as hard as fighting the flu itself. One of the biggest – and most persistent – myths is that getting a flu shot will give you the flu. This is simply not true. Flu vaccines contain either:

■ flu viruses that have been ‘inactivated’, which means they are not infectious, or

■ no flu viruses at all

So, a flu shot will not give you the flu. But there are some common side effects, such as redness, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given. Sometimes a low-grade fever,

headache, and muscle aches will also occur. You should think about getting the flu shot as soon as the vaccine becomes available, usually by early October. However, vaccinations may continue to be offered as late as April or May.

Top reasons to get your flu shot1. If you are 65 years of age or older, or have

a chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease, talk to your doctor about getting a flu shot every year because there are new strains of flu virus yearly.

2. The flu can spread even before symptoms appear. Others may give you the flu before they know they have it.

3. A flu shot also helps protect against complications that can result from the flu, such as pneumonia.

And speaking of pneumonia, talk to your doctor about the pneumonia vaccine. Pneumonia can cause serious infections of the lungs, the bloodstream, and the covering of the brain. The combination of flu and pneumonia is the seventh leading cause of death among adults 65 years or older in the United States. ■

What to do with outdated medications When the carton of milk is past its expiration date, we know we shouldn’t drink it. The same goes for medicine. If your medications are past the expiration date, taking them can be dangerous. All medications have a “shelf-life,” the length of time the drug will last at maximum effectiveness and safety. Beyond that date, your medication may become weak, which means you’re not getting the full benefit. Worse, medications that have expired may be potentially unsafe. It is just not a risk worth taking. So what should you do with medications that are expired? Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines suggest the following:■ Follow the directions on the label or patient information brochure that

comes with the medication. Do not flush your prescription drugs down the toilet unless the label directs you to.

■ Call your city or county government and ask whether your community has a drug take-back program–a central location for proper disposal of prescription drugs.

If there are no instructions for disposal and no take-back program in your community, you can throw your drugs in the trash. Before you do, take the following precautions:■ Take the medication out of its containers and mix it with

used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or anything else that will make the drug unusable.

■ Then put the whole mixture in a can or sealable bag so they do not leak out of your garbage.

■ Finally, hide or remove personal information on the empty medicine containers by covering the labels with permanent marker or scratching them off. ■

Controlling your cholesterol can help control your diabetes Say the word “diabetes” and most people immediately think of controlling their sugar levels, not their cholesterol levels. While the two may not seem connected, they are. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes tend to have higher cholesterol levels, leading to increased risk for heart disease and stroke.

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a substance that plays an important role in forming cells, hormones and other tissues in the body. There are two types of cholesterol, one bad and one good:■ Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is considered

bad because it can build up inside your arteries and lead to blockage

■ High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is considered good because it helps clear away the bad cholesterol

People with diabetes often have lower levels of good HDL and higher levels of LDL. They may also have higher levels of triglycerides, which is another blood fat that can block arteries.

What should you do? If you have diabetes, you may want to talk with your doctor about having your cholesterol levels checked. There are lifestyle changes that have been shown to help manage cholesterol levels in some people. Among them:■ Including more low-fat foods in your diet and increasing

the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.■ Becoming a little more active, because

dropping weight can sometimes lower bad cholesterol levels.

■ Giving up smoking.

Your health care provider can help you understand your heart disease and stroke risk, which lifestyle changes are best for you, and advise you on cholesterol-lowering medication. ■

6 bcbstx.com/medicare/lifetimes.html

Health BRIEFS

Fall 2014 LifeTimes 7

Be a sleuth!

Thanks to everyone who played our Summer 2014 Mystery Game. The sunglasses were hidden in the pills on page 4. Lillie Garcia of Houston, Texas, submitted the winning entry, selected in a random drawing. Congratulations! To play, look for the pumpkin (shown in the magnifying glass). When you spot it, email us at LifeTimesDepartment@bcbsil.com with your name, mailing address, and the page number. Or mail the page number along with your name and address, to: “LifeTimes” Mystery Game, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, 300 E. Randolph St., 36th Floor, Chicago IL 60601-5099 One winner will be drawn from all correct entries received by Nov. 7. Winner will receive a pedometer. Entrants must be 18 or older, legal U.S. residents, and current BCBSTX members. Winner’s name will appear in the Winter 2015 “LifeTimes.” Contest is not open to employees of Health Care Service Corporation. ■

Read ‘LifeTimes’ carefully — you could

win a pedometer!

How to take care of yourself while caring for another

1. Celebrate successes. Each day, focus on the things you accomplish, then take some time for yourself. Often, the first thing caregivers do is eliminate book club, yoga class, or other activities they love. But those are the things that will help renew your soul.

2. Stop multitasking. Slowing down can provide the clarity you need to know which tasks you can hand off so you can go to a movie with a friend.

3. Accept things will ebb and flow. Taking time out to go to a yoga class will not change the outcome of the disease, but it will make you more equipped to handle the stress of

being a caregiver.

4. Know your role. You are a caregiver, but you’re also a wife. Or husband. Or child. Or sibling. When you know what role you are playing—caregiver or family member?—it’s easier to delegate some tasks. For example, you might be able to hire

a service to provide personal care so you can go back to being the daughter (or whatever role you play) for a little while.

5. Listen to your body. Know your stress indicators for emotional, mental, and physical distress. Then give yourself permission to take the time to exercise, meditate, or do whatever activity you need to counteract that stress.

6. Get help. Technology makes this easy. Websites such as the nonprofit CaringBridge.org provide a free resource for caregivers. Once you establish a site for your loved one, you can use it to ask for help and as an easy way to keep family friends updated on the patient’s progress.

Learn more about CaringBridge at blue365deals.com/bcbstx, where you will find a host of discounts available only to BCBSTX members. ■

Before every flight, passengers hear: In case of emergency, put on your own oxygen mask, then help others. It’s good advice for caregivers, too. Caring for another can be stressful. It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself.

These tips can help caregivers take care of themselves:

Much more ‘LifeTimes’ online Every quarter, we add more great “Lifetimes” content online at bcbstx.com/lifetimes. This fall, you’ll find more about how doctors and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas are fighting Medicare fraud, and travel stories about visiting Santa Fe and a Native American Pueblo in New Mexico. This quarter, we’re adding video—a food safety video on the proper way to cut up a melon. And, as always, we have those brain fitness tools you want: crossword, Sudoku, and word search puzzles. You can work them online or print them out and work them on paper, just like you did when the puzzle ran in the paper. If you don’t have access to a computer, just ask a friend, family member, or neighbor for a hand. Most people will gladly print them out for you. ■

8 bcbstx.com/medicare/lifetimes.html

Parting with dear friends is sorrow, but not so sweet New-fangled ways of connecting in cyberspace will help. We see and hear via Skype. Facebook and smart phones let us share videos. But it’s not like having living, breathing human beings beside us. Ditto for email, Twitter, and instant messaging. So why not try some old-fashioned methods?■ Letters can be read over and over, saved, and pulled out to be read again. One guy still

carries a 25-year-old note from his wife saying, “Good luck in your new job.” It’s musty. Words faded. But the message is as fresh as today.

■ Shared journal is one notebook that gets mailed back and forth, with each person adding new, exciting events. Best are things you once shared personally (“You won’t believe this!”).

■ Small gifts mailed to say, “I’m thinking of you and wish we were together. This is the next best thing.”

■ Regular phone calls, maybe weekly at first and gradually over longer intervals, help you stay close.

■ Piling up time together before the move creates fond new memories. Two couples, knowing their relationship would soon be changed by a physical move, saw many plays before the departure.

■ Visits are best but can cost a lot. Even so, try to squeeze in a few trips. ■

How to safely dispose of unneeded

drugs, page 6

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Important plan information

Tom Laue, Executive Editor

When long-time friends disclosed plans to move half the country away, they said our deep friendship kept them here this long. But kids and grandkids override all. We masked heartache with smiles, laughter, and promises to stay close via email, calls, letters, Skype, periodic visits. We talked move details. What does the house look like? Why did they pick it? How close are their kids? Then talk of the future shifted to past memories: The holiday season so cold and snowy we could barely get to the door. Relationships with instant, soulful conversation. We comforted ourselves. Friendships are disrupted by physical moves all the time – not just among older people. Grade school classmates, our first soul-mates, leave. High school romances yield to sad farewells when far-away colleges call. Work relationships are upended by new jobs in distant places. But all this doesn’t ease the sting much. So what can we do?