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The Other Annual Checkup – Mental & Emotional Health
Everyone knows that you should go to the doctor, dentist and optometrist every year for checkups, but what about a checkup for your mental and emotional well-being?
We all deal with tough times, but even happy events like a new job, a marriage, or a new baby can add stress. That is when taking time for a session, or two, or three, with a counselor, either in-person or virtually, might help you navigate new or persistent challenges in your life and decrease your stress or anxiety.
As a department, agency or school district who participates in the state of Idaho’s health plan, all benefit-eligible employees and their dependents have access to an Employee Assistance Program, often referred to as “EAP”. Visit the Office of Group Insurance Counseling webpage, ogi.idaho.gov/counseling/, to learn about all of the benefits available with your EAP, now administered by BPA Health, and how to get started.
Worried about confidentiality? Neither the Office of Group Insurance nor your agency receive any information about your inquiries or your sessions with the counselor.
This benefit is here for you, in good times and bad, to help you stay at your best.
It’s not too late to get nicotine-free in 2022!
How are those 2022 New Year’s resolutions going? Did you start the year on a mission to quit smoking or using other tobacco products but somewhere along the way you got sidetracked?
Now is a great time to revisit those resolutions because nicotine cessation aids are covered at 100% under the preventive provisions of the State’s health plan!
Nicotine cessation products can be used to help members quit tobacco and nicotine use. These include over the counter quit aids like patches, gum and lozenges, and tobacco cessation drugs that can be prescribed by a doctor. Details about this benefit can be found in each plan document posted on the Medical page.
Health Benefits of Quitting:
- Lowered risk of lung cancer and many other types of cancer.
- Reduced risk for disease and early death. While the health benefits are greater for people who stop at earlier ages, there are benefits at any age. You are never too old to quit.
- Reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the blood vessels in outside your heart).
Source: cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/cessation/quitting
Members enrolled in the State’s health plan can also access a 12-week tobacco cessation workshop in the WellConnected section of the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal, https://members.bcidaho.com. Members can also call the customer service number on the back of their member ID card for more information about programs and quit aids.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID card handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.
The Office of Group Insurance is required to make available to all members the annual compliance notices. These notices are posted on the right hand column of the OGI homepage at: https://ogi.idaho.gov in the section called Required Notices and Information.
Lose Weight at No Cost to You
The State of Idaho has partnered with Wondr™ to help you take control of your physical and mental wellbeing—at no cost to you. Employees, retirees, spouses, and covered dependents over age 18 enrolled in on the State of Idaho’s medical plan are eligible to apply to the program.
Wondr™ is a program that teaches clinically-proven, life-long healthy habits that lead to less stress, better sleep, weight loss, and more—no restrictive diets, calorie-counting, or specialty foods required. Skip the diet trends and try something that is based on science and actually works.
In the program’s first year, 1,618 enrollees lost approximately 5,000 lbs. Of those enrollees, 51% achieved at least a 3% weight loss and 61% participated in 8+ health sessions. That is phenomenal participation and success for a brand new program. We fully expect to see the level of engagement continue to grow this year.
Already completed your first round of Wondr™ and want continued access to the tools? You can enroll again and find new ways to engage in the program and further support for your healthy lifestyle.
Quick and convenient ways to locate a medical or dental provider
Having a regular doctor – also called primary care provider or PCP – and dentist not only helps you get healthy but stay healthy. A PCP helps you navigate all of your healthcare needs, from big to small. They will review your medical records and medications, discuss your personal medical history as well as your family members’, and conduct general exams. Follow-up visits can be centered on specific healthcare goals such as strategies to improve or manage wellness or to treat an illness. Need more extensive care than your PCP provides? A PCP can also help coordinate care with specialists as well.
Where and when to get care [PDF]
Here are a few ways to find in-network care:
- Finding a Doctor Instructions [PDF]
- Finding a Dentist Instructions [PDF]
- Visit members.bcidaho.com and log in to your member account.
- Call Blue Cross at the number on the back of your member ID card for help locating a provider.
All this information at your fingertips too!!!
Download the Blue Cross of Idaho Member App for Apple or Android devices
- Get your member ID card: Show and fax your member ID card whenever you get care
- Find care: Find in-network doctors, clinics, hospitals and urgent care
- Keep track of your plan: View claims for everyone on your plan and see how close you are to meeting your deductible for the year
- You can also connect to the Blue Cross of Idaho Rx website from the member app to price prescription drugs and find in-network pharmacies
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.
The phone numbers to reach Customer Service for your medical and dental coverages, vision and prescription drug benefits, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) are as close as your wallet or purse. Printed on the back of every Blue Cross of Idaho member ID card are local and toll-free numbers to contact your carrier for inquiries about coverage, verify claim status, set up an appointment with a counselor and more.
Lost your Member ID card? You can view or request a new ID card by logging in to your Blue Cross of Idaho Member Account, https://members.bcidaho.com, and select “Need your ID card?” from the center section of the page.
The Office of Group Insurance and Blue Cross of Idaho have provided a variety of ways for you to access your information for those circumstances where you need it most.
You may also contact the Office of Group Insurance by phone, email or through the website with questions about the benefits administered by our office.
Mental & Emotional Health – The Other Annual Checkup
Hopefully everyone knows that you should go to the doctor, dentist and optometrist every year for checkups, but what about a checkup for your mental and emotional well-being?
Everyone deals with tough times, but even happy events like a new job, a marriage, or a new baby can add stress. That is when taking an hour for a session, or two, or three, with a counselor might help you navigate new or persistent challenges in your life and decrease your stress or anxiety.
The Office of Group Insurance provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to all benefit eligible employees and their dependents regardless of their enrollment in any other program.
There are several ways to access the GuidanceResources(R) information and programs.
Visit the Counseling page of the OGI website for program and contact information
Download the Guidance Resources mobile app
This benefit is here for you, in good times and bad, to help you stay at your best.
Preparing your health & wallet in the new plan year
The new plan year started July 1! You can expect to receive frequent communications from Blue Cross of Idaho, Navia (if you signed up for Flexible Spending), Office of Group Insurance and your HR office highlighting new and continuing programs and benefits. All communications are intended to promote your “Benefits IQ” and show you how to put your premium dollars to good use.
Check out the FY23 New Plan Year Highlights that includes information about:
- Coverage for FDA approved weight loss medications
- SmartShopper incentive program
- Pharmacist medical services program
- Removal of dental waiting periods
- Continuing benefits you already have access to
- And more…
Keep in mind that if your insurance needs or personal situations change throughout the year, there are mid-year actions you can take to adjust your benefit elections. See the chart below for a very high level overview of acceptable changes. More detailed information can be found throughout the Office of Group Insurance website: https://ogi.idaho.gov
| When can I make changes? | Is this change limited to Open Enrollment? | |
| Medical | You can make mid-year changes your medical/dental elections when you experience a qualifying life event, or during the annual Open Enrollment period each April/May. (Within 30 days of the event, except for marriage, birth/adoption have 60 days.) | Yes, unless you have a qualifying life event. |
| Dental | You can make mid-year changes your medical/dental elections when you experience a qualifying life event, or during the annual Open Enrollment period each April/May.(Within 30 days of the event, except for marriage, birth/adoption have 60 days.) | Yes, adding previously declined dependent dental is limited to Open Enrollment EXCEPT when you are adding a newly eligible dependent to coverage; in this case previously declined dependents may enroll under a “tag along” provision. |
| Health Care FSA | You can increase/reduce your contributions after a qualifying life event. | Yes, unless you have a qualifying life event. To continue FSA, you must re-enroll every year during open enrollment. |
| Day Care FSA | You can enroll/increase/reduce your contributions after a qualifying life event. | Yes, unless you have a qualifying life event. To continue FSA, you must re-enroll every year during open enrollment. |
| Basic Life | You can change your beneficiaries at any time. Your HR office has the forms and will keep a copy on file. | No |
| Voluntary Term Life (VTL) | You can enroll/increase/decrease your coverage with a qualifying life event within 31 days of the date of the event. Outside of a life event you will be required to submit proof of insurability to be approved for coverage. | No |
Don’t have a Primary Care Physician (PCP) or Dentist? You can find a searchable list of in-network providers on the Blue Cross of Idaho Member Portal, members.bcidaho.com. Keep in mind the provider you select will determine your out of pocket costs. For instance, ChoiceDocs PPO medical providers and PPO dental providers have lower copays and/or co-insurance than other contracting providers.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.
Keep an eye on the Office of Group Insurance website, https://ogi.idaho.gov, for information in the Stay Informed blog, well-being resources in the Get Healthy page, information to navigate Life Events, and more…
You can always ask your agency’s HR office for information about enrolling in the medical and dental benefits if you are not currently enrolled or if you would like to add/delete dependents.
Questions? Contact the Office of Group Insurance in person, by telephone or email.
Shop smarter with SmartShopper and get rewarded
How much time did you spend researching your last car or TV to find the best deal on a quality product? Now ask yourself, how much time did you spend researching your last medical procedure for the best price and quality service? My guess would be that you spent more time on the first question than the second.
Welcome to SmartShopper! Register today and start saving!
We want to change the way you search for medical services and incentivize you for your shopping savvy. Clinics, hospitals and other facilities may have different expenses for the services they offer. Not only do you save on out-of-pocket costs when you choose a cost-efficient location, you get rewarded for being a smart shopper.
Visit bcidaho.com/smartshopper and watch their short video tutorial.
You can shop for routine procedures, preventive exams, imaging scans, and scheduled surgeries. Explore your options that compare both cost and quality using nationally recognized metrics as well as ratings and reviews from other patients. You can explore your options online or call one of the SmartShoppper personal assistants to guide you through the process. Click on the “How to Use SmartShopper” logo to learn more.
To access SmartShopper from the Blue Cross member portal you will need to:
- Go to members.bcidaho.com and log in to your member account
- Select Find a Doctor
- Search for care by selecting Browse by Category or using the search bar
- Select Next Page and your search results will show you facility names, locations and the SmartShopper cash reward amount if eligible.
The SmartShopper program is offered by Sapphire Digital, an independent company. Incentives available for select procedures only. Payments are a taxable form of income. Rewards may be delivered by check or an alternative form of payment. Members with primary coverage under Medicaid or Medicare are not eligible to receive incentive rewards under the SmartShopper program.
Spice Up Your Weight Loss Journey With Global Flavors
Wondr Health is hosting an upcoming webinar called “Spice Up Your Weight Loss Journey With Global Flavors” on March 30th at 11:00 a.m. MT. The Wondr instructor and registered dietitian nutritionist, Meridan Zerner, will share simple ways to introduce flavors from cultures around the world into everyday meals.
You do not have to been enrolled in the Wondr program to participate in the webinar. Anyone and everyone is welcome to sign up! REGISTER HERE
This program is a great program to help give me the skills and encouragement to eat more nutritionally, get a lot more movement in throughout the day, sleep better, coping skills throughout, helped me really focus, and changed my mindset on my health. I may not have lost much weight but I went down 1 size, my blood pressure and blood sugar has really come down making me and my doctor very happy. ~ member testimonial
Between July 1 and December 31, participants reported nearly 3,800 pounds lost as they logged their weight more than 24,000 times in the user-friendly app.
The program includes online courses, physical activity tracker, tailored content on behavioral eating, a team of counselors and a community of other Wondr Health participants. Best of all, the cost of the program is covered 100% for enrolled members regardless of which plan you have selected.
Want to get signed up for Wondr and take advantage of all the program has to offer? Check out the Wondr Health FAQ
At Home COVID-19 Testing at No Cost
Now more than ever it is important to take care of yourself and those around you. All health plans, including the State’s Group Insurance Program, are developing plans to combat COVID-19 as the Omicron variant has presented new challenges. Two new programs are now available to help you obtain at-home COVID-19 tests.
Order Free Tests Now:
Through a new program offered by the federal government, every home in the U.S. is eligible to receive 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free of charge and will be shipped through the United States Postal Service. You DO NOT have to be enrolled in the State’s health plan
Visit https://www.covidtests.gov/. Filling out the form takes less than 30 seconds. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.
Get Reimbursed for Purchased Tests:
Individuals enrolled in the State’s health plan who purchase over-the-counter (OTC) rapid antigen tests will be able to seek reimbursement from their group health plans or health insurance. Purchases are limited to no more than 8 tests per enrolled member per calendar month.
Starting January 15, members covered under the State’s health plan who buy FDA-authorized rapid antigen tests will be able to submit a paper claim, with a receipt, for reimbursement to Blue Cross of Idaho. Tests can be purchased online, at a pharmacy or store.
Use this Member Claim Form: OTC COVID Test Reimbursement Form
These programs may change as the Public Health Emergency (PHE) is continually reevaluated and our carrier works on a network solution that would promote greater accessibility and convenience for members. All new information and updates will be shared as they become available.
Talk to a Nurse First at No Cost
With an increased awareness of illness and wellness during the past 18 months, it can seem overwhelming to triage your own symptoms, determine if they need medical attention, and select the appropriate site of care.
The 24/7 Nurse Advice Line lets you talk with a registered nurse, at no cost to you, to help you make informed choices about your health or the health of any member of your household even if they are not covered under the plan. The Nurse Advice Line does is not a substitute for medical attention but is available to help you navigate your symptoms or concerns and options for addressing the situation.
You can also listen to a robust audio library of pre-recorded messages on a variety of healthcare topics.
Program the Nurse Advice Line into your phone so you always have it handy: 888-993-7120.
The Nurse Advice Line can also transfer you over to an MDLive provider if your issue is beyond their scope of service.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID card handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.