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Category: General Information
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.
Protect Your Identity Now at No Cost
In today’s high-tech world, it’s critical to keep a vigilant watch on your personal and financial data. The state of Idaho is helping to assist members enrolled in the medical plan with that effort.
Experian IdentityWorks offers members enrolled in the State’s health plan and their families identity protection services at NO COST to the member.
It’s important to protect what’s most valuable to you, especially your health, family and home. This is an added layer of protection.
Members enrolled in the health plan should visit the Blue Cross of Idaho member portal and look for the Experian logo at the bottom of the homepage once you are logged in.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Have your Member ID handy and visit members.bcidaho.com. In addition to finding the link to enroll in the IdentityWorks services, the member portal also allows you to view plan information, explanation of benefits (EOB) documents, search for network providers and so much more.
Questions? Contact the Office of Group Insurance in person, by telephone or email.
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.
Open Enrollment is COMING!
It’s time to think about your benefits for the coming plan year.
Open Enrollment runs April 25 – May 13
Open Enrollment is the only time each year that you can:
- Change medical plan types, such as switching from Traditional to PPO.
- Elect previously declined dependent dental coverage, dependent must also be enrolled in medical.
- Switch your premium deductions from post-tax to pre-tax or vice versa.
- Newly enroll or decline medical and dental benefits without a qualifying life event. If you miss the deadline you will not be able to enroll or decline benefits until next Open Enrollment without a qualifying life event.
- Enroll for Healthcare flexible spending account.
- Enroll for Dependent Care flexible spending account without a qualifying event.
If you are NOT making any of the changes listed above or enrolling in flexible spending, there is no action you need to take during open enrollment.
Annual enrollment in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) is required by the IRS. Employees who want to participate for FY2023 must enroll/re-enroll in the FSA during Open Enrollment. No exceptions can be made if you miss the May 13 enrollment deadline.
Ever wonder how flexible spending accounts work? We’ve posted a great video tutorial at ogi.idaho.gov and our Flexible Spending Account webpage.
FY 2023 Premium Rates, Summaries of Benefits & Coverage for all plan types, and more will be posted to the Office of Group Insurance website the week prior to Open Enrollment to guide you through the benefits available to you by your employer and administered by the Office of Group Insurance.
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.
Get Care at Your Pharmacy
The Office of Group Insurance and Blue Cross of Idaho are continuously looking for ways to remove barriers to care and make health care more convenient for members.
With that goal in mind for 2022, we are excited to share that starting January 1 the state of Idaho health plan launched a pilot project with Idaho-based Albertsons and Safeway pharmacists to provide coverage for the diagnoses of certain issues, as well as prescribing and filling of certain prescription drugs.
What’s covered?
- Flu vaccine
- Rapid flu test
- Rapid strep test
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis
- Cold sore diagnosis and treatment
- Hormonal contraceptives, and
- Statins
Several pharmacies currently offer similar services on a cash-pay basis, but this pilot project will make these services a covered benefit under the health plan at $0 copay for the PPO and Traditional members. High-deductible plan members have no cost sharing after you’ve met your deductible.
Keep in mind, coverage for this service is currently limited to Idaho-based Albertsons and Safeway pharmacists. Visit local.pharmacy.albertsons.com/ID to find an Idaho Albertsons or Safeway pharmacy near you.
Haven’t set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account? Need to order more member ID cards? Need to see how much you’ve accumulated towards meeting your deductible? Have your Member ID card handy and visit members.bcidaho.com.
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.
It’s not too late to get tobacco-free in 2021
How are those 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?
Well 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 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. Or call the customer service number on the back of your 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.
No Better Time To Be Healthy
Chronic health conditions often happen for a number of reasons that are beyond our control. These conditions can put a strain on your overall well being, your family, and your finances. The State’s health plan has programs in place to help members manage and even improve their chronic conditions, navigate the healthcare system, and provide support to their loved ones.
You can learn about available resources on the Be Healthy page of the OGI website that include programs like:
- Condition Support (formerly known as Disease Management) empowers members and caregivers, in collaboration with their physicians and care providers, to effectively manage disease and prevent complications through adherence to medication regimens, regular monitoring of applicable lab/vital signs, a healthy diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices. The program offers support to members and dependents who are managing an acute or complex illness or are at risk for or have a chronic condition such as:
- diabetes,
- asthma,
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
- coronary artery disease, or
- heart failure.
- Care Management (formerly known as Case Management) can help you better understand your conditions, teach you how to take an active role in your healthcare and help with navigating any obstacles you run into. Through this program, members work directly with a care manager who will create a personalized care plan. You get education materials and resource support.
Members can also take advantage of the Living Well with High Blood Pressure [PDF] self-guided workshop.
Want more information? Set up your Blue Cross of Idaho member portal account at members.bcidaho.com and explore all of the available resources and information available there.