All posts by Lindsay Goodro

What’s on tap for well-being….weeks of February 1st and February 8th?

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“Today we are faced with the preeminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships… the ability of all people, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world, at peace.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

February is American Heart Month, and we have many resources and activities planned this month to help you keep your heart physically and emotionally healthy.  It’s a great time to schedule an appointment with your primary care clinician for your annual visit and to make sure you are up to date with your preventive screenings.  Go to mycigna.com for specifics about your coverage.  How about some heart healthy activities?  Check out the Happify app from Cigna to enhance your level of positivity, join us for a heart healthy cooking class or get moving and support your community well-being with our DIEMlife Quest to Recharge.  Pop in to one of our many fitness and yoga classes or sign up for one of our upcoming nutrition and physical activity programs.  Get all the details on these events and more at the GMHEC well-being calendar.  The password is GMHECWell-Being.  Below are some other things you might be interested in participating in over the next few weeks.

EDGE Next Steps Nutrition & Exercise to Improve Type II Diabetes Program:  Do you have type II diabetes?  Would you like to gain the knowledge and confidence to improve your health?  If so, join the team from The Edge for this comprehensive eight-week program focused on the positive impact of nutrition and exercise to improve Type II Diabetes.  Over the course of the eight weeks, you will get weekly virtual group nutrition sessions, three individual virtual nutrition sessions with a Registered Dietitian, a fitness program designed by a certified exercise specialist and meal and recipe ideas to fuel your body and improve your insulin sensitivity.  This program is offered virtually and may be fully covered by your insurance.  Mondays February 8th through March 16th from 12-1pm EST.  To register, contact genavix@edgevt.com or call (802) 951-2320.

Week two of the Quest to Recharge starts on February 1st and this week we’re focusing on our physical well-being with a race from Middlebury to Montreal with stops along the way at the GMHE colleges.  Get active, enhance your energy, support your team, and be entered into drawings to win prizes.  Get the details here. 

Managing Energy for Full Engagement: Peak performance in work and in life depends on personal energy. We so often hear about the importance of time management, but time is finite. It is the one thing we can never make more of. Energy, on the other hand, is a renewable resource and managing our energy is the key to health, happiness, and peak performance. Join Rebecca Schubert, GMHEC Employee Well-being Program Coordinator, for an interactive session on managing your personal energy. Come away with practical strategies you can implement to help you avoid an energy crisis and which will enable you to thrive in work and in life. Wednesday, February 10th 1:00-2:00 pm EST.  https://middlebury.zoom.us/s/2462738284 password 135790

Let’s get cooking:  Join the chefs and dietitians from Whole Health Nutrition for this four week cooking series.  No need to register, just drop in.   Recipes and zoom details are available on the GMHEC calendar.   All classes will be held from 5:30-7:00 pm EST.

Wednesday, February 3rd Butternut Squash-Apple Soup with Julie

Tuesday, February 9th Easy Weeknight Ramen with Stephanie 

Thursday, February 18th Protein Packed Lentil Soup with Gina 

Thursday, February 25th Weekday Beef Stew with Gina 

Diabetes Management Series: This six-week small group workshop is for people living with diabetes.  Get the help you get the support you need to eat better and be physically active to lower your risk of serious health problems related to diabetes. This workshop is led by a specially trained peer leader who is also living with diabetes. The program is designed to help you problem solve, action plan and maintain positive lifestyle behaviors. For more information or to register, contact Viki Delmas at viki.delmas@cvmc.org.  Tuesdays, February 9th through March 16th 6:00-8:30 pm EST.

Omada Diabetes Prevention Program…better health one step at a time.  Omada is a personalized, digital program that surrounds you with the tools and support you need to take small, day-to-day steps that lead to lifelong health.   Over the course of one year, you will be paired up with a health coach to keep you on track, participate in weekly interactive lessons to support you to improve your eating, physical activity, sleep, and stress management and be provided with a free digital scale to help you track your progress.    This program is free to eligible Cigna members.  To see if you qualify: 

Norwich employees click here

Champlain employees click here

Middlebury employees click here

St. Michael’s employees click here. 

MSA | Make Tax Season Less Taxing

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Is there anything that causes more anxiety than filing your taxes?  For many of us, the answer is NO!  Using your financial wellness benefit, My Secure Advantage (MSA), there are a number of ways to take the stress out of this tax season:

  • Consult an MSA Tax Specialist – Have tax-related questions?  Talk with an MSA Money Coach and get answers to your issues and concerns.  Call 1-888-724-2326 to schedule an appointment.
  • Assisted Tax Prep – Taxes can be confusing and time-consuming, so why not have a tax professional handle your tax prep for you? Get a 50% discount on assisted tax prep through MSA. 
  • Do It Yourself (DIY) Tax Prep – If you like to do your own taxes, make it quick, easy and cost-effective with MSA’s 25% discount on do-it-yourself online tax filing services! 

P.S. Looking for a high-level tax refresher? Don’t miss MSA’s upcoming webinar, Making Tax Returns Less Taxing | February 9, 2021 | 9:00 AM (PST) & 12:00 PM (PST) | Register here!

USE YOUR NEW CIGNA ID CARD AT THE PHARMACY

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You should receive a new Cigna ID card in the mail before your benefits begin. Here’s some important information about your new ID card.
Use your new Cigna ID card every time you fill a prescription. Your pharmacist will need to use the BIN, PCN, and Rx Group number on your ID card to access your benefits and process your claim.
Access your ID card using the myCigna® app. You can also download and print a temporary Cigna ID card from the myCigna website.
Replace your ID card when your new plan year begins. Please continue to use your current ID card until then.
  Questions? Call the number on your new Cigna ID card. You can also chat with us online on the myCigna website, Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–8:00 pm EST.

MSA Communication

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As the economic, societal and personal fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide responsive and meaningful personal financial guidance to employees and their families.  Essential to this effort is raising employees’ awareness and understanding of the MSA benefit you provide, as well as how it can serve them no matter the state of their finances or stage in life.  

We’re hopeful you’ll find these resources useful to that end.

Please post/share the 2021 webinar schedule — with active registration links — where your employees can easily access it.  Remember only those employees who have registered on the MSA website (or attended a prior webinar) receive MSA’s monthly newsletter highlighting the upcoming sessions.

We’ve outlined suggested communications around MSA’s webinar schedule, as well as many other timely topics.  Our goal is to make it quick and easy for you to find and share relevant MSA collateral throughout the year.  As you’ll see, the files are editable to make customization a snap.

A complete listing of our classes, along with a brief description and any associated nuances, is provided.  Click on the “Details” area related to each class; a thorough outline is provided for your use.  

Important COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment Information from Cigna

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See below for a message from Cigna regarding Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19:

COVID-19 Treatment Cost Share Waiver Extended to Feb. 15, 2021
Cost share waiver for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related doctor visit remains through PHE period
Over the course of the pandemic, Cigna has taken bold actions to remove uncertainty and make health care easier. While new therapeutic treatments and vaccines are becoming available, it will take more time until enough vaccine is available to help slow down the spread.

In Cigna’s ongoing effort to provide easier access to care and ease the financial impact your employees may experience with COVID-19 treatment, Cigna has decided to extend the cost share waiver for COVID-19 treatment and related visits at all sites of care, virtual or in person, and for both in- and out-of-network providers until Feb. 15, 2021*.

Please note, the cost share waiver for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related screening, including virtual care, continues through the public health emergency period, currently ending January 21, 2021, as required under federal law.

Prevention Reminder
While this decision will help your employees who may require treatment, it’s important to continue to focus on preventive measures while vaccines become more available. Continue to encourage your workforce to follow CDC guidelines to help prevent exposure to COVID-19 – even after vaccination. This includes: Cover mouth and nose with a mask when around others, Avoid close contact with people who are sick, Practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet, and Wash hands often. These practices have definitively shown to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses like the flu.

Vaccine Costs
As a reminder, COVID-19 vaccines are often supplied by the government but are also eligible for coverage under most Cigna medical and pharmacy plans as a preventive service with no out of pocket expense for our plan members. The administration cost will be passed on to medical and pharmacy plans. No ASO plan opt out is applicable, in accordance with the CARES Act.

As we have done throughout this pandemic, we will continue to evaluate the course of the disease and make adjustments to our policy decisions when appropriate. Thank you for your trust. Together, we will overcome this pandemic.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY IS AN OFFICIAL MIDDLEBURY HOLIDAY

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Since 2019, Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day has been recognized as a regular Middlebury holiday. Please consult your manager to understand the operational and scheduling plan in your department.  As with all regular holidays (Thanksgiving and winter break), benefits-eligible staff are eligible for “Holiday Pay” for the day. For more information on holiday schedules and time entry, please see our holiday webpage.

What’s on tap for well-being…. weeks of January 18 and 25?

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“Tell me what you value, and I might believe you, but show me your calendar and your bank statement, and I’ll show you what you really value.” – Peter Drucker

I invite you to join me in starting 2021by making a commitment to yourself…to commit to taking care of yourself, to live in accordance with your values and to nurture your energy.  It is my hope that our programming this month and throughout the year will help make that possible for you. 

Let’s start off by joining together on a Quest to Recharge. This three-week Quest will enhance your mental, physical and community well-being.  Each week will focus on a different domain of well-being.  In week one we will be engaging in activities which enhance our mental and emotional well-being.  In week two we will be doing a physical activity challenge to see which team can make it from Middlebury to Montreal the fastest.   In week three we will be engaging in activities which enhance our community well-being.  Join for one week or all three.  Random drawings will be done each week and all participants will be eligible to win prizes.  Registration is open so grab your coworkers and sign up today. 

If you like competition and challenge, then you will love DIEMlife’s “World’s Biggest Race for Wellness.  By purchasing an annual pass for $25, you will get a year of monthly virtual races, exclusive wellness challenges, and events for free.  This annual pass is a special offer only for GMHEC faculty, staff, and students.  Typically, the cost is $25 per year plus $15 per race so this is a great deal and a great way for you to have fun, engage in some friendly competition and take action to enhance your health and well-being.  This offer will expire on January 31, 2021 so check it now.

Are you ready to get off the “on again, off again” diet rollercoaster?  Would you like to finally make peace with food and your body?  Are you interested in becoming empowered to use your own body’s wisdom to guide your food choices?  If so, then this four-week Intuitive Eating group is for you.  Led by Amy Sercel, the Anti-Diet Dietitian, Kate Morris, Clinical Social Worker and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and Lizzy Pope, Associate Professor of Nutrition and Food Sciences at UVM.  There is no cost for this program, but participants may be interested in purchasing the recommended book, “Intuitive Eating, 4th Ed: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach”.    Thursdays, January 21st through February 11th.  6:00-8:00 pm EST. 

EDGE Next Steps Nutrition & Exercise to Improve Type II Diabetes Program:  Do you have type II diabetes?  Would you like to gain the knowledge and confidence to improve your health?  If so, join the team from The Edge for this comprehensive eight-week program focused on the positive impact of nutrition and exercise to improve Type II Diabetes.  Over the course of the 8-weeks you will get weekly virtual group nutrition sessions, three individual virtual nutrition sessions with a Registered Dietitian, a fitness program designed by a certified exercise specialist and meal and Recipe Ideas to fuel your body and improve your insulin sensitivity.  This program may be fully covered by your insurance.  Mondays, January 25th – March 15th from 12-1pm EST.  For more information or to inquire about your cost to participate, contact the Edge Genavix team at genavix@edgevt.com or 802-951-2320.  Learn more about this program here. 

Food and Mood: Nutrition to Support Mental Health.  Join Allison, Registered Dietitian from The Edge, for this comprehensive approach to supporting your mental health and well-being through nutrition. Weekly group sessions will be held virtually and will also include one on one tele nutrition sessions to customize your nutrition needs. Program may be partially covered by insurance. To learn more, or inquire about your cost to participate, contact Nicole Williams, Director of The Edge Preventative Care at NWilliams@edgevt.com.  Tuesdays, January 19th – March 9th 12-1pm EST.    

As usual, there are many more great events on the calendar so please check it out.  The password is GMHECWell-Being.

As we move into 2021, we would love to hear your feedback about what you’ve been enjoying and/or where we could make improvements to better meet your needs.  If you have engaged with our programming in 2020 and would be interested in sharing your feedback, we would love to hear it.   If you have suggestions for programming you would like to see offered in the new year, we would love to hear that too.  Reach out to our coordinator at Rebecca.schubert@gmhec.org to share your feedback.