This month we want to help you prepare your covered members for a new plan year. We will also provide information to keep you informed of the newest drugs coming to market in 2021 that may affect your plan. Additionally, you’ll find reminders on our low net drug cost formulary strategy, information about the launch of Evernorth^SM, and a glimpse of what’s ahead.

Preparing for 2021 pharmacy benefits
For plans renewing on January 1, 2021, we want to make sure your covered members are prepared for their new plan year. From using their new ID card at the pharmacy to ensuring they have their medications when they need them, we have prepared some important reminders to help these members start the plan year off right.

Share this eCard with important tips and reminders with your workforce ▸

View a one-page client summary of 1/1/21 plan updates and information ▸

Monitoring the 2021 drug pipeline
We carefully monitor the drug pipeline and the clinical results of existing drugs to ensure formularies are providing the highest clinical value and saving money for our clients and members. In 2021 we will see new specialty drug approvals for disease states including eczema and cancer, as well as new biosimilars to the market.

Review Cigna’s 2021 drug pipeline update ▸

Cigna gets high marks in managing “wasteful” drugs for clients
See how Cigna Pharmacy’s low net drug cost formulary approach managed over 80% of wasteful drugs identified in a recent study.

Read about how our formulary strategy takes action against egregiously priced drugs ▸

Elevating the health care experience
At Cigna, we are transforming health care to fit the needs of your business and your people. To further this vision, we are excited to introduce our health services company, Evernorth. Together, we will continue to bring our clients and members innovative solutions that deliver more affordable, predicable and simple health care.

Learn more about the innovation behind Evernorth ▸

If you are not planning on working until or after the end of break, January 11^th, please submit all time worked, absence, and holiday hours NOW. January 11^th is the deadline for our first payroll of 2021.

Holiday Information: December 24th – January 10th is the Year-End Holiday Break. For information on how to enter hours for holidays, click this link: http://www.middlebury.edu/offices/business/hr/staffandfaculty/benefits/timeaway/holidays

Link to Oracle HCM: https://myapps.microsoft.com/gmhec.org

Link to Pay Calendars: http://go.middlebury.edu/paycalendar

Link to HCM training materials: https://www.middlebury.edu/office/human-resources/oracle-hcm/training

As a result of COVID-19, there has been an increase in the numbers of reported fraud and scams, specifically relating to unemployment insurance benefits and COVID-19 resources. If you or a member of your household has received paperwork from the state of Vermont for unemployment benefits when you did not apply for unemployment benefits, it is important that you report this as identify theft fraud to the Vermont Department of Labor.

A report can be filed using this link on the VT DoL website: https://labor.vermont.gov/form/report-ui-fraud or by calling 802-828-4104.

If you are the victim of identity theft, the state also recommends using the following resources after filing the report:

www.annualcreditreport.com : This website allows you one free credit check per year with the larger credit reporting agencies.

www.identitytheft.gov : This website will guide you to file an identity theft report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  This website also has other information to assist you with this situation and some valuable FAQs.

https://labor.vermont.gov/phishing-scam-updates : This website alerts to active phishing scams in Vermont.

If you have previously claimed unemployment benefits, the state has the following guidance on minimizing UI fraud:

Five Things UI Claimants Can Do To Minimize Fraud

• If the regular UI claimant has a common number UI Claimant PIN (i.e. 1111, 2222, 1212, last four of SSN, etc.), they should immediately request a pin change by calling the UI Claimant Assistance Line at: 1-877-214-3332.
• PUA claimants should not use common numbers or names as their password.
• If the claimant believes his/her account(s) have been compromised, they should file a fraud report with the Department using the links above.
• All claimants should actively monitor their UI account, as well as any other online accounts (i.e. bank accounts, credit cards, etc.) to ensure there is no unauthorized activity.
• Review our notice on detecting a fraudulent call impersonating the Vermont Department of Labor. Click here to read our fraud notice.

For more information on identity theft, security freezes and obtaining a free copy of your credit report, please visit the Vermont Attorney General’s website at www.ago.vermont.gov/cap. Additional information is also available on the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.consumer.ftc.gov.

National Family Caregivers Month recognizes the dedication of family members who provide round the clock care to loved ones. When medical conditions demand attention family step into roles they are often unprepared to accept. They become caregivers instead of partners or friends. Sometimes this change occurs in an instant.

The month sheds light into their demanding days, but it also identifies their needs. From morning to night, a caregiver balances the needs of the patient and those of other family members. Often, they are also seeing to financial matters and the household necessities.

Some of the support services available to caregivers are training, education about specific conditions, peer support groups, respite care, and financial support. Financial support may be in the form of subsidies or grants.

Caregivers rarely have time for themselves. There’s always another thing to be done. However, a caregiver requires rest, too.  During November, consider providing a respite for someone you know who provides care for a loved one. Offer to spend time with them or to ask how to help. Find out what you can do to make a difference. Visit npaonline.org for more information. Use #FamilyCaregiversMonth or #FamilyCaregiver to post on social media.

But it doesn’t have to be November for you to search the 2-1-1 online Community Resource Directory:

https://www.navigateresources.net/211vermont/

using these three Taxonomy terms in the Keyword Search.

• Caregiver
• Respite
• Kinship

And don’t forget, you can dial 2-1-1 seven days a week, 24 hours a day to speak with a Community Resource Specialist, or text your ZIP Code to 898211 Monday-Friday 8:00am-8:00pm.

2020 is quickly coming to end.  To celebrate and share our work with the community and with our stakeholders I have started drafting the GMEHC annual well-being report. I would love to include your feedback and testimonials about your experiences.  If you engaged with any of our programming over the past year and would be interested in sharing your experience in our annual report, I would love to hear from you.   Please reach out to me a Rebecca.schubert@gmhec.org to share your feedback.  Please help me spread the word about the value of our programming and highlight the importance of well-being in the workplace.

The new year is just around the corner and with a new year comes new opportunity.  The new year is a great time to examine our self-care behaviors and consider taking action to implement the changes necessary to enhance our well-being.   A health coach can be a great resource and Cigna offers free health coaching as part of your benefits.   A coach partners with you to help you harness your strengths to implement the changes you would like to make to enhance your well-being.  To learn more about Cigna health coaching, check out this short video or go to www.mycigna.com and click on Manage My Health and select My Health Assistant Online Coaching from the drop down menu.   

Self-care during the holiday season and beyond: As we all know, self-care is so important for our mental and physical health and for our emotional well-being.   Might there be some  room to enhance your self-care rituals? Join Nancy Wind, health and lifestyle coach and founder of Peaks and Poses to learn some new tips to help you feel rested, live with ease, and leave some stress behind.  Monday, December 7^th 7:00-8:00 pm EST.  Learn more and register here.  

Retirement planning with TIAA:  Norwich University faculty and staff…schedule your one on one with your TIAA representative.  A quick check in about your retirement plan can help you make sure you are on track to meet your goals.  Click here to schedule your appointment.

Of course, don’t forget to check out our daily yoga and fitness classes.  You can get all the details on the calendar.   The password is GMHECWell-Being.  If you have not already subscribed to our newsletter, shoot me an email and I’ll add you to the listserv.  The newsletter is the best way to stay informed about all our happenings. 

What’s on tap for well-being weeks of 8/17/20 and 8/24/20?

“Life isn’t meant to be lived perfectly…but merely to be LIVED. Boldly, wildly, beautifully, uncertainly, imperfectly, magically LIVED.”
― Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

As we and our students prepare to return to campus, and our children prepare to return to school (maybe???), managing our energy and well-being will be critical.  To support you and your families to stay well, each of our GMHEC colleges and the Consortium offer a variety of resources. 

• Are you curious about how to make the most of your Cigna health care benefits or get the best deal on your prescriptions?  Check out this information on healthcare consumerism. 
• Are you interested in connecting with a licensed mental health counselor from the privacy of your home?  Look no further than Cigna Talkspace. 
• Do you need some help finding childcare or a tutor for your kids? How about resources for managing a financial or legal issue?  EAP has you covered.  
• For more resources, check out our well-being resource guides and take advantage of the wonderful resources at your disposal.   

Check out some of the events that we have coming up over the next couple of week and be sure to check in regularly on our events calendar (password GMHECWell-Being) to stay in the know about all the great stuff we’ve got going on. 

Great Western Loop challenge: There is still time to get in on the action with DIEMlife “Race Around the Great Western Loop”.  Join your coworkers as we log some miles to complete this 6400-mile trek.  Earn steps by walking, biking, hiking, rowing and doing a host of other activities.   The team from St. Mikes has been maintaining a commanding lead but the folks from Champlain are hot on their tails.  If you have not yet signed up you can find all the information you need here. 

Fermentation series: Join the dietitians from Whole Health Nutrition for a two-part fermentation series.  In class one we will be making yogurt and kombucha and in class two we’ll be making sauerkraut and kimchi.  Please register at RD@wholehealthnutritionvt.com to receive a list of equipment and ingredients prior to class.

• Fermentation class 1: Yogurt + Kombucha
  Tue, Aug 25, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (EDT)
  Click here to join the meeting.  Access code: 745-927-429 or dial in by phone +1 (224) 501-3412
• Fermentation class 2: Sauerkraut & Kimchi
  Thu, Aug 27, 2020 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (EDT)

Click here to join the meeting.  Access code 243-422-493 or dial in by phone +1 (646) 749-3122

How team’s thrive: There’s a renewed spotlight on teams: a crisis is a stark reminder of just how critical effective collaboration is for employee well-being and organizational survival. Regardless of size and structure, all teams face challenges. How can teams today thrive and deliver results? Strong leadership is key, but every team member is also accountable for success.
In this webinar, we will explore:

• The risks to teams today—burnout, mistrust, exclusion—and what you can do about them
• The 6 research-based team effectiveness factors for teams to thrive
• Actionable takeaways to boost team performance

Thursday, August 27th 3:00-4:00pm EST.  Preregistration required.  Click here to register. 

Combating perfectionism: Life can be a high-pressure environment filled with even higher expectations. While holding yourself to high expectations can lead to success and fulfillment, it can also have a negative impact in the form of perfectionism. Learn about the true nature of perfectionism, why it’s so popular, and how to develop immunity to perfectionism in your life. Available to faculty and staff of Middlebury, MIIS, Champlain and St. Michael’s.   Brought to you by New Directions Behavioral Health, EAP provider. Wednesday, August 26th noon-1 pm EST or 3:00-4:00 pm EST.   Click here to register.  Middlebury and MIIS employees will use code Middlebury College, Champlain employees use code Champlain College, St. Michael’s employees use code smcvt.  Scroll down to “Check out our webinars” and “register for live webinars”.

Motivating your employees:  Happy workers are productive workers. Luckily, motivating your employees doesn’t take a lot of flare or even a lot of resources. This training will explore the key environmental factors within your control as a supervisor or manager to give your employees the space to flourish. Brought to you by New Directions Behavioral Health, EAP provider. Wednesday, August 19th noon-1 pm EST or 3:00-4:00 pm EST.   Click here to register.  Middlebury and MIIS employees will use code Middlebury College, Champlain employees use code Champlain College, St. Michael’s employees use code smcvt.  Scroll down to “Check out our webinars” and “register for live webinars”.

The above video, developed by Mari Walsh, walks the viewer through the Cigna cost comparison tools and wellness benefit information on mycigna.com. 

Keep your financial goals on track with TIAA’s live webinars. Reserve
your spot today.
Schedule online: TIAA.org/webinars

Social Security for Married Couples
Married couples can take advantage of strategies that may help to increase
lifetime Social Security benefits. You can learn the basics about spousal benefits, understand the many variables involved in claiming strategies and how married couples can boost their benefits by coordinating the timing of their claims.
Tuesday, August 11 at 12 p.m. (ET)

2020 Investment outlook – post corona-virus recovery
Join us for a special webinar during which Robert C. Doll, Nuveen Senior Portfolio Manager and Chief Equity Strategist, discusses how the corona-virus health crisis has effected the investment landscape and economic recovery. Doll’s comprehensive insights into the trends and issues he believes are positioned to meaningfully shape the economy and markets have served as a thoughtful guide to investors as they work to build strong long-term investment portfolios.
Tuesday, August 11 at 3 p.m. (ET)

Money at Work 2: Sharpening investment skills
Expanding your portfolio to maximize potential growth while minimizing risk—scenarios and alternative investing vehicles to help manage more complex finances.
Wednesday, August 12 at 12 p.m. (ET)

Retiring in the New Normal
We all know how important it is to save for retirement. This presentation brings all of the risks to light so you have a better understanding of what you may be facing and what you can do about it, especially in this new environment.
Wednesday, August 12 at 3 p.m. (ET)

Financial housekeeping for now and later
For many, the current health crisis has resulted in unique financial challenges. From dealing with reduced income to trying to figure out what to do with money you usually spend on gas or a vacation, this webinar will explore ways to help deal with a new personal financial landscape.
Thursday, August 13 at 12 p.m. (ET)

W2W: Postcards from the future
Fewer years in the workforce. Longer life spans. Women saving for retirement face unique challenges. You can learn what it takes to overcome these challenges and help make your retirement dreams come true on schedule.
Thursday, August 13 at 3 p.m. (ET)