IMPORTANT UPDATES TO YOUR BENEFITS PLAN
1) Nutrition Counseling- A New Core Benefit!
Did you know that more than half of adults and a quarter of children in the United States are considered overweight? Many chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure are associated with weight and contribute to more than $9 billion in lost productivity. What is available to your employees to help combat this epidemic?
2) Changes to the Drug Formulary ( Miralax® and Zaditor™)
From time to time, the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee regularly reviews the drug formulary and safe prescribing procedures to ensure their continued effectiveness. This review process considers cost effectiveness as a piece of their recommendation which helps contain costs for you, the employer.
Beginning July 1, 2007, Miralax® and Zaditor™ will be available over the counter and will therefore not be covered. Any members taking either of these drugs will receive notification that these drugs are now available without a prescription and will no longer be covered.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS AN EMPLOYER:
IBC is providing wellness programs at no charge to your employees! Encouraging them to take full advantage of these complimentary services will not only benefit them from a health and wellness standpoint, but it will keep your long term benefits costs in control. Healthy employees mean decreased absenteeism and presenteeism as well as less high impact medical claims.
- Beginning July 1, 2007, Independence Blue Cross is offering their HMO, POS, Direct POS and PPO members coverage for up to six nutrition counseling visits with a participating physician or registered dietitian per calendar year at NO additional cost. It is important to spread the word of this new benefit, and we can help you do that by forwarding the employee version of this communication. This new benefit is an addition to the Healthy Lifestyles Programs we notified you about in our March Carrier Alert.
- Beginning July 1, 2007, Miralax® and Zaditor™ will be available over the counter and will therefore not be covered. Any members taking either of these drugs will receive notification that these drugs are now available without a prescription and will no longer be covered.
WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
For questions about the recent plan updates, or for assistance in enrolling in IBC’s Healthy Lifestyles™ program, call Corporate Synergies at 1.866.CSG.1719, or click HERE to contact us.
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