Health & Wellness

Think you do just fine getting 5 or 6 hours of sleep? Like the nearly 35% of adults getting less than the recommended 7+ hours, you are short-changing yourself. Sleep affects every aspect of your waking life — it is essential to your overall well-being.

Poor quality and insufficient sleep has short-term and long-term consequences. In the short-term, poor sleep may result in loss of attention span, poor decision making, fatigue and irritability, while long-term implications, which are more compelling, include an increased risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, and depression.

Getting adequate sleep helps:

• Maintain Brain Function
• Reduce your risk for disease
• Improve daytime performance & safety
• Improve your emotional health

Click on the tracking sheet to join us in the January Sleep challenge and start making sleep a priority!

1. Login to www.myuhc.com
2. Click on the “Health & Wellness” heading > My Health & Wellness
3. Click "View your Program"
4. Click on the "Activities" header
5. Click on the “Missions” heading
6. On the right side of the screen, select the category you wish to filter by
7. To add a Mission click on the Get Started button on the Mission Tile

Below are the missions related to sleep:

• Stick to a Regular Bed Time
• Get 7 to 8 hours of Sleep a Night
• Turn Screens Off Early
• No Caffeine Late in the Day
• Avoid Alcohol Near Bedtime
• Dim Lights Well Before Bed
• Have a Bedtime Ritual

Whether you are looking to lose weight, eat healthier, or exercise more, the UHC Real Appeal program will help get you on the right track. The best part - it's FREE.

UHC members with a body mass index (BMI) of over 23 are eligible. Click "Here" to get started.

Click here to use the CDC's BMI Calculator

Those who attend their first online wellness meeting will receive a box with the FREE supporting materials below.

1. Detects medical conditions early

2. Lowers health risks

3. Extends lives

4. Saves money
   

5. Boosts productivity
   

Click "here" to create your own individualized preventative care checklist.

Employees must complete the full 22/23 school year, and meet all three of the following requirements to be eligible to participate in this plan:

• Full-time employees age 62 or older by June 30, 2023,
• Have at least 25 years of service with our District, and
• Eligible to begin retirement through the IPERS program.

Eligible employees who meet the conditions will need to submit a retirement notice and Application for Early Retirement to Kim Smith by January 15, 2023.

Note: Any years worked part-time, but was at least 20 hours weekly, will be counted as one-half year of credit.

Policy 432 Early Retirement Policy:

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3389/SCCS/2575025/432_-_Early_Retirement_Benefits.pdf

Notice of Early Retirement Letter:

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3389/SCCS/2575026/432-E-Notice-of-Early-Retirement-Letter_Form_Fillable.pdf

Application for Early Retirement Benefits:

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3389/SCCS/2575027/432-E_i__-_Application_for_Early_Retirement_Benefits_432-E_i__Form.pdf

January 9 - March 17, 2023
Registration opens Dec. 1, 2022

Group ID: LHISCCSD

Subsidy Code: 10W23-SCCSD

Registration Website: https://livehealthyiowa.org/

Over the course of 10 weeks, teams (2-10 people) track activity minutes and/or weight loss through the Live Healthy Iowa website. This simple and affordable challenge provides Iowans an opportunity to improve their health while engaging in fun, friendly competition.

Participants receive:

• Challenge T-shirt (Adult small - 4XL)
• Personal online dashboard with the ability to sync Fitbit devices and Under Armour apps
• Complimentary subscription to Fresh Pickings magazine
• Weekly motivational messages
• $10 discount on registration for the LHI 5K
• Chances to win prizes*
  *Prize winners will be randomly selected from all participants who record at least once per week of the challenge.

What are HSAs and FSAs?

Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and healthcare saving accounts (HSA) are pre-tax benefits that aid employees in saving and paying for qualifying medical costs. FSAs are typically funded solely by the employee and funds must be used by June 30.

What is an HSA? How are HSAs used?

An HSA is healthcare savings account owned by an individual. Employees deduct a portion of their paycheck, before taxes, and the money is set aside for medical expenses, or investments (if unused) to help prepare for retirement.

HSAs are important for several reasons. The average couple spends $300,000 in healthcare costs during retirement. HSAs are portable and can move with employees from job to job; however, in order to contribute, the employee must have a high-deductible health plan.

What is an FSA? How are FSAs used?

An FSA is a smart, simple way to help employees save on medical, dental and vision expenses. Employees choose the amount they would like to contribute to cover out-of-pocket healthcare expenses at the beginning of the year and equal deductions are made throughout the year. These expenses can include:

• Copays
• Prescriptions
• Vision
• Dental expenses not covered by insurance

Additionally, a Dependent Care FSA is a great way to help employees take care of those who depend on them. Dependent care plans give employees the option to contribute up to $5,000 ($2,500 for married individuals filing separately) pre-tax dollars annually to pay for eligible dependent care expenses.

What’s the difference between an HSA and an FSA?

An HSA is owned by the employee and can be opened and contributed to if an employee is part of a high-deductible health insurance plan. Additionally, an employee can only spend what is in an HSA account, but the amount follows an employee and/or carries over from year to year. FSAs are owned by the employer and employee are considered participants in the plan. However, funds in an FSA must be exhausted within a plan year and do not follow employees and cannot be rolled over (in entirety) into the next year.

Little-Known Facts about HSAs and FSAs

• There is an FSA store and an HSA store. Items are delivered straight to your door, and everything is HSA/FSA eligible. This is a good benefit for those with FSAs, when getting close to the end of the year; it’s a great place to buy things in bulk.
• An HSA can help employees plan for retirement. Contributions can be made every year and they won’t disappear. HSA funds can also be invested for tax-free growth through mutual funds, stocks, etc. Once a person turns 65, they can use those funds for non-medical expenses, and will not incur a penalty, just tax on the income.
• The CARES Act made a number of over-the-counter items eligible for HSA & FSA spending.

• Don't forget that your insurance deductible and out-of-pocket max (OPM) reset January 1
• Log into www.myuhc.com to see what has been applied to your deductible and OPM
• If you are planning a procedure before December 31 please contact Kim Smith for FMLA eligibility

UnitedHealthcare will be updating their Prescription Drug List (PDL) on January 1, 2023. You will receive a letter from UnitedHealthcare if your medication is changing tiers or coverage. If your medication is changing to a higher tier, you may want to discuss options with your doctor.

UHC Prescription Drug List – Effective 1/1/2023
UHC Prescription Updates – Effective 1/1/2023

• Natalie Olorundami Hughes - Teacher at North Middle School
• Candy Roth - Teacher at North High School
• Alisha Jelken - Teacher at North High School
• Dr. Brian Burnight - Director of Elementary Ed. at the ESC

Do you know someone who has demonstrated a priority on health and wellness? Nominate them to be a wellness champion below.

Kim Smith

Benefits and Insurance Manager

Paul Logsdon

Benefits and Insurance/Workers' Comp Administrative Assistant

Email: smithk@live.siouxcityschools.com
Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/insurance/
Location: 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6692