February is American Heart Month. This awareness month was established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate the public about heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association (AHA) promotes healthier lives during the month of February and resources for millions of people for a common goal: to eradicate heart disease and stroke.

Ways to get involved:

• Participate in National Wear Red Day on February 7 to end heart disease and stroke in women.
• Promote awareness February 7-11 during Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.
• Contribute to the movement to end heart disease and stroke by donating.

If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Learn more.

The month of February is National Cancer Prevention Month. The American Cancer Society fights to free the world from cancer and provides patients and caregivers resources on their website. This organizations funds and conducts research, shares expert information, support patients, and spreads awareness about prevention.

Ways to get involved:

• Promote awareness about cancer prevention on February 4 for World Cancer Day.
• Volunteer to save lives.
• Register for a local Relay for Life.
• Donate to the American Cancer Society’s efforts.

As announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services group health plans will cover the cost of at-home, OTC COVID-19 test kits beginning on January 15th. This new policy will cover 8 test kits per month, for all covered members, at no out-of-pocket cost. Humana will offer commercial group members two options to get at-home, OTC COVID-19 test kits at no-cost: 1) Pay the full amount for the test up-front and get reimbursed, and 2) Have the pharmacy staff process the at-home OTC COVID-19 test kit as a claim and receive payment directly from Humana at no cost to them.

On January 10, the Biden Administration issued guidance requiring all group health plans and health insurers to cover OTC COVID-19 tests without member cost share effective January 15, 2022.

The new OTC coverage requirement:

• Allows consumers with commercial health coverage to seek reimbursement from their health plan for OTC tests they purchase online or in-person without the direct involvement of a health care provider.

• Requires health plans to cover, without cost sharing, up to 8 OTC tests per member per 30 days (if kits contain 2 tests, then no more than 4 kits per 30 days).

• Maintains the policy that plans are only required to cover tests intended for diagnosis or treatment (versus routine screenings for employment, school or recreational purposes).

  Note: This mandate is in effect until the end of the federal public health emergency. Any tests purchased pursuant to a physician’s order will not be subject to the quantity limit.

  Our strategy for compliance

  While we can administer the required coverage of OTC COVID-19 tests in various ways, due to the urgency of this mandate, we have made the decision to cover OTC tests under the pharmacy benefit.

  We are immediately implementing the strategy below for your pharmacy plan to help ensure you have a path to compliance tomorrow, January 15, 2022.

  • Direct Member Reimbursement: Reimbursement for OTC COVID-19 tests without a prescription after purchase, starting January 15, 2022. Members should hold their claim submissions until we have further details. Claims will initially be reimbursed at the billed cost until the direct coverage arrangement is in place.

  • Direct Coverage: We are working to implement this arrangement through our retail pharmacy network as soon as possible. Plan will cover the cost of the OTC tests with direct reimbursement to the pharmacy and no upfront out of pocket cost for members. We will adjudicate claims at a rate comparable to the pharmacy’s U&C rate. This is

    necessary to encourage broad pharmacy participation and adequate access to care.

    Coming soon

    Next week, we will contact you about the direct coverage option and provide details for members to submit direct reimbursement claims. We will include a proposed member communication.

    For questions contact Beatrice Insurance Agency

National Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month is a month-long health observance to bring together thousands of dedicated professionals, health care providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers and teachers. The American Dental Association (ADA) is America’s leading advocate for oral health and provides resources for parents and caregivers.

Ways to get involved:

• Order a poster to support the ADA’s programming for dental health awareness.
• Download activity sheets and coloring pages about dental health for kids.
• Visit the ADA’s education center to learn more about dental hygiene.

National Children’s Dental Health Month is meant to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.

Why is this SO important?

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children. The good news is…there are safe and effective preventive measures that can protect teeth in children.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children see a dentist by their first birthday.

Here are a few healthy tips:

• It is never too early to start cleaning your baby’s gums. Damp washcloth over the gums to clear away harmful bacteria.
• Begin brushing your baby’s teeth when you see one coming in with an infant toothbrush.
  • Use water and a tiny bit of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice).
  • Use fluoride toothpaste that carries the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of acceptance. (If you are using baby toothpaste without the fluoride, keep it to the same amount because you still want to minimize any toothpaste that is swallowed.)
• Once your baby’s teeth touch, you can start flossing in between them.
• Around age 2, your child should learn to spit while brushing
• Kids ages 3 and up should use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
• Always supervise kids younger than 6 while brushing, as they are more likely to swallow toothpaste.
• Make brushing fun!
  • Play a “toothbrush song” or play a video.

The goal of Beatrice Insurance Agency is to help others prepare for when Life Happens by providing clients with practical options for their personal and business lives, simplifying the complex healthcare choices, and creating a user-friendly model to help each unique client.

Email: bob@beatriceinsuranceagency.com
Website: beatriceinsuranceagency.com
Location: 1125 Maxwell Drive, Union, KY, USA
Phone: 8599186720
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Twitter: @agency_beatrice