Keeping Your Health and Budget Covered

Did you know?

Supporting your health while meeting your budget needs is uniquely challenging in today’s world. With the costs of healthcare projected to rise to a 13 year high, what you’ll pay for care is an essential factor in evaluating a health plan.

Whether it’s your current plan or plans you’re considering, taking the time to understand the total costs of your care can keep both your health and budget covered.

Itemizing Health Plan Costs

When you think of costs associated with a health plan, you likely think of what comes out of each paycheck for the monthly premium. Monthly premiums are an important consideration, however, there are other costs to note. These costs include:

Monthly Premiums

The monthly payment made for an insurance policy.

Deductible

What you pay each year before your health plan shares costs. Review your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) to see what payments are counted towards your deductible.

Coinsurance

The percentage of costs for care you are responsible to pay and is billed to you after the service is performed by the provider or facility.

Copayment or Copay

The fixed amount you pay for medical services, such as office visits or prescription medicines. It is usually paid at the time of your appointment.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

What you pay for healthcare expenses, including things like deductibles, coinsurance, or copays.

Out-of-Pocket Maximum

The most you will pay for healthcare expenses in a year.

Prescription drug costs

Costs for prescribed drugs depend on what tier the drug is in, whether it’s brand or generic, what pharmacy you go to, and more.

Consider Cost Balance

The costs of a health plan need to be considered in relation to each other. Some plan, like High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP), offer a lower monthly premium, meaning you’ll pay less per paycheck. However, you may pay more for care overall if you have significant health needs. Conversely, a plan with higher premiums will usually have lower deductibles, lowering the total amount you’d pay for care over time.

They typically work best for those who use health coverage often and those living with chronic conditions. As you consider the different costs of a health plan, balance the costs with your current health needs to, ultimately, protect your budget.

Where to Find Cost Information

Your best source of information is your health plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage SBC. It’s an easy-to-understand overview of benefits and coverage provided by a health plan. The SBC gives you a snapshot of what costs you can expect to pay throughout the year for care under your health plan. You can use this document to compare the total costs of care you can expect with each plan you’re considering – if you decide your current plan isn’t right for you or simply want to see your options.

Questions? We Can Help.

As you review your plan and maybe other plan options during Open Enrollment, we’re here to help make the process as easy and simple as we can. Reach out to The California Schools VEBA Advocacy Team at 888-276-0250 (Monday-Friday from 8 am – 5 pm).

Smart Dining Tips for Your Summer Road Trip

From Sharp Health News, a publication of Sharp HealthCare

Do you have a family vacation or road trip coming up? If so, it’s possible to stay on track with your health goals while still enjoying your favorite foods — and your adventure.

Try these top tips for choosing healthy and filling snacks and meals while traveling.

Pack easy snacks for the car ride.

It takes very little time to pack a cooler with smart snacks. And you can save money by shopping ahead.

The key when picking your snacks is making sure it is a combination of a protein and either a fruit, veggie or carb — the protein and fiber will help you feel full for longer.

Try these tasty treats:

Peanut butter and jelly on a slice of whole-grain bread, and a banana
Hummus with bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots and any other favorite veggies
A handful of mixed nuts and an orange
An apple and peanut butter
Celery and peanut butter
Edamame seasoned with spices of your choice
String cheese and cherries
Tuna (if you have access to a cooler or will eat this within two to four hours) and crackers
Yogurt (if you have access to a cooler or will eat this within two to four hours) and berries

If you’re really craving something savory and crunchy, buy small, single-serving bags and eat just one with a piece of fruit. And don’t forget to drink lots of water to maintain hydration as you go.

Select healthier options when eating out.

It can be a challenge eating a healthy diet while on vacation. Choose these healthier alternatives — lower in fat and calories, and higher in fiber and nutrients — when eating at restaurants:

Pick a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger.
Choose broth-based soups rather than cream-based soups.
Select a dessert with fruit instead of high-sugar options — and ask for more fruit.
Ask for skinless chicken instead of chicken with skin.
Order grilled food instead of fried food.
Order pasta with a red sauce instead of a white sauce.
Add extra veggies instead of creamy sauces to sandwiches and burgers.
Ask for added butter, sauce and dressing on the side instead of on each item.
Order salad as an appetizer rather than bread or something fried, high-sodium or high-fat.
Choose water, coffee, tea, fruit juice, milk and low-calorie drinks over alcohol, especially when driving.

Remember, it’s all about moderation. What’s most important is focusing on the joy of being on vacation with your family and friends.

The VEBA Resource Center offers many Cooking & Nutrition Classes. Join us to learn how to blend the art of food and cooking with the science of medicine to optimize your overall health and wellness – all while having fun! Check out our calendar to sign up for an upcoming class.

Teaching Your Teen About Managing Money

Cómo enseñarle a su hijo adolescente sobre la administración del dinero

Planning a Secure Financial Future

Cómo planificar para un futuro económico seguro

7 consejos para comer sano con un presupuesto limitado

Por Sharp Health News, una publicación de Sharp HealthCare

Comer una dieta sana y equilibrada es una de las cosas más importantes que puede hacer para proteger su salud. Una alimentación saludable puede ayudarlo a mantener o lograr un peso saludable, reducir el riesgo de contraer ciertas enfermedades, aumentar su energía y alargar su vida.

Sin embargo, comer sano con un presupuesto limitado puede ser un desafío. Pero con un poco de planeación y flexibilidad, es posible mantener la nutrición alta y los costos bajos, incluso cuando aumentan los precios de los comestibles.

Pruebe estos siete consejos para comer sano con un presupuesto limitado:

Compre productos de temporada.
Comprar productos que están disponibles actualmente puede requerir flexibilidad y alentarlo a probar cosas nuevas. Pero el resultado es comprar frutas y verduras en su máximo sabor y al precio más bajo.

Fuentes alternativas deproteínas.
Debido a que los alimentos básicos como la carne y el pescado están teniendo los mayores aumentos de precio, intente reemplazarlos con otras fuentes de proteínas, como legumbres, frijoles o tofu, uno o dos días a la semana.

Planifique sus comidas.
Haga una lista de lo que necesita y fíjese en su refrigerador y despensa para ver lo que ya tiene antes de dirigirse a la tienda de comestibles. Hacer un inventario regular de lo que tiene a mano también lo ayuda a usar los alimentos antes de que se echen a perder.

Compre alimentos integrales.
Ciertos alimentos son menos costosos cuando no están procesados. Por ejemplo, un bloque de queso cuesta menos que el queso rallado, los frijoles enlatados son más baratos que los frijoles refritos y los granos integrales, como el arroz integral y la avena, cuestan menos por porción que la mayoría de los cereales procesados.

Sea un comprador inteligente.
Compre durante las rebajas y esté atento a las promociones especiales. Sea diligente: revise los folletos locales, compare los precios cuando sea posible, use cupones y planifique sus comidas según los descuentos disponibles.

Únase a un programa de lealtad.
La mayoría de las cadenas de tiendas de comestibles tienen sus propias aplicaciones donde se presenta información sobre ofertas y cupones. También puede unirse a un programa de lealtad o recompensas para aprovechar los ahorros adicionales para clientes leales.

Limite los viajes.
Ubique una tienda que tenga todo en su lista de compras. Cuanto menos viajes de tienda en tienda, menos gasolina usará y menos oportunidades de compras impulsivas tendrá.

VEBA Resource Center ofrece muchas clases de Cocina y Nutrición. Únase a nosotros para aprender cómo combinar el arte de la comida y la cocina con la ciencia de la medicina para optimizar su salud y bienestar en general, ¡todo mientras se divierte! Consulte nuestro calendario para inscribirse en la próxima clase.

7 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

From Sharp Health News, a publication of Sharp HealthCare

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. Healthy eating can help you maintain or achieve a healthy weight, lower your risk of getting certain diseases, give you increased energy and lengthen your life.

However, eating healthy on a budget can be challenging. But with a bit of planning and flexibility, it’s possible to keep the nutrition high and the costs low, even as grocery prices surge.

Try these seven tips for eating healthy on a budget:

Buy produce in-season.
Purchasing produce that is currently available may require flexibility and prompt you to try new things. But the result is getting fruits and veggies at their peak flavor and at the lowest price.

Rethink protein.
Because staples such as meat and fish are having the biggest price increases, try replacing them with other protein sources, such as legumes, beans or tofu, one or two days per week.

Plan your meals.
Make a list of what you need and scan your refrigerator and pantry to see what you already have before heading to the grocery store. Regularly taking inventory of what you have on hand also helps you use foods before they spoil.

Buy whole foods.
Certain foods are less expensive when in their unprocessed form. For example, a block of cheese costs less than shredded cheese, canned beans are cheaper than refried beans, and whole grains, such as brown rice and oats, cost less per serving than most processed cereals.

Be a smart shopper.
Shop during sales and keep your eye out for special promotions. Be diligent — check out local flyers, price match when possible, use coupons and plan your meals around available discounts.

Join a loyalty program.
Most grocery store chains have their own apps where information about deals and coupons is featured. You can also join a loyalty or rewards program to take advantage of the extra savings.

Limit trips.
Locate one store that has everything on your grocery list. The less you travel from store to store, the less gas you use and the fewer opportunities for impulse purchases you have.