Spring Forward Fitness Challenge Runs February 4 – March 15

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Lorea Belle Seidel

Put some spring in your step and some step in your spring! Join the Spring Forward Fitness challenge and get your spring started on the “right” foot. You can walk, bike, swim, dance, run, lift weights, take exercise classes…the possibilities are endless. Go solo or round up a few of your colleagues and create a team so you can support one another and yes, even exercise together!

 

You must register by February 25 to participate in this challenge.

To earn the credit for this challenge you must:

    • Log an average of at least 90 minutes of exercise activity weekly with a total of 540 minutes or more at the end of six weeks.When you complete your activity minutes is flexible. For example, you could perform all 90 minutes in one session, or you can break it up into three 30 minute sessions throughout the week…whatever works for you. If you miss one week, you can make it up during another week! In the end, you will need a total of at least 540 minutes of exercise over the course of 6 weeks. Log your activity weekly or daily.
    • Log completion of at least 1 on-campus wellness seminar or an approved online exercise video.The online videos are very short exercise demonstrations, so we encourage you to watch several so you can find exercises that meet your needs.

Note: You can go back and log past days during the challenge by changing the calendar function near the top of the MyProgress page. The challenge ends March 15, so please enter all your activity by March 19 as the tracking function will close that evening.

Visit the challenge webpage using the link below to get additional instructions on how to register for the challenge, a list of on-campus wellness seminars, a downloadable activity tracking sheet, and more.

Spring Forward Fitness Challenge Details

Quick Registration Instructions:

  • Go to wellpower.smu.edu
  • Click “JOIN TODAY”
  • Enter “Wellpower” as the corporate ID
  • If you’ve completed a challenge before, click the “Returning User” button update your information
  • If you are new, complete the Team Captain information (you can be a team of 1)
  • Once you complete the profile information, you land on myDashboard
  • Go to the myProgress tab to enter your activity

Completion of this challenge is worth 1 credit in the Spring Reward Period for Wellpower.

Questions? Email wellpower@smu.edu

 

 

 

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Magellan Health Services Partners with H&R Block to Offer Discounted Tax Filing Service

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Mary Stall

You can save money by filing your 2012 taxes online!

Available through our program with Magellan Health Services, H&R Block At Home™ offers a 25 percent discount on their online tax filing services when you link through www.MagellanHealth.com/member.

Just log on to www.MagellanHealth.com/member using your Username and Password.

If you are a first-time user, you can register with our program’s toll-free number and create a unique Username and Password.  After you log in go to Quick Links on the left-hand side of the Welcome page and scroll to Online Tax Filing. Click to access information about H&R Block’s online services, the discount offer, and helpful tax tips.

Note: The discount applies only when you access the H&R Block link through the Magellan Member website at www.MagellanHealth.com/member.

 

 

 

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Wellpower Spring Reward Period Runs February 4 – June 21, 2013

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Lorea Belle Seidel

Wellpower’s focus this year is on exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction because improving our lifestyle habits in each of these areas can positively impact our overall health and wellness. Wellpower’s spring reward period officially begins February 4, however registration for the first challenge will begin January 28, 2013.

To be eligible for a reward during the spring reward period, participants must:

  1. Complete a health screening and Health Risk Questionnaire (HRQ) if these were not completed last fall
  2. Earn 3 credits in the Wellpower Program

Health Screening/Health Risk Questionnaire (HRQ)Nurse Taking Blood Pressure
If you completed both a health screening and the HRQ in the fall of 2012, you are already eligible to earn a reward in the spring. You will need to repeat the screening/HRQ process in the fall of 2013, not this spring.

However, if you last completed a health screening and the HRQ in the spring of 2012, you’re due to renew! That means you need to complete a screening and HRQ before June 21, 2013. The easiest way to do that is sign up for a free on-campus screening now. Wellpower is offering screenings between January 23 and February 1, 2013. Register today!

Wellpower also offers alternatives to the on-campus screening which allow you to get a screening through your own medical provider or through Dallas Diagnostics Association. You will need to have recent lab results or screening results on hand when you complete the HRQ, so complete your screening and then the HRQ.

Earning Credits in Wellpower
In addition to the screening/HRQ, participants will need to earn 3 credits in the Spring Reward period. Wellpower will offer three 6-week long structured challenges, the ability to create a personal challenge, the Weigh-In/Weigh-Out challenge, and the Naturally Slim class. Each is worth 1 credit.

Wellpower Orientation Sessions
Wellpower will host two orientation sessions, one live session as well as one online webinar to kick off the spring reward period. If you miss one of those sessions, there will be recorded webinars to help guide you and you can always get help from a Wellpower team member if needed. Want to get started now?

More Information:

Questions? Email wellpower@smu.edu.

 

 

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Health Screenings and Naturally Slim Starting Soon!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Lorea Belle Seidel

Nurse Taking Blood PressureBenefit-eligible staff and faculty members are invited to take advantage of our free, confidential, on-campus health screenings available on campus January 23 – February 1.

Interested in losing weight and improving your screening numbers? Consider applying for our free Naturally Slim class! The online application form for Naturally Slim will be available January 21- February 5, 2013.

Why should you do any of this? Read on….

The Health Scare in America

  • Approximately 4% of the U.S. population incurs 60% of the country’s medical claims.
  • The United States spends a higher percentage of its GDP on health care than any other industrialized nation on the planet.
  • The United States has the highest overweight and obesity rates of any other industrialized nation on the planet.
  • The increase in weight is linked to an increase in the production of diseases of affluence such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and other lifestyle-related maladies.

Take Control and Manage Your Health Getting a health screening is the first step in monitoring and managing your health. If you do have significant risk factors such as high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and/or obesity, then we encourage you to talk with your medical provider and consider applying for the spring Naturally Slim class or using other wellness resources including joining Wellpower, getting confidential health coaching from our Baylor health coach, or engaging a personal trainer through Dedman Center. SMU has many resources to help you reach your wellness goals, so get started today!

Contact us at wellpower@smu.edu if you have questions.

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Get Heart Healthy!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Holly Carter

Being diagnosed with health problems such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol is a wake-up call that it is time to make lifestyle changes. The good news is that a few good choices can help you feel better and be healthier!

Getting Heart Healthy One Simple Step At A Time

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2013 BlueCross BlueShield ID Cards

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Holly Carter

Reminder from Human Resources:

• New BCBSTX ID cards were mailed in late December to all faculty and staff who changed their Medical option for 2013. If you did not change your Medical option, you will continue to use the BCBSTX ID card sent to you last year.

• Your BCBSTX ID card is to be used for medical, prescription drug, and dental (if enrolled in the Dental Plan) services.

• If you need an additional ID card for an enrolled family member, call BCBSTX at (877) 768-2005 or follow the instructions below to submit your request on-line.
o Log in to your account at www.bcbstx.com
o Click “My Coverage” at the top of the page
o Click “Request ID Card” under Related Links on the left side of the page
o Confirm your address and click Submit

• VSP, the Vision Plan administrator, does not issue an ID card. Click here for VSP contact information if you wish to confirm that a provider is in the VSP network.

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Magellan Partners with H&R Block to Offer Discounted Tax Services

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Mary Stall

Online Tax Filing Services (H&R Block At Home)
Tax Preparation Services

During tax season, the EAP program makes “just in time” tax preparation services available to employees’ household members through H&R Block At Home™”online. Tax Season is the period during which the Internal Revenue Service accepts electronically filed returns, in any given year. This period includes the original filing season, generally from January 15 to April 15 (the ‘Original Filing Season’), through the extended filing season, generally from April 16 to October 15 (the ‘Extended Filing Season’).

This service is offered at a discount of 25%*, which extends to any of the HRB-paid, federal, online tax products included in this program, such as Basic + Efile, Deluxe + Efile, and Premium + Efile. Additionally, for those with less complex returns, HRB offers a free version.

Online payment is due from users of the service at the point of printing or e-filing their returns. The site will present the retail prices, along with the discount, so that participants can view the 25% savings.

Check it out at www.Magellanhealth.com/member. Login by using SMU’s dedicated toll-free number, 877-704-5696. On the Magellan website under “Quick Links,” click on “Online Tax Filing.”

*Discount applies only when you access the H&R Block link located on www.MagellanHealth.com/member.

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Welcome to Our New Employees

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Mary Stall

The following employees attended SMU & You, a portion of the Total Orientation Process. During this session, they learned about the culture, values, and traditions of the University.  Please join HR in welcoming them to the University community!

In alphabetical order:  Christina Adamson, Mona Alluri, Jerald Boone, Melissa Emmert, Lisa Kays, Prethi Menon, Katherine Nickles, Maris Peterson, Zachary Peterson, Matt Roberts, Scott Ruff, Ronna Spitz, Myles Taylor, Brittan Taylor, Deanna Tilley, Brent Upham

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A Holiday for Caregivers

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Holly Carter

Do you sometimes feel squashed between the needs of your older parents and your children? Then you know why adults who care for both groups are called the “sandwich generation.” There are nearly 65 million family-caregivers in the United States. A caregiver is anyone who helps someone, usually an elderly or sick parent, with their basic daily tasks. Caregivers often help with grocery shopping and paying bills. Now add on helping with children’s homework and activities.

But care giving without relief can harm a person’s mental and physical health. It can raise blood pressure, interfere with sleep, cause fatigue, increase the risk of illness or injury, and trigger depression or anxiety.

Try these tips to ease the strain:

  • Ask for help if you need it. For example, ask a friend to pick up your children from school.
  • The U.S. Administration on Aging offers links to care giving resources around the country. This includes respite care — when someone spends time with your parents while you take a break.
  • Talk openly with your kids. Ask them how they are feeling. Spend time with your children, such as taking them along on errands and eating meals together.
  • Find a support group, either in person or online. Talking with others in the same situation can help you deal with feelings of guilt, anger and stress.

Visit the Be Smart. Be Well. website to learn more about care giving and other select topics. You can watch videos, read the latest news, take quizzes and find additional resources and information to help you understand and manage your care giving options.

Reprinted from BlueCross BlueShield communication with permission.

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Spend Your Flexible Spending Account Dollars by December 31!

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Holly Carter

The end of the calendar year is right around the corner. Do you still have unused funds in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? The funds you contribute to your FSA during 2012 are only available for reimbursement of qualified expenses incurred through December 31, 2012, so make sure you use them by the end of the year.

Check your FSA balance today…

The FSA administrator is Discovery Benefits. There are 2 ways to access your account balance:

1. Go to the Discovery Benefits website. Select “Participants,” “Participant Login,” “Login to Your Account,” and “Participant Login – Reimbursement Account.” If you have not yet registered, click the “Create your username and password” link, and follow the registration instructions. Once you are registered, you will have immediate access to your 2012 Health Care and/or Dependent Care FSA claims and your account balance(s).

2. Call Discovery Benefits at (866) 451-3399. You will not be provided with specific claims information, only the dollar balance remaining in your account. You will be asked to provide a combination of your Social Security Number and 6-digit date of birth (MMDDYY).

Shop for yourself over the holidays!

If you still have funds remaining in your account, you can:

- get a new set of contact lenses
- purchase another pair of eyeglasses…or even those prescription sunglasses you’ve been wanting

Don’t need any of the above? View the list of qualified Health Care FSA expenses. There are many ways to use up your FSA balance, so be sure to do so by December 31, 2012, to avoid forfeiture of unused funds.

Claims for reimbursement of expenses incurred in 2012 must be submitted to Discovery Benefits no later than March 30, 2013, by filing a claim on the Discovery Benefits website or using the Discovery Benefits Reimbursement Request Form.  The Reimbursement Request Form is available on the BenefitsU Flexible Spending Account website.

Questions? Call Discovery Benefits Customer Service at (866) 451-3399.

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