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Resources and Benefits Briefing < September
2005
PacifiCare® provides an online program for its members through pacificare.com which offers rewards for making healthy lifestyle changes. In the program, members earn reward credits for taking advantage of PacifiCare® health programs.
PacifiCare® has a wide array of health programs, among them health risk assessment, VirtualHealthClubSM, phone nurseline and audio library services, weight and fitness programs, and tools for coping with chronic diseases and other health issues.
The detailed article below by Sam Ho, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer, PacifiCare® Health Systems, explains the program.
Want to Get Healthier? We can help.
By Sam Ho, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer, PacifiCare® Health Systems
The key to good health is not complicated. In fact, according to a study published this year in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, it can be broken down into four simple rules:
- Don’t smoke.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Eat five or more servings of fruits or vegetables per day.
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes, at least five times per week.
Just following these steps can have a significant impact on your health, and improve many chronic diseases. And yet, most of us don’t. According to the study, just three percent of Americans practice all four of these guidelines.
At PacifiCare, we believe staying healthy is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your family. So we’re doing more than just talking about a healthy lifestyle. We’re giving you programs and resources to help you achieve it–and rewards for your efforts!
Rewards for a Healthy Lifestyle.HealthCredits is an online program through www.pacificare.com that offers rewards for making healthy lifestyle changes. The program lets you earn credits for taking advantage of PacifiCare® health programs. As you earn credits, you’ll be enrolled in monthly drawings for prizes. You can also redeem your credits for great products like digital cameras and Apple® iPods, or gift cards at many leading national retailers, including:
- Starbucks®
- Gap®
- Barnes & Noble®
- Williams-Sonoma®
- Best Buy®
So, whether you want to quit smoking, improve your fitness level, or better understand and manage a chronic condition such as diabetes or coronary artery disease, we offer programs that can help you achieve your health goals–and reward you too.
PacifiCare Health ProgramsPacifiCare offers you a wide range of health programs and resources, including:
- Health Risk Assessment. Complete the short, easy online questionnaire and receive a personalized, confidential report, helpful tips and automatic referrals to programs that you can use.
- PacifiCare VirtualHealthClub. Access expert trainers, nutritionists and counselors, and develop your customized diet and fitness plan. Research health topics, find recipes and menu plans, and take health quizzes.
- 24 Hour Nurseline and Audio Library. Call 24/7 to access the Health Audio Library or speak with a licensed registered nurse. (no health credit awarded)
- Pregnancy to Preschool. Find information for you, your baby or toddler, every step of the way. Whether you are pregnant, trying to wean your baby, or preparing your toddler for preschool, we can provide you with valuable information at each developmental stage.
- PacifiCare PERKS. Enjoy PacifiCare Perks members-only program which includes discounts through vendor arrangements for safety products, health clubs, alternative care, vitamins, vision care services, natural body care products and much more. (no health credits awarded)
- PacifiCare Weight and Fitness. Turn your goals into a plan, action, and results. Let Taking Charge of Fitness guide you with goal setting and a plan. Use PacifiCare PERKS to access Weight Watchers and health club discounts. Use the Virtual Health Club to design your personal fitness and nutrition plan, track your progress and get expert support from the online coaches.
- Leading Disease Management Organizations, Health Industries Research Companies, Summer 2005
- Mathew J Reeves, PhD; Ann P Rafferty, PhD. "Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics Among Adults in the United States, 2000. Archives of Internal Medicine 2005; 165:854-857
PacifiCare's Taking Charge programs offer supportive tools and education to help you control and cope with many chronic conditions and health issues. These programs are designed to complement the education that you receive from your physician. You can get help improving heart health, controlling diabetes, depression and more. They include:
Taking Charge of Diabetes
Taking care of yourself by seeking regular preventive check-ups, eating right, exercising and taking your medication as directed is crucial to managing diabetes. The Taking Charge of Diabetes explains the actions you can take to manage your diabetes and reduce the risk of developing complications associated with the condition.Taking Charge of Your Heart Health
A healthy heart starts with a healthy lifestyle. That means managing your diet, stress, and use of tobacco─along with getting enough exercise. The Taking Charge of Your Heart Health program is a self-directed program focusing on a healthy lifestyle changes to promote a healthy heart. Whether you have had a heart attack, a heart-related procedure, or have been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, we want to help you succeed in managing your health by providing you with the necessary education tools and resources.Taking Charge of Fitness
This program will help you set realistic nutrition and fitness goals, create a plan, and develop the healthy habits needed to achieve them.Stop Smoking
The program offers telephonic coaching and support. It helps smokers focus on different parts of the quitting process in order to quit successfully.Taking Charge of Depression
Depression is a common condition that can have a major impact on your life. However, through appropriate treatment and healthy lifestyle behaviors, you can help yourself successfully manage your depression. The Taking Charge of Depression program provides telephonic support and education on treatment for depression for members: diagnosed with a new or recurring episode of depression, prescribed an antidepressant.
We’re committed to doing everything we can to empower you to get and stay healthy–and to rewarding your efforts. To learn more, sign up, or earn more HealthCredits, visit us online at www. pacificare.com. Here’s to your good health.
1 PacifiCare HealthCreditsSM is offered by PacifiCare Health Plan Administrators, Inc. Programs subject to availability by state; components may change. HealthCreditsSM is available to PacifiCare members. Physicians must direct enrollment in Disease Management programs; other requirements may apply.
2 Special arrangements are only for PacifiCare enrollees whose plan benefits do not include products/services described or whose PacifiCare plan benefits covering these products/services have reached the allowable maximum. Vendor participation and actual, usual and customary charges may vary, exclude certain items or require additional charges. PacifiCare does not endorse or guarantee products noted.
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