Adventist Health Glendale | Healthline Quarterly | Fall 2018

Deciding what changes to make to your health insurance plan or enrolling in a new plan can be as confusing as choos- ing paint for a house. Colors? Different finishes? It can go on forever. Doing your research and careful planning for your health is worth it in the long run. Here is some advice to help you navi- gate open enrollment to make sure you and your loved ones are covered. What is open enrollment? Health insurance plans offer a window when you can make changes to Open enrollment is here your current plan, switch coverage between plans or make cancellations. Some insurance companies that offer open enrollment include Medicare and employment-based insurance plans. What do I need to know? Medicare: From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) gives members 65 and older the option to change their Medicare coverage. Open enrollment is the time to make changes. You can do the following: ●● Change between original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. ●● Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another. ●● Change your prescription drug coverage. Remember, you’ll have different health needs over the years. Make appropri- ate decisions that are right for you at the time. In fact, seniors may be at a disadvantage for not making changes to their plans because they don’t know how. Be proactive and ask for help. Medicare offers plan comparisons at medicare.gov/find-a-plan . You can also visit AARP’s Medicare Resource Center online or call customer service to learn about options available to you. Employer-based: Your employer will notify you when open enrollment periods are set. Dates vary based on employer; however, it’s usually in the fall since most coverage starts on Jan. 1. Employers will send out several reminders, so make Of all the diseases we face as women, few may concern us more than breast cancer. Al- most certainly, you know someone whose life has been impacted by the disease. There are steps women can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. That is why educat- ing our community is at the forefront of the care we provide at Adventist Health Glendale. For Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, our expert doctors shared advice that we want to pass on to you. To reduce breast cancer risk, Sam Carvajal, MD, general and vascular surgery, suggests that women maintain a healthy weight, espe- cially in midlife and later. “After menopause, most of the hormone estrogen in a woman’s body comes from fat cells,” he says. “Estrogen can spur the growth of many breast tumors, and being overweight or obese can increase risks.” According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) additional steps may help women re- duce their risk for breast cancer. Dr. Carvajal emphasizes the importance of making lifestyle changes if necessary: ●● Avoid alcohol. Drinking is tied to a heightened risk. In fact, your risk increases with the number of drinks you consume. ●● Be active. Research indicates that ex- ercise lowers risk. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week. ●● Weigh the pros and cons of hormone therapy. Hormone therapy that uses both estrogen and progesterone can increase risk. Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you. Dr. Carvajal says: “The short-term use of estrogen alone after menopause does not seem to raise the risk of developing breast cancer, but only women without a uterus may take estrogen alone. If hormone therapy is necessary to ease menopausal symp- toms, such as hot flashes, it is best to take the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.” Keeping up with breast care Prevention is key Meet Dr. Carvajal Sam Carvajal, MD, general and vascular surgery, has more than 25 years of experience and specializes in minimally invasive surgery. He graduated from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, where he also completed an additional seven years of training in advanced surgical techniques. Board-certified in general surgery, Dr. Carvajal has performed an extensive number of breast surgeries, including lumpectomies and mastectomies. He is the physician liaison for the American College of Surgeons and provides state-of-the- art care for breast diseases. Sam Carvajal, MD Open enrollment for members of Medicare is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. sure to sign up. Typically, if you miss the window, you will not have the ability to change coverage. There are exceptions! These are known as major life events, such as if: ●● You are new to the company. ●● You have a baby. ●● You get married or divorced. ●● You become a widow or widower. ●● You age out of a parent’s plan. ●● Your COBRA insurance expires. Talk to your human resources repre- sentative to learn more about options available to you and your family. Always ask questions, compare plans and sign up. In the long run, it will give you peace of mind, and it could be a great cost savings too! 4 WELLNESS