Home Is Where The Health Is
Did we really just hear holiday music? Wait, we haven’t even given out Halloween candy yet!
Yes, 2023 is rushing by. The last couple of months of the year bring a time of reflection, of celebration and of updating your benefits.
This week’s Tasting Menu is a reflection of all of that!
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
Open Enrollment Tips
Promoting Mental Health Through a Healthy Home
Menopause Traditions - Old and New
Open Enrollment Tips
The weather is cooler.
There are pumpkins everywhere.
That must mean it’s Open Enrollment Season!
Open enrollment is a critical period for you to select or make changes to your employer offered benefits. For many people this happens between October and December and changes are effective January 1st.
Making informed decisions during this period is crucial for ensuring you have the coverage you need while optimizing your financial situation.
Our number one tip is: Read the communications. Yes, we know you get a ton of information coming your way. However, each year there can be considerable changes in what benefits are offered, what they cost and how your provider network is impacted. Not paying attention can be financially costly or can cause you to have to make changes you didn’t expect.
Here are some other tips to consider during open enrollment:
Start by examining your existing benefits, insurance plans, and healthcare providers. Understand what is covered and at what cost.
Think about what’s important to you financially. Most plans balance out of paycheck costs with out of pocket expenses. With the popularity of High Deductible Plans that’s even more true than ever.
Consider any major life changes that may have occurred in the past year, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or changes in your health. Also think about the change you anticipate. Are you planning a family? Are you reaching an age where you’ll need additional routine testing? These all can impact your coverage needs.
Assess the different insurance plans available to you. This includes health insurance, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, and retirement plans.
Ensure that your preferred healthcare providers, doctors, and specialists are in-network for the plan you choose. Out-of-network care can be significantly more expensive. Don’t rely on the published lists from the insurance company, which could change.
If you are going to have a new network next year, take the time to call your provider directly and ask.
Don’t skip on reading about the prescription benefit. If you take medications regularly, review the prescription drug coverage offered by different plans. Ensure that your essential medications are covered and affordable
Some plans offer wellness programs and perks such as gym memberships or smoking cessation programs. Consider these additional benefits if they align with your health goals. You may have benefits you don’t even realize!
Is it passive or active enrollment? An active enrollment means you have to make decisions or you can find yourself without benefits.
Promoting Mental Health Through a Healthy Home
Home. One of the places we likely spend a lot of time outside of work and school (even more so since the pandemic when more activities are remote or don’t require us to go to a physical location). Having a home that is safe and healthy is not only beneficial to our physical health but also to our mental health. Think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – shelter and safety are two of the foundational elements, so it’s no surprise that the condition of where you live has a huge impact on your well-being.
What is a “healthy home”? The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shares eight principles:
Keep it dry
Keep it clean
Keep it safe
Keep it well-ventilated
Keep it pest-free
Keep it contaminant-free
Keep it maintained
Keep it thermally-controlled
There are 45 million homes in the United States with one or more of these issues. And the way these can cause health concerns:
Environmental hazards (like, lead paint) can cause neurological damage
Poor quality housing can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression as well as emotional problems and low academic performance in children
Exposure to mice and or roaches can aggravate symptoms of asthma along with contributing to other infections
Healthy homes contribute to healthier people which can lead to more thriving and healthy communities. Which is why policy changes and access to more affordable and stable housing across the country is so critical.
For your own homes, it's important to keep up with regular maintenance – checking that air quality, vents and filters are all working properly. Regular cleaning, pest prevention, and quick repairs when leaks or other types of damage are found is important. Storing poisons and chemicals away from children, ensuring smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning are some ways to improve safety. If you’re a renter, you and your landlord may share some of the responsibility for these items, so double check your lease or reach to see what you’re responsible for.
There may be other things you prefer to incorporate into your home – candles, plants, or specific decor – great additions when and where you can incorporate, but the basics of a healthy home are a lot more simple and can go a long way to reducing stress, anxiety, and the health issues associated with that.
Menopause Traditions - Old and New
Have you heard about the new trend - menopause parties?
Also known as "menopause showers" or "menopause celebrations," they have emerged as a modern and lighthearted way to mark this time in women’s lives. And we’re all for it.
We thought we’d share some traditions of different cultures as well as some ideas on how to celebrate in more modern ways.
In some Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, this time in women’s life is celebrated as a rebirth or in recognition of the wisdom that comes with life experience. It’s also notable that women across the world experience menopause differently, possibly due to diet and cultural norms sending positive messages.
Here are our takeaways from what we learn about other cultures, traditions and options for managing menopause:
Traditional herbal remedies have been used for generations to alleviate menopausal symptoms. For instance, Chinese medicine utilizes herbs like Dong Quai and ginseng to balance hormonal fluctuations, while Ayurveda prescribes herbs like Shatavari and Ashwagandha to promote overall well-being during menopause.
Many First Nation cultures elevate women to community leaders or celebrate this time through storytelling.
In some societies in Africa, celebrations of women at this time of life include dancing, dressing in formal traditional clothing and sharing wisdom with younger generations.
If you’re looking to embrace the trends. Here are some menopause party ideas:
Consider a menu of foods that are good for managing symptoms
Embrace a Menopause and Mocktails theme
Check out Etsy’s listing of party decor and favors
It’s all about friendship and connection, consider a shared activity like a yoga or meditation class or a spa day.
Medical Term of the Week
As you look at your healthcare plan options this year, lots of terms will be thrown at you. One we want you to really watch for is the High Deductible Plan. This is usually a low cost plan of your paycheck with an annual deductible that is in the thousands of dollars - especially for family coverage.
If you are generally healthy, and are expecting only to be doing preventative care, this could be the plan for you.
If you have the option for a Health Savings Account, this makes them even more attractive.
Be mindful that there is a trend of these having no out of network coverage. Which means even for preventative care, if you don’t go to an in-network provider, you will be out of pocket and it won’t count towards your deductible!
The Latest
More than one third of women over 50 are iron deficient (from NY Times)
Body image impacts most of us. And it can impact our sex lives too. Let’s not do that (From HealthWomen.org)
Personal stories help us feel less alone and create more understanding. We loved Michelle Strom’s piece “Redefining the Chaos of Our Neurodivergent Brains” (from The Mighty)