HMS/Health Advocate, a free employee assistance program (EAP), offers confidential counseling and referral services to help employees and their eligible dependents successfully manage life's problems. If either you or someone in your household is struggling with anxiety and stress due to the current health crisis and wish to speak with a professional or schedule a counseling session, the phone number for HMS is 877-240-6863. You can also visit the HMS website for access to lots of resources including free webinars.

SwiftMD is a telemedicine service that connects patients with Board-Certified Emergency Medicine and Family Practice physicians over the phone or via videoconference, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Telemedicine allows the doctor to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment, including sending in prescriptions to the patient’s pharmacy of choice when appropriate. This service is available to all employees and their dependents covered under the CCIU health plan. To utilize SwiftMD’s services, visit SwiftMD’s Website.

Virtual visits with your physician are encouraged by many insurance companies, including Independence Blue Cross (IBX). If you are on CCIU medical insurance through IBX, please rest assured that virtual visits with your physician are covered, and are subject to any co-pay or deductible amount as if you were visiting your doctor in person. These virtual physician visits are not the same as the telemedicine services described above offered by SwiftMD. Please visit the IBX website for COVID-10 information.

YMCA Membership Discount

Did you know that you may be eligible for discounted YMCA membership fees as a CCIU employee? When you sign up for a YMCA membership, let the customer service representative know that you work at the CCIU and you may be eligible to receive a 10% discount in fees as well as the joiner fee being waived.*

For more information on what this membership offers, visit the YMCA’s website.

Healthy Lifestyles Reimbursement

For employees covered under the CCIU’s health insurance, your Independence Blue Cross (IBC) member ID card does more than just cover doctors’ visits and prescription refills – it also gives you access to a variety of programs and discounts!

Through their Healthy Lifestyles programs, IBC offers incentives to help you prioritize your health. Reimbursements for your fitness center membership or virtual sessions via an app or digital subscription, participation in an approved weight loss program or tobacco cessation program are available.

For more information on the different reimbursement programs and their guidelines, please view the documents below:

• Fitness Reimbursement
• Weight Management
• Tobacco Cessation

Free Nutrition Counseling Sessions

One of the many benefits of your IBC health insurance coverage is up to six nutrition counseling visits a year at no cost to you when you visit an in-network doctor or registered dietitian! Visiting with a food and nutrition expert can help you learn how to improve your eating habits for a healthier life.

The CCIU is now partnering with The Charge Group to bring you personalized nutrition coaching with a registered dietitian! Additional emails will be sent out in the upcoming days with more information.

HMS/Health Advocate is an employee assistance program (EAP) that offers confidential counseling and referral services to help employees and their eligible family members successfully navigate healthcare needs. The team at Health Advocate understands the healthcare system and encourages people to take an active role in their health. They work with each member to meet their unique physical and emotional needs. Resources provided by Health Advocate include childcare, elder care, legal and financial services. Some of the services are free or offered for a reduced cost.

Connect with a Health Advocate Professional

Health Advocate Number: 877-240-6863
Health Advocate Website: www.healthadvocate.com

Health Advocates are available 24/7 and the website offers links for support on many work/life issues, such as college life, housing, depression and anxiety and navigating the pandemic.

Employees can also engage with Health Advocate experts, participate and track healthy activities, earn incentives, check case status and more, right on their phones, through their mobile app. The app is available through both Google Play and the App Store.

A username will be required to access specific resources on the Health Advocate website, which can be easily set up through the registration page.

• Mental Distancing: experts are suggesting “mental distancing” in addition to social distancing, which can include taking breaks when possible and setting boundaries with social media, news and work. Exercise, getting outside and remembering that this is a temporary situation are all additional ways to practice self-care. Following is a great article from Forbes that has additional ideas for practicing “mental distancing”: "Coronavirus Creating Stress? Why You May Need Mental Distancing As Much As Social Distancing And 8 Ways To Get It"
• Understanding Grief: A brief article, “That Discomfort You’re Feeling is Grief,” may help you to both understand what many of us are feeling right now and how we can develop techniques to begin to feel better.
• Wise@Work App: Did you know that mindfulness and meditation has been shown to lower stress and increase resilience? Wisdom Labs’ Wise@Work App is designed to help through hard times with Anxiety Busters, Better Sleep Practices, and ways to Calm the Chaos. All CCIU employees have 90 days of premium access for free. Download the app on your phone, and create your account anytime!