INSIDE - SCAN Health Plan

VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 1 • 2009
scanclub
A N E W S L E T T E R F O R S C A N M E M B E R S
HEALTH AND
HEALING
THROUGH
GOOD
NUTRITION
According to the National Institutes on Health, good
nutrition can help prevent heart disease, type 2
diabetes, stroke, bone loss, some kinds of cancer
and anemia. Eating well can help reduce blood
pressure and cholesterol levels and manage
diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Continued on page 2
I N S I D E
Three Squares for Less than $7 a Day
Some Things Will Never Change
Take Control of Your Health – by Taking Control of Your Medications
Medication Dos and Don’ts
SCAN — Service Heard ‘Round the World.
Get Ready for “Nana Technology”
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Story continued from front page.
So what does good nutrition look like? And how much
does it cost? We’ve put together an example of a day of
healthy eating to the right. As we show – and explain in the
article “Nutrition for Less” on page 6 – buying quality,
nutritious foods can be quite economical.
In general, your daily diet should emphasize fruits,
vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat and nonfat dairy
products. It should also include lean protein in the form of
beans, eggs and nuts, as well as meat, poultry and fish. Stay
away from foods with saturated fats, trans fats, and those that
are high in cholesterol, salt and added sugars.
Here are some other eating-for-good-health guidelines:
Don’t skip meals; it can slow your body’s ability to burn
calories. For some, it may cause you to overeat at the next
meal. For others, it may result in little or no appetite, meaning
you eat even less. (Unfortunately, it’s usually those who can’t
afford to lose weight that are affected this way!)
Eat when you’re hungry. If it’s close to meal-time, go
ahead and make a meal. Otherwise you’re likely to have a
snack and then “not get around to” making a meal. That
means you’ll miss out on important nutrients.
Make your snacks count. Still a few hours before dinner?
Opt for snacks that provide both carbohydrates and protein,
such as low-fat cheese and high-fiber crackers; raw veggies
with bean dip; or some nonfat yogurt sprinkled with nuts.
Read your labels. Nutrition labels on packaged foods
have gotten much more informative and easy-to-read in recent
years. So compare products to find the ones lowest in the
things you don’t want, like fat, sugar and sodium, and higher
in those nutrients you do, like protein and fiber. Many products
are fortified with extra nutrients – calcium is now added to
some orange juice, omega-3 fatty acids added to pasta – so
check labels. In many cases it’s worth choosing these fortified
products, but not at the expense of your food budget.
Three Squares that cost Less than $7 a Day
We came up with an example of a day’s worth of nutritionally sound, easy-to-prepare, low-cost meals. You could bring
these prices down even lower by shopping for sale items.
Breakfast:
Lunch:
Dinner:
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- quick-cooking oatmeal
- fresh cantaloupe
- orange juice
- coffee
COST: $1.43
- peanut butter and sliced banana
sandwich on whole-wheat bread
- apple
- iced tea
COST: $1.33
- spaghetti with ground turkey
and sauce with mushrooms,
peppers and onions
- tomato and cucumber salad
COST: $4.20
--- prices based on August 8, 2008 store brands.

SOME THINGS
WILL NEVER
CHANGE
A message
from David Schmidt
If you are new to SCAN with 2009, welcome to
SCAN and welcome to SCAN Club, your member
newsletter. I have a column in each issue – it’s my
chance to “speak” regularly to all our members,
so please look me up in future issues, too.
Speaking of 2009, it’s certainly going to be
an interesting year – politically speaking, at least.
The administration of “change” is now in place. I
hope it’s reassuring for you to know that one
thing hasn’t changed: our commitment to our
members. As you’re well aware by now, SCAN
benefits for 2009 had very few changes too,
which is indeed good news.
We met 6,800 SCAN members the last few
months of 2008 at our Straight Talk meetings.
And we heard overwhelmingly positive comments
about SCAN. In fact, we even got applause when
we talked about benefits for 2009. Our
announcement of $0 Select Generics was quite
popular! Be assured that the suggestions members
shared were appreciated – we know we can
always improve.
or push-button menus. Our Member Services team
can answer questions, provide resources, and
track down information for you. Just let us know
what we can do for you in 2009.
Until then, let me thank you for your
continued membership in our health plan. We
take that as your vote of confidence in us and
want to assure you that you can indeed put your
trust in SCAN.
Warm regards,
David Schmidt
CEO
We did, however, hear some concerns
about the economy. There is uncertainty out there
and we understand that some of our members are
concerned about their finances. That’s why SCAN
is especially valuable right now. Having SCAN on
your side gives you control over an important
part of your life: your health care.
Think about it. SCAN gives you a choice of
great doctors and comprehensive coverage.
The bottom line is we are here to serve you.
When you call Member Services, you are
connected to a real human being – no recordings
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SCAN
healthcheck
p r e v e n t i o n a n d s c r e e n i n g
Take Control of Your Health –
by Taking Control of Your Medications
If you take one or more medications on a regular
basis, they play a key role in your ongoing health.
So take charge of your medications with just a few
easy tips.
medicine for an ongoing condition, you should
receive a “Pocket Prescription Card” from SCAN
twice a year, so the list is prepared for you. Just
make sure you share your pocket-prescription card
with your doctors.
#1. Keep a list of your drugs and show it to
your doctor(s) at every visit.
Why? This is useful information for your
physician, especially if you see more than one. It’s a
quick reminder, but also lets them know if one of
your other doctors has added anything to your
prescription list. As a SCAN member, if you take
#2: Use only one pharmacy to fill your
prescriptions.
Why? Your medication history (a list of all the
medications you have filled) is in the pharmacy’s
system. This allows your pharmacist to easily see if
there might be drug interactions or other concerns
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with your medications. If needed, the pharmacist can
work with your doctor to avoid them.
Medication Dos
#3: Don’t ask your physician for a drug that is
advertised on television or in a magazine.
Why? Keep in mind the purpose of these ads: to
sell their specific product. If an ad makes it sound like a
medicine may help you, have an open discussion with
your doctor on all the options. Then you can agree on
the most suitable and affordable treatment for you.
#4: Ask how long the drug has been on the
market. (We recommend taking drugs that have been
available in the U.S. for at least two years.)
Why? In the past ten years, sixteen brand name
drugs have been taken off the market for safety
reasons. Half of the time when a drug is removed from
the marketplace, it happens within the first two years
it’s available.
and Don’ts
Do:
◗ Let your doctors know about any other over-thecounter
medications, vitamins, supplements,
and herbs that you use
◗ Refill prescriptions a week or so before you run
out so you don’t miss a dosage
◗ Take all medications as directed: right dose at
the right time, etc. Talk to your doctor or
pharmacist if you are not sure about the
directions
Don’t:
#5: Ask if there are other things you can do
besides taking a drug.
Why? Sometimes just making other changes,
such as changing what you eat or getting regular
exercise, will give you the results you need.
◗ Change your medication dose or schedule
without talking with your doctor
◗ Skip doses
◗ Take someone else’s medication
◗ Use medication that has passed its expiration
#6: At least once a year review all your
medications with your doctor.
Why? This will help ensure your medication
dosages are still right for you. After all, there may
have been changes since they were originally
prescribed, such as in your weight, health, or other
medicines you’ve started taking. It’s also a good time to
see if there are any medications you can stop taking.
date
◗ Store your medications in locations that are
either too hot or too cold
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SCAN – Service Heard ‘round the World
Eva Schwarz was traveling in Thailand when she was
struck by a pain in her head so severe some were worried
she was having a stroke. Eva herself thought the pain was
similar to an episode she’d had 12 years prior –
something the doctors at the time diagnosed as trigeminal
neuralgia. Her first phone call to the States was to her
son, a physician. Her second call was to SCAN. “Really
all they needed to do was point me in the right direction –
and that’s exactly what they did. I was able to go to the
clinic in the hotel and get what I needed,” says Eva.
“I have been happy with SCAN – I
think it’s one of the world’s best-kept
secrets.”
You may recognize Eva or her story from the
SCAN commercial on television. She says she does
indeed get recognized – a lot! By her pharmacist, at the
doctor’s office, at the YMCA. She’s quick to reassure
people that no, she did not have a stroke and yes, she’s
feeling just fine now. She thinks the more interesting story
is how she happened to just “luck in” to SCAN. Eva was
looking for a new doctor. A friend recommended her
doctor, and the doctor suggested Eva join one of the
health plans his office was affiliated with. She did her
research and chose SCAN. “It was worth it just for the
doctor,” she says, “but the other benefits are so good,
too.”
Nutrition for Less — Stretching Your Budget
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Looking to stretch your food budget? Look no further, because
we have a number of ways – both basic and creative – to help
you get the most nutritional bang for your buck.
The overall theme is “back to basics.” Look for foods as
close to their original state as possible. If you tend to buy
boneless, skinless chicken breasts, precut vegetables and foods
packed in single-serving sizes, you’re paying a lot just for the
convenience of those items. Instead of buying individual packs
of oatmeal, for one example, buy the regular box and
measure out the servings as you need them. Buying dried
beans and peas, rice and pasta, is much less expensive than
buying the canned or premade versions. By making your own
soups, stews, sauces, etc., you also have control over the
ingredients, so you can cut back on salt or fat as needed.
Cheaper and healthier – that’s the goal.
Smart Shopping Tips:
◗ Scan the weekly flyers that come in the mail or newspaper
to see where the best deals on your favorite nutritious foods
are each week.
◗ Plan enough meals (and snacks) to last at least a few days,
then make a list, and stick to it to avoid expensive
“impulse” buys.
◗ Use coupons only on foods you like.
◗ Sign up for store discount or “loyalty” cards (those that you
“swipe” when you shop). Using these will give you the sale
price on certain items.
◗ Buy in bulk when it makes sense. If the price really is a
bargain and if it’s a product you’ll use or can freeze before
it goes bad, then go for it.
◗ Buy store-brand or generic foods, which are often made by
the name-brand manufacturers.
◗ Look high and low – literally. Brands often pay more for
their products to be displayed at shoppers’ eye level, and
then pass the cost on to you.
◗ Buy produce in season. Focus on what’s grown locally at
any time of year. Farmers’ markets are a great resource for
delicious, seasonal fruit.
◗ Drink tap water. It only costs about 50 cents for a year’s
worth of drinking water from your tap. Our local tap water
quality is very high, so if it’s a matter of taste, it’s cheaper
to buy a simple filtration system than to continue to buy
bottles. (Look into such brands as Brita or Pur.)
◗ Make a full recipe and then freeze leftovers in single-serve
containers. Or plan a swap with friends – everyone makes
a big batch of their favorite soup and then you trade
servings, so you each end up with a variety in your
freezers. (Works with stews, casseroles, breads, etc., too.)
If money is really tight, or you are often unable to cook for
yourself, there are resources available. Your local church or
synagogue may have a food bank or offer free or low-cost
meals. Most senior centers offer a low-cost lunch. And many
people have benefited from Meals on Wheels. You may also
qualify for food stamps or other assistance. To find out more,
contact the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-510-2020.

Get Ready for Technology
Have you played Wii yet? Some of you may be puzzled, but
we know there are others who are already part of a Wii
bowling league. Pronounced “we”, Wii is a video game
system made by Nintendo. Those of you with grandchildren
may be familiar with that name. But while standard video
games are anything but active, the Wii was designed to get
you moving – although you can sit to play.
Based around a hand-held motion-sensor controller,
the Wii has you mimic the action of throwing a bowling ball
– and lets you watch it go down the lane on the TV. In
addition to bowling, Nintendo offers Wii tennis, golf, boxing,
and baseball. Also popular is the new line of Wii Fitness
programs, which let you to use the video game system almost
like an interactive DVD. Many senior centers and living
facilities are getting on board, citing great participation –
and actual results in terms of improved mobility and
rehabilitation.
The Wii is just one example, but there’s a range of
technology you can use to help get and stay active. Higher
up the technology scale, you have the traditional cardio
equipment: stationary bikes, elliptical machines, treadmills,
etc. You can input your weight, age, intensity of exercise and
the machine will give you all sorts of information during and
after your workout. You can track miles walked or ridden,
calories burned, heart rate and more.
Further down the technology ladder is the pedometer.
Even among these you can choose one with lots of bells and
whistles or one with just a basic time and distance tracker.
Just clip it on your waistband and it will count the number of
steps you take while wearing it. One study showed that those
who used pedometers walked almost 2,500 steps more per
day than those who did not. Motivate yourself by setting a
daily “step goal” that’s reasonable for you. First, see where
you’re at, and then gradually increase. It shouldn’t be easy
(one extra trip to the refrigerator does not count), but
something you can do with moderate effort.
Just as important as setting reasonable goals is having
a comfortable pair of shoes. And if you have a wrist watch,
you can set time and distance goals. See if you can make it
around your usual walk route a little bit faster each week – or
increase the distance slightly but try to get home within the
same time.
“People should know that they don’t need to buy or
use the higher tech equipment to get the benefits of exercise,”
says Jennifer Rasmussen, MPH, CHES, SCAN Health
Education Specialist. “For instance stretch bands are an
inexpensive, no-tech way to do strength work without a
gym.”
Many community and senior centers have fitness clubs
on-site, walking groups and exercise classes. In fact, SCAN
has donated Wii units to several senior centers, who have
gone on to form Wii bowling leagues. Check around and you
may just find one with a Wii sports group that needs you on
their team.
To learn more go to www.scanhealthplan.com/pedometer
and www.scanhealthplan.com/walk
Technology at SCAN
Our mission is to help seniors remain healthy and
independent. That is why SCAN has partnered with Intel
Corporation to test the company's new Intel ® Health
Guide. The Intel Health Guide is a small computer that is
used to help people manage chronic health conditions at
home. It connects to other medical devices such as bloodpressure
monitors, and allows those test results to be
shared with health professionals over the Internet.
"The Health Guide is a step forward in offering
more personalized and effective management of chronic
health conditions in the home," said Louis Burns, vice
president and general manager of the Intel Digital Health
Group.
SCAN is proud to be leading the industry in the use
of this brand new technology. The Health Guide is
designed to be used by health care professionals to
manage their patients at home and is not currently
available for general consumer purchase. Thank you to our
members who are participating in this pilot program.
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Providing assistance and information for
our valued members.
Need Assistance? SCAN is Here to Help.
Member Services—Call Member Services for answers to
questions about your SCAN coverage, eligibility for
services, copayments, and more. Member Services is
available 7 days per week, 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.
1-800-559-3500 TTY Users: 1-800-735-2929
SCAN OnCall ® —Talk to a registered nurse any time of
day, 7 days a week. Call SCAN OnCall ® when you
have health-related questions, for instance about a
medical condition, a medical test, or a medication and
its side effects. 1-800-793-1717
Transportation—SCAN offers a transportation benefit for all
our members. Call this number 24 hours in advance to
arrange a ride to and/or from your doctor appointments or
your pharmacy. We’ll take care of the rest.
Schedule a ride: 1-866-779-0560
Status of ride: 1-866-779-0561
TTY Users—7 A.M. to 8 P.M., 7 days per week
1-800-735-2929
Website—Our website is for members as well as their family
and friends. www.scanhealthplan.com
Open Enrollment Not
Confusing for SCAN Members
You’re probably seeing some advertisements now that claim
Medicare Open Enrollment is “confusing.” We disagree. After
all, if you are happy with your SCAN health plan, you don’t
have to do a thing.
So what is this March 31 deadline that’s approaching?
This only applies to people who want to switch from one
Medicare Part D health plan to another. So if you know someone
who would like to switch to SCAN, they can do so before March
31, 2009. Think about it: you probably do know someone who
would appreciate the low-cost coverage and commitment to
service that SCAN provides our members. If so, do them a favor
and tell them about SCAN – or give them this newsletter and
suggest they call (by March 31, of course!).
After March 31, everyone is “locked in” to their chosen
coverage for the remainder of 2009 (although exceptions may
apply – moving out of area, for example).
Remember, if you’ve been a SCAN member since 2007
or earlier, you still have Independent Living Power benefits. If you
disenroll, these benefits will not be available to you again if you
decide to re-enroll later.
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Thank you for putting your trust in SCAN. We are looking
forward to hearing from you.
Please call SCAN Member Services if you have any
questions – the number is on the back page of this and every
issue of SCAN Club, as well as on your SCAN ID card.
PODEMOS AYUDARLE EN SU IDIOMA
Si usted necesita ayuda para entender esta información en su idioma, por favor llame a SCAN ® al 1-800-559-3500.
Cuando utilice los servicios para el cuidado de la salud, usted tiene el derecho a un intérprete sin costo alguno. Pida un
intérprete si el doctor o el personal no hablan su idioma.
3800 Kilroy Airport Way
Suite 100, P.O. Box 22616
Long Beach, CA 90806-5616
www.scanhealthplan.com
N O N P R O F I T
O R G A N I Z A T I O N
U . S . P O S T A G E
P A I D
S A N TA A N A , C A
P E R M I T N O . 6 1
SCAN has a contract with the Federal
Government. SCAN is a Medicare
Advantage prescription Drug Plan
(MAPD) offered by SCAN Health Plan,
which is a Special Needs Plan and an
HMO with Medicare Advantage
contracts. SCAN also contracts with
the Department of Health Care
Services (DHCS) for Medicare/Medi-
Cal eligible beneficiaries and for those
who meet specific eligibility
requirements. Please see the Plan
Evidence of Coverage for details.
Limitations and Exclusions may apply.
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