INSIDE - SCAN Health Plan

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
6
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.