It's been a few months since two major health care reform bills have been signed into law. The laws are still very new and there are many questions that still need to be answered.

You probably have questions about how the legislation will impact you and your family. Here’s an update on what we know right now:

	What changes will I see soon?
	All health plans will be impacted in some way by health care reform. There are several changes that will happen in 2010 and 2011. Many of these changes happen the first time your health plan is renewed after September 23, 2010. If you’re not sure when your health plan is renewed, check the upper right-hand corner of your HealthPartners Member ID card where it says “Renewal Mo.” Generally, most plans will have the following changes on the first renewal date after September 23, 2010 (different rules may apply if your plan is grandfathered): Dependents can be covered up to age 26. Currently, this varies depending on what type of plan you’re on and the state you live in. There will be no limit on the amount of health care coverage you can get per year on most benefits and no limit on the amount of health care coverage you can get in your lifetime on most benefits. Preventive care will be covered at 100 percent, meaning you won’t have to pay anything out of your pocket.
	What are other key changes I will see in the future?
	Many of the changes that will happen in 2014 are focused on helping more people get health care coverage. Some of the major changes include: A requirement for everyone to have coverage. The government will give people with low incomes a subsidy to help them pay for coverage. If you go without health care coverage, you will have to pay a tax penalty. Creation of “state insurance exchanges” to help people find a health plan. These exchanges will be websites that show the state’s health plan options side-by-side. This will make it easier for you, as a consumer, to find and compare health plan options.
	How can I get more information?
	Watch for more information in our Frequently Asked Questions on healthpartners.com/reform.

This summary is provided for your information and is subject to further clarification and correction. Many provisions may be subject to change and/or further guidance from regulators. This summary is not intended as legal advice and you should consult with your own tax and benefit plan advisors regarding your particular situation.

Secrets for living a long and healthy life

Blue Zone tips from HealthPartners Annual Meeting Speaker Dan Buettner

According to explorer, author and educator Dan Buettner, the capacity of the human body is about 90 years. If that’s true, why do so many Americans fall short of that age? According to Dan, the answer lies in the choices we make every day.

After five years of researching Blue Zones, or places where people often live to be 100, Dan and his team found that the key to longevity was in nine healthy habits. Although many of these habits aren’t part of the average American’s daily life, if you change your habits and adopt just a few, you could see your life expectancy go up by five years! Here are some of Dan’s tips:

America’s reality: The average American burns fewer than 100 calories a day with “exercise”
Live longer by: Building physical activity into your daily life – Although regular exercise is great, Dan found that the people who live the longest are those who make physical activity a part of their lives. They garden, walk and are consistently active. You can start by making your home less convenient – get rid of your garage door opener, power tools and TV remote and do the work yourself.

America’s reality: The average American eats out at least 100 times per year
Live longer by: Rethinking the way you eat – For many Americans, meat is the main feature of every meal. For people who live to be 100, fruits and vegetables are the focus. Build your meals around tofu and beans instead of meat. Start by cutting meat out of one meal a week. Also, instead of eating family style, pre-plate your meal and put the rest away before you sit down.  

America’s reality: The average American has only 1.5 good friends
Live longer by: Building your social network – Dan found that the people he interviewed had at least five or six really close friends. People with strong social ties live four to six years longer than people who are alone. It’s also important to think about who you connect with. Dan says that if your three best friends are overweight or obese, there is a 155 percent chance that you’ll be overweight or obese yourself. Behavior is contagious, so by surrounding yourself with people who are healthy, happy and active, you probably will be too.

If you’d like to read the rest of Dan’s tips or hear more about his journey, check out his book – Blue Zones – Lessons for Living Longer From People Who Have Lived the Longest.

Why should I switch from my prescription to an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine?

Did you know that until the 1980s you couldn’t get Benadryl or Ibuprofen without a prescription? Today, you can buy over 700 medicines “over-the-counter” (OTC) that once required a prescription. In fact, you may still be taking a prescription that you can buy OTC! Recently, medicines for allergies, acid-reflux and heartburn became available over-the-counter.

Here are a few reasons you may want to switch to an OTC medicine (we’ll use heartburn as an example):

1. You don’t need a prescription. If you wake up with heartburn in the middle of the night, you can get your medicine wherever and whenever you want. You don’t have to worry about having enough refills or the pharmacy being closed.
2. They are just as safe and effective. Prescription medicines become OTC medicines when the FDA proves that they are safe and effective enough to be used without doctor supervision. In almost all cases, the ingredients are the same, but the strength may be lower. Ninety-four percent of people with heartburn agree that OTC medicines work.
3. You can save money. By choosing an OTC medicine instead of a prescription, you and the economy save money! People who take OTC heartburn medicine put $174 back into their own pocket and save the U.S. health care system $757 million each year!

If you have questions about OTC medicines, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit healthpartners.com/healthlibrary to learn more about the medicines you are taking, see what your medicine should look like and check for drug interactions.

Statistics cited from Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) – OTC Facts and Figures

New to your smartphone: Your Member ID card

Have you ever rushed to the doctor’s office only to realize you don’t have your HealthPartners Member ID card? With HealthPartners new mobile application, you’ll have one less worry. If you have a smartphone, like the iPhone or Droid, you can now view your insurance card on your phone.

How it works
As soon as the card is mailed to you, simply go to healthpartners.com on your mobile device and click on “View Member ID Card.” This will pull up exact images of the front and back of your card. If your doctor needs a copy, the app will send the image directly to their fax machine. This mobile feature is available for both HealthPartners medical and dental insurance cards.

To check out the mobile Member ID card and to see what else you can get on your phone, go to healthpartners.com on your mobile device.