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The holidays are in full swing and your to-do list is probably a mile long, but if you have about five minutes, you can accomplish a lot at healthpartners.com. HealthPartners online tools are the fastest, easiest ways to manage your health and your health care. Take five and see what you can do:
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Find a care provider. The provider search tool lets you look for doctors, specialists, clinics, hospitals and even dentists in your area. To use this tool, log on to healthpartners.com, click on the "Medical Plan Services" tab. Then, choose a search option under "Search My Networks." You can also find providers from anywhere in the country with our GPS enabled mobile-friendly site. Try it today at m.healthpartners.com. |
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See if your medications are covered. HealthPartners online pharmacy offers many useful tools. You can check to be sure your prescriptions are covered, compare copays and costs with our Drug Calculator, find generic drugs and get information about pill-splitting to cut costs. Log on to healthpartners.com and choose the tool you want to use in the pharmacy section located in the bottom left-hand corner of the page. |
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Save money for being healthy. Whether you save money on a weight loss program, biking equipment or your child's karate class, your HealthPartners Member ID card can save you money for being healthy. Find a full list of Healthy Discount retailers by logging on to your healthpartners.com account and clicking on the "Health & Wellness" tab. |
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Check your stress. The Health Information Library has tools to calculate your target heart rate, calories burned or even your stress level. There are also tools to check symptoms or drug interactions, plus decision support tools to help you become an informed patient. And, you can search the library for information about more than 8,000 health-related topics. Go to healthpartners.com/healthlibrary to learn more. |
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Be a smarter health care shopper. Use our tools to compare provider costs and quality, estimate medical costs, or compare the costs and benefits of our health plans. You'll also find tips for reducing your health care costs. Log on to healthpartners.com and find the cost and quality information you need under the "Medical Plan Services" tab. |
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Holiday eating survival guide:
'Tis the season to beat the bulge!
It's the most wonderful time of the year — a marathon of parties and family gatherings that can pack on up to five extra pounds each year. "However," says dietitian Sina Teskey, RD, LD, "it isn't true that you can't enjoy the holidays without gaining weight." Here are Teskey's tips for healthy holiday eating that won't leave you feeling all "bah humbug."
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Stick to your game plan. The holidays are no excuse to ditch your healthy eating and exercise routines. Between celebrations, balance high-calorie holiday food with healthy low-calorie meals and some extra activity. Don't skip meals before parties. If you're really hungry, you're more likely to overeat or make poor choices. Need help? Check out HealthPartners Healthy discounts (a five-minute online tool) for health and wellness retailers who offer discounts when you show your HealthPartners Member ID card. |
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Remember less is more. It's okay to enjoy your favorite holiday foods if you have small portions. At parties, have one plate of your favorites instead of nibbling all night. |
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Be a food snob. Skip the dried-out fruitcake and the so-so stuffing. Instead, survey the buffet and choose small portions of the foods you really want most. |
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Step away from the buffet. Socialize out of sight of the party platters to avoid mindless grazing. If you're hosting, set up food and social activities in separate rooms. |
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Look out for liquid calories. Calories in alcoholic drinks can add up fast, especially with traditional holiday mixers, such as eggnog, cider or sugary punch. Limit yourself to one or two drinks, and then drink water to stay hydrated and control your appetite. |
| Finally, Teskey reminds us that the holidays offer pleasures other than food. "Enjoying the people, the atmosphere and the traditions as much, if not more, than the food can make your holidays truly special." |
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Red Wine Poached Pears
Impress your holiday guests with this simple, healthy and elegant dessert. |
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New federal guidelines do not affect your mammogram coverage
You may have heard about new guidelines for breast cancer screenings. Previously, some guidelines recommended that women begin having routine mammograms at age 40. However, after reviewing scientific evidence, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine screening every two years when women turn 50. They also recommend that women weigh the decision for earlier screenings with their physicians, recognizing that individual risks and benefits should be considered in making the mammography screening choice.
Regardless of your age, HealthPartners will continue to cover mammograms that are ordered by your doctor. Our goal is to provide the best care possible, so continue to have conversations with your doctor about what care is best for you. If you have questions about preventive care coverage, please log on to healthpartners.com to look up your benefits or call Member Services.
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