Robert Wagner Insurance May 2024 Newsletter

Flash Alert for Blue Shield Members

It was announced on April 30th that Providence Health & Services (“Providence”) has rescinded its termination, and a new contract agreement has been tentatively reached with Blue Shield of California.

This means that St Joseph, St Jude, and Mission along with their respective medical groups will remain in network.

Rattlesnake Season:

Some tips to avoid getting bitten

In California, rattlesnakes bite about 800 people in a typical year; approximately two are fatal in a year. The threat usually begins in April and will decrease by September.

Safety tips from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Never go barefoot or wear sandals when walking through wild areas.
When hiking, stick to trails and wear boots and long pants. Avoid tall grass, weeds and heavy underbrush where snakes may hide during the day.
Do not step or put your hands where you cannot see, and avoid wandering around in the dark. Step on logs and rocks, never over them, and be especially careful when climbing rocks or gathering firewood. Check out stumps or logs before sitting down, and shake out sleeping bags before use.
Be careful when stepping over the doorstep as well. Snakes like to crawl along the edges of buildings, where they are protected on one side.
Never hike alone. Always have someone with you who can assist in an emergency.
Do not handle a freshly killed snake; it can still inject venom.
Teach children early to respect snakes and leave them alone. Children are naturally curious and will pick up snakes.

To read the full article that includes what to do and not do if bitten: <Rattlesnake>

Storm on Healthcare Horizon?

Major Changes Could Effect All

Here is a list of significant changes that will be impacting your healthcare.

Providence Health Care (St. Joseph, St Jude, Mission) is cancelling its contract with Blue Shield of California on June 1, 2024.
- This will effect individual, Medicare, and group members.
- It also will apply to the associated medical groups.
Biden Administration planned cuts to Medicare Advantage Plans will result in either $33 higher costs or reduced supplemental benefits.
According to Healthcare Financial Management Systems 19% of health systems have stopped accepting 1 or more Medicare Advantage plans last year.
- More than 60% said they had plans to or are considering dropping coverage this year.
Part D proposed changes going into effect in 2025 will result in higher costs.
According to a Raymond James analyst "President Biden's team is gambling that MA beneficiaries won't realize before the election the benefits Biden's team is causing them to lose come January 2025."

The hope is that Medicare Advantage PPO plans, because they are not dependent on a capitated network, will provide a gaven in the coming storm.

Heart Disease and Sleep Apnea

Our hearts are incredible. They literally keep us alive. They send blood around our body, they provide us with the oxygen and the nutrients we need to stay alive, and they carry away waste in the process.

We know this. But, most of us don’t realize just how easy it is to damage this special organ, and why we need to protect it at all costs

A Quick Intro: Heart Disease and Sleep Apnea

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, nearly 30 million American adults are kept from restful sleep by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic disease that involves the repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep (learn more about sleep apnea here). Research has found it is so significant that it is considered to be more prevalent than both asthma and adult diabetes and some public health advocates think it may be as big a public health hazard as smoking.

Left untreated, moderate and severe OSA can more than double your risk of dying from heart disease

How much of a risk factor is sleep apnea?

responsible for ~38,000 cardiovascular deaths per year
increases risk of heart failure by 140%
increases risk of stroke by 60%
increases risk of coronary heart disease by 30%

Since heart disease is the leading cause of adult deaths in developed countries, treating sleep apnea can help prevent it.

Preventing Heart Disease by Treating Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is dangerous, and associated health problems linked to the condition can sound scary. The good news? It is easy to treat.

If you think you may have sleep apnea, get checked for sleep apnea– and prevent or control further heart-related problems. Your heart will beat better! You will feel better! And you’ll live a longer, healthier and happier life!

The best and worst sleep positions for your health

It depends on your body, but the way you sleep at night can have a huge impact on your health. For example, sleeping on your back may keep your head, neck, and spine in a comfortable, neutral position, while sleeping on your left side can reduce acid reflux.

On the hunt for the best sleep position, we took a look at the options, and the pros and cons of each. Here’s what we found.

Side or Fetal Position

The most popular way to sleep is on your side, with your legs and torso straight, or in a fetal position, with your knees a bit more curved. In fact, it’s estimated that more than half of adults slumber this way. (We have to wonder if it’s because that’s how we slept as infants.)

Sleeping on one side may be a great position for people who snore, since it elongates your spine and helps keep your airways clear. Those with gastroesophageal reflux disease may benefit if they sleep on their left side, as it can reduce reflux.

The side position is especially helpful to pregnant people. Sleeping this way can encourage good blood flow throughout your body and to the growing fetus. It can also keep your uterus from putting pressure on the major blood vessel that returns blood back to your heart.

Stomach

You may find sleeping on your stomach will make your partner happy because you won’t snore as much, but other than that, there aren’t a lot of benefits to this position. It may put unnecessary pressure on your muscles and joints. It can also aggravate nerves in your back and neck, which can cause pain.

Back

According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleeping on your back is the best position for many people. For some, it allows the head, neck, and spine to rest in a neutral spot, minimizing the amount of pressure on those areas and potentially reducing pain.

However, if you have sleep apnea, a disorder where you experience pauses in breathing for at least 10 seconds, resting on your back may make breathing problems worse. This is because the extra body tissue around your neck can weigh down on your airway, making it harder for air to move through to your lungs. If you snore or have back pain, resting on your back may also give you some trouble. People who are pregnant should not sleep on their back either, as it is a risk factor for stillbirth.

So, What’s The Best Sleeping Position For You?

The truth is, for most people, the side sleeping position is the healthiest. But varying your form isn’t the worst thing in the world. In fact, it may help prevent you from developing problems due to prolonged pressure, like blood flow issues, sores, and pain. For example, when you snooze on your right side, your right shoulder may begin to hurt after awhile. And if you doze on your back, you may notice backaches over time.

Worried about how you're going to move positions as you sleep? Good news: Your body likely shifts positioning on its own through the night.

Bottom line? It’s best to find a sleep position that keeps your spine, neck, and shoulders in proper alignment. If you have pain each morning, you may want to reevaluate your sleep posture. <From www.sharecare>

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