FOR YOUR HEALTH
Health Care Tips
Use Preventive Services
Routine preventive care exams can prevent disease and detect disease early. Obtaining regular preventive care exams and screenings is key to achieving and maintaining good health. In accordance with preventive care guidelines established by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and other health organizations, the following routine screenings* are recommended for adults over age 18:
| Blood pressure |
Regular screening |
| Cardiovascular disease |
Regular screening beginning at age 45 for men and age 55 for women |
| Cervical cancer screening (Pap Smear) |
Every two years beginning at age 21 |
| Cholesterol (Lipid) test |
Every 5 years, beginning at age 35 for men and age 45 for women |
| Colorectal screening |
Routine screening beginning at age 50 |
| Dental screening |
Periodically to assess dental condition and detect medically-related dental problems |
| Diabetes screening |
Regular screening of adults for type 2 diabetes in asymptomatic adults with sustained blood pressure greater than 135/80 |
| Mammography |
Screening for adult women of standard risk every one to two years beginning at age 40 |
| Osteoporosis screening |
Routine screening for women age 65 and older |
| Prostate screening |
Men age 40 and older should consult with their doctor regarding screening benefits/risks |
| Vision screening |
At frequency recommended by physician based on risk factors to assess vision |
*This is not a complete list. Additional information on recommended preventive health screenings as well as other tips to help you and your family stay healthy, can be found at www.healthfinder.gov. Please talk with your doctor about the health screenings that are right for you, based on your age, gender, individual health risks, and your family history, and follow the advice of your doctor.
To illustrate the University’s concern about your and your family’s health and welfare, the University’s health, dental and vision benefits plans include coverage for preventive care services. We encourage you to take advantage of these important benefits now to hopefully avoid major illnesses and costs in the future. Check your current health plan document on this website for the covered preventive care services.
Use In-Network Providers
Make sure that your doctor, dentist, pharmacy or the medical facility you visit is an in-network provider. In-network providers have rate agreements with the insurance vendors for services rendered. If you use an in-network provider, our plans will pay a greater share of the total costs. If you use an out-of-network provider and you’re enrolled in an Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) PPO plan or the United HealthCare (UHC) Choice Plus POS plan or High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), your health plan will pay a smaller share of the total costs, and you’ll be responsible for charges above the network rate agreements. If you use an out-of-network provider and you’re enrolled in the UHC Choice HMO plan, you’ll be responsible for the total charges unless it is an emergency and you’ve contacted UHC within 48 hours of receiving emergency care from an out-of-network provider. If you use an out-of-network dental provider, the Essex Dental Plan will pay a smaller share of the total costs, and you’ll be responsible for charges that exceed Essex Dental’s fee schedule amounts.
To locate in-network providers, do a provider search on the applicable insurance vendor website:
Urgent Care Centers vs. Hospital Emergency Rooms
You can save both time and money by visiting an urgent care center rather than going to a hospital emergency room for non-emergency medical conditions like the flu, sore throat, ear or sinus infections, minor cuts, sprains, strains, and minor broken bones. Hospital emergency rooms should be utilized only in cases of severe or life-threatening illnesses or injuries such as severe head injury, chest pain, major burns or broken bones, breathing difficulty, excessive bleeding or extreme pain that arises suddenly. The medical staff at urgent care centers can treat injuries or illnesses that require immediate care but are not serious enough to be considered life-threatening. Visits to hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency situations can result in very lengthy waits for service and in greater out-of-pocket expense, compared to urgent care center visits. Under the United HealthCare HMO and POS plans, the co-pay for a visit to a participating urgent care center is just $35, compared to the $100 emergency room visit co-pay. While the co-insurance rate under the UHC HDHP plan and BCBS PPO plans is the same for urgent care center and hospital emergency room visits (20% in-network/40% out-of-network, after the applicable plan deductible has been satisfied), the charge on which that co-insurance rate is based will be much lower at an urgent care center than a hospital emergency room.
Convenience Care Clinics
These clinics, often located in malls or retail drug stores, are staffed with nurse practitioners and physician assistants who can diagnose and provide immediate limited treatment for minor illnesses such as colds, seasonal allergies, bronchitis, ear or sinus infections, minor cuts and skin rashes. No appointments are necessary at these convenient walk-in clinics, which are frequently open 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends. Under the UHC HMO and POS plans, the co-pay for a visit to a participating walk-in health care clinic is $20. Under the UHC HDHP and BCBS PPO plans, such visits are subject to the applicable plan deductible and co-insurance rates (20% in-network/40% out-of-network).
Resources/Tools You Can Use
Your Health Snapshot is a personal and private health risk assessment tool developed for use by members of the Washington University community. This easy-to-use interactive tool can help you assess and improve your health. By answering questions about your medical history, eating habits, exercise and other behaviors, you can learn about the potential risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis, and receive personalized tips on ways to lower these health risks. Log on to www.yourhealthsnapshot.wustl.edu (general ID: wustl; general password: health)
BJC My Health Folders, developed by BJC HealthCare, provides a convenient means for organizing and storing medical and health-related information for you and your family members. Through this tool, you can maintain a secure on-line record of your family’s health care providers, insurance plans, and medical history (including allergies, medications, immunizations, surgeries, etc.), which can be accessed 24 hours a day world-wide via the Internet in the event of a medical emergency. www.myHealthFolders.com (enrollment code: W29658)
WUSTL’s Healthy Living (healthyliving.wustl.edu) and Wellness Connection (wellnessconnection.wustl.edu) websites provide an information resource for members of the Washington University community in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. These websites contain links to various wellness resources and Washington University programs on smoking cessation, nutrition, weight management and fitness.
WUSTL’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), managed by PeopleResources, provides confidential, professional assistance to benefits-eligible employees and their family members to help resolve problems that are affecting their personal life or job performance. Employees can contact PeopleResources 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-765-9124 or online at www.worklifetools.com to arrange a confidential appointment with an EAP specialist. EAP specialists have professional training and expertise in a wide range of issues such as marriage and family problems, alcohol and drug abuse, emotional and psychological concerns, financial difficulties, stress and much more.
From your Health Insurance and Prescription Drug Carriers:
United HealthCare (UHC) Participants
If you are enrolled in one of the United HealthCare plans, register on www.myuhc.com to find a doctor or hospital and to access information on your own health benefits and claims, as well as a wealth of general health information. Under the Health & Wellness menu option you can:
- Review general health information for all stages of life, on nutrition, fitness and safety/prevention
- Set up and manage a personal health record for you and your family members
- Utilize health risk assessment tools such as a BMI calculator, heart attack calculator and symptom checker
- Access personalized information on recommended check-ups
- Obtain assistance for certain conditions, such as the Healthy Pregnancy Program
- View a list of health discounts available to UHC participants
You can find preventive care guidelines specific to your age and gender by visiting www.uhcpreventivecare.com
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Participants
If you are enrolled in one of the Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, register under the Member section of www.anthem.com to find a doctor or hospital, to view your benefits, and to:
- Find answers through 360 Health Philosophy to questions you may have about a medical procedure
- Estimate your medical costs through Anthem Care Comparisonbefore you receive care
- Obtain a personal health assessment at MyHealth@Anthem and utilize other health assessment tools and calculators
- Access information through SpecialOffers@Anthem regarding discounts on health clubs and a variety of health-related products
- Enroll in cardiac, diabetes, kidney, pulmonary or maternity care programs
Medco Prescription Drug Plan Participants
If you are enrolled in any of our health plans, you are automatically covered under the Medco Prescription Drug Plan. Register on www.medco.com to find a participating retail pharmacy, to price a medication, and to:
- Find information on a variety of diseases and conditions
- View detailed information on medications via the Medication Resource Center
- Use the interactive Health Tool Box to help you assess, track and plan your medications and health activities, to communicate with your doctor, and to manage health conditions such as arthritis, asthma, osteoporosis and cardiovascular health
- Access information through Medco Health Store regarding discounts and special offers on over-the-counter medications, diet, nutrition and personal care products.