Carpenters' Benefit Plans

From our behavioral health counselors at Carpenters Wellness Center A different take on the holidays For anyone dealing with an illness, grief or the loss of a loved one, the holidays can be a time of sadness, pain, anger or dread. It can be difficult to cope, especially when you see the sights and sounds of holiday happiness all around you.... https://www.verywellhealth.com/getting-through-the-holidays

2020 has been a busy year - please don't forget to let our office know if your contact information has changed. No matter the reason for the change in information, it's important to keep us in the loop so we can reach you with important benefit information. So, what's changed? Address? Let us know if you have temporarily or permanently changed your physical residence.... Email? Maybe your email inbox was full of junk mail and you started a new account or maybe you updated your internet service provider and now have an updated email address. Regardless of the change, please make sure we have the email address you will be most likely to check! Phone? Service providers come and go, but we can't reach you if your phone number is no longer in service. We only call you if we need to reach you with important information about your benefits. Contact our office toll free at 877.232.3863, option 1, or by email at [email protected]. (When emailing our office, for the safety of your information, never include protected health information.)

As cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to increase across the United States, the safest way to celebrate the winter holidays is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu. Celebrating virtually or with members of your own household (who are consistently taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19) poses the lowest risk for spr...ead. Take measures to keep yourself - and your loved ones - healthy and safe this holiday season. https://www.cdc.gov//2019-/daily-life-coping/holidays.html

#youarenotalone

Cigna One Guide Helping you through transition Your health plan and Cigna are all-hands-on-deck to help your transition from Aetna to Cigna run as smoothly as possible on January 1. Please understand that there will likely be some learning curve along the way but know there are excellent resources available to you to help you on this journey. ... Currently our number one priority is to answer any questions you may have about this transition. The best resource to help you is Cigna's customer service program called One Guide. One Guide will be extremely valuable in guiding you through this transition. Cigna's One Guide informational packet was mailed to all covered participants during the week of Thanksgiving. Cigna's One Guide representatives are available 24-7 to help you: Understand your new coverage and the new options and programs available to you Determine if your current healthcare provider is in the network Find in-network providers and facilities to save you money Answer any other questions you may have about the transition to Cigna Call Cigna’s OneGuide Pre-Enrollment line at 1.888.806.5042 with any pre-transition questions. If you did not receive your One Guide mailing and are covered under the health plan, please visit our website for a copy of this mailing and for more information. Use this page as a resource as we move through this transition. https://www.carpdc.org/cigna

Wellness Wednesday from the chiropractors at Carpenters Wellness Center Repetitive bending and prolonged sitting are two of the biggest risk factors that contribute to low back pain in most people. ... There are a lot of helpful strategies to reduce the damage caused by prolonged sitting and repetitive bending. Taking a quick break every 20 to 30 minutes and doing appropriate stretching and walking can significantly increase your chances of improving back pain caused from these activities. If you are someone who bends a lot at work or sits for prolonged period of time, consider taking a micro break and going for a short walk or stretching out your back for a few seconds throughout the day. For personalized exercise and stretching instruction, contact the wellness center, schedule an appointment with one of our chiropractor team members and we can help you get on track to feeling better! Carpenters Wellness Center 314.955.WELL (9355)

People with diabetes can have an eye disease called diabetic retinopathy. This is when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can swell and leak. Or they can close, stopping blood from passing through. Sometimes abnormal new blood vessels grow on the retina. All of these changes can steal your vision. If you're diabetic please schedule your no cost comprehensive eye examination today at the Carpenters Wellness Center! Call Car...penters Vision Center at 314.955.2182 Carpenters Vision Center too far? Contact your local VSP provider to get the vision care you need. https://www.vsp.com/eye-doctor

Getting back to scheduling those necessary procedures that may have been delayed due to covid? Use Healthcare Bluebook to save hundreds to thousands of dollars on your next medical procedure and enjoy the extra jingle in your pocket all year long! http://healthcarebluebook.com/cc/CARPDC

Need glasses? Now through February 28, 2021, eligible VSP Vision Care members get an extra $40 to spend on featured frame brands bebe, CALVIN KLEIN, CALVIN KLEIN JEANS, Dragon, and Flexon. No extra paperwork or hassle, just big savings everyone will love. Share the news with your employees today!... Get the coupon here: http://www.carpdc.org:82//Extra_40_Flyer_October_2020.sflb

Total body health. It's the final health challenge of 2020 - and yes we know 2020 has been a doozy - but it's likely time to give yourself some love. Carpenters Wellness Program is giving you another chance to win and in doing so, we're giving you some extra love and support. It takes just one step to start any journey. Health is hard. One step is not. Find out more on how to participate in Carpenters Wellness Program's final challenge in 2020 for a chance to win on carpdc.

A message on carpdc from Al Bond, EST. Did you know how you spend your healthcare dollars impacts more than just your out-of-pocket expenses? Not only will you pay more to visit an out-of-network physician or facility, but so will the health plan. Mindful spending will go a long way to keep more money on your paycheck.

Visit carpdc for a message from Al Bond, EST, regarding your annuity benefits. https://www.carpdc.org//first-annuity-statements-are-in-th Annuity statements are being mailed today to participants who received an Annuity contribution on their behalf to St. Louis - Kansas City Carpenters Regional Annuity Fund in the 2020 Plan Year (May 1, 2019 - April 30, 2020).... Should you have any questions about your statement, please contact Carpenters Retirement Services at 314.644.4802, option 2.

There's still time to sign up for St. Louis and Kansas City Health Clinics! More information... St. Louis Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic Saturday, November 7 8a - 12p... Kansas City Health Screening and Flu Shot Clinic Saturday, November 14 8a - 11a Call Carpenters Wellness Center during Wellness Center hours to sign up for both the St. Louis and Kansas City Fall Health Events during Wellness Center hours: Monday - Friday, 8a - 2p; Saturday, 8a-2p. Call 314.955.WELL (9355) Kansas City Mammogram Van Friday, November 20 appointments begin at 7:30 am Call Diagnostic Imaging Center-KC at 816.444.9989 or 913.344.9989 to schedule Find out more: https://www.carpdc.org/healthclinics Please note: You must have coverage under Carpenters Health Plan to participate in the fall flu shots and health screenings.

Wellness Wednesday Let's talk about the Elephant in the Room: Mental Health & Substance Abuse... The "Elephant in the Room" is the topic that is so prevalent everyone knows about it, sees it, but yet remains the topic no one will talk about. Call it the fear of the unknown, the fear of how the elephant will respond to being brought into the conversation. Keeping quiet about alcohol and substance abuse is no longer an option. Keeping quiet doesn't solve the problem. Together, we can bring awareness and help ourselves, our friends and our families. It's time to work awareness into your jobsite, your workplace, your home. Know the signs and speak up if you see someone you know hurting. Carpenters has resources to help you and your families. Call Carpenters Wellness Center at 314.955.9355 to schedule a consultation with a behavioral health counselor. or reach out to Carpenters Member Assistance Program counselors to schedule an appointment at 314.729.4600, #2. Not covered under the health plan? Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Your health matters to us.

Carpenters Wellness Center Update Appointment arrival instructions All patients who utilize Carpenters Wellness Center who arrive at the Wellness Center for their appointments MUST call the Wellness Center at 314.955.9355 and SELECT OPTION 5 to let the Wellness Center staff know you have arrived for your appointment. Someone will confirm with you that you have no COVID or flu-like symptoms then meet you at the door to take your temperature.... Calling the Wellness Center If you call the Wellness Center and press 5 when you do not have an appointment, you will be put back into the hunt group and will likely experience longer wait times. Please do not press 5 unless you are physically at the Wellness Center for your appointment. Questions? Please call Carpenters Wellness Center at 314.955.9355.

Carpenters' 2nd Annual Smokeout Challenge will begin next week with a guaranteed opportunity to win! Find out more on our website!

If you've put off your regular, annual healthcare visits due to COVID-19, consider why these annual visits are especially important now more than ever. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ladies who are 40-44 should begin annual mammograms. Ladies 45-54 should receive mammograms yearly, while after age 55 mammograms are recommended every other year.... Screening is just one piece of the puzzle. Read more on ways to help prevent breast cancer from Siteman Cancer Center.

Attention Participants in Carpenters' Pension Trust Fund of St. Louis: Annual pension statements are being mailed to all members who are active in Pension Plan of Carpenters' Pension Trust Fund of St. Louis today. Members who are considered "active" have have less than two consecutive Plan Years during which fewer than 400 hours are worked and reported in each year. Should you have any questions about your pension statement, please contact Carpenters' Pension Office at 314.644.4802, option 2.

Wellness Wednesday comes from Carpenters Wellness Center Chiropractors The chiropractors at the Wellness Center are asked all the time if popping your own neck and back is safe to do Well there is a long answer to that short question! If someone is doing healthy stretches, usually stretches designed by a chiropractor or a PT for your particular condition and goals, and a pop is heard, that is healthy! That is a sign of healthy mobility and it is the body’s natural response ...to relieving tension in the joints. If you are doing the popping by having someone walk on your back or twisting your neck or low back to make it pop, that is not healthy or safe because more than likely you are not using the correct line of correction to that joint to make it pop and ultimately causing hypermobile joints which are joints that move too much. We would love to work with you in the Wellness Center to address your aches and pains and to assist you in creating a healthy stretching routine that will help increase your mobility and decrease your pain. Call the Wellness Center at 314.955.WELL (9355) to schedule a consultation with a wellness center chiropractor.

Attention Kansas City ladies! Diagnostic Imaging Center Kansas City's mobile coach will be at the Kansas City Carpenters Training Center on Friday, 11/20. Call 816.444.9989 to schedule on the mobile coach.... COVID-19 precautions include: 1. Masks required. 2. One patient onboard the mobile coach at a time. 3. Surfaces inside the coach will be wiped down after every patient with EPA-approved COVID-19 disinfectants. 4. Appointments are required. Walk-ins will not be permitted.