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  • At-home Colon Cancer Screening Test Covered for 1199SEIU Patients

    At-home Colon Cancer Screening Test Covered for 1199SEIU Patients

    In an effort to raise the colon cancer screening rates of our members, the Benefit Funds now provide coverage for the Cologuard Collection Kit. As you know, early detection is key to successfully treating colon cancer, and our members have screening rates below the national average. Cologuard is an easy-to-use, at-home screening method that requires no special preparation, dietary restrictions or medication changes. We encourage you to discuss this new alternative with your 1199SEIU patients for whom it may be appropriate. We understand that Cologuard may not be the right option for all patients, including those at high risk of developing colon cancer. Please note that we require prior authorization before prescribing the Cologuard test. For more information about the Cologuard Collection Kit, please visit www.CologuardTest.com.

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  • Vernice Mitchell from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

    Vernice Mitchell from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

    Vernice Mitchell

    Attending one of our Wellness Department’s health workshops gave Vernice Mitchell the nudge she needed to start exercising again, eating healthier–and even meditating.

    Attending one of our Wellness Department’s health workshops gave Vernice Mitchell the nudge she needed to start exercising again, eating healthier—and even meditating.

    It was a warm Saturday morning last summer when Vernice Mitchell came to Fund Headquarters for a wellness workshop. Little did she know that it would mark the start of her journey to a new lifestyle—one that now includes eating a nutritious diet, walking regularly and practicing meditation every day. It would also be the start of her attending every one of our Wellness Department’s quarterly workshops.

    “My mother is also an 1199SEIU member and she asked me to join her at the event, so we went together,” said Vernice, who is a Cardiac Technologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and an 1199SEIU member for some 20 years. “I remember thinking that it couldn’t hurt since I had been having trouble catching my breath at times and I wasn’t doing the things I love anymore, like dancing.”

    I’ve lost several inches, so my clothes fit better, but that’s just the beginning. I also have more energy, I sleep soundly at night and I have less stress in my life. I never imagined all this was possible—and I couldn’t be happier!

    Vernice Mitchell

    Cardiac Technologist

    NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

    In fact, the workshop was a turning point for Vernice. A Wellness Department nutritionist told her that if she kept eating unhealthy foods, and not exercising, she was at risk for a host of serious health problems. But the nutritionist emphasized that there were a number of things Vernice could do to change course, starting with improving her diet. “I learned how to read food labels and what to watch out for, like high levels of sodium or added sugar,” Vernice said. “The workshop also taught me healthier ways to cook meals for myself and my two children.”

    For Vernice, perhaps the workshop’s most important lesson was the introduction to deep breathing and other relaxation techniques. She was pleasantly surprised by the relief and renewal she felt from just a few minutes of meditation, and since then, she’s made meditation, stretching and yoga key parts of her routine. Combined with a diet that includes more fresh fruits and vegetables, her new, healthier lifestyle has changed everything.

    For Your Benefit Magazine

  • Students Reach Academic Goals with Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program

    Students Reach Academic Goals with Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program

    The continual rise of college tuition costs presents challenges for many students looking to affordably continue their education after high school. The Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program (JTS) offers scholarships to children of eligible 1199SEIU members to support undergraduate study at accredited universities. The award—which can help pay for tuition, books and personal expenses—is renewable up to the age of 23. See how a few recent graduates have put the program into action below, and learn more about the Joseph Tauber Scholarship Program.

    [et_pb_team_member admin_label=”Andre Cheng” name=”Andre Cheng” image_url=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Andre-Cheng-Graduation-Icon.jpg” animation=”off” background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”text-align:center; max-width: 400px; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; background-color:#f7f7f7; box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px 0px rgba(193,193,193,0.75); -webkit-box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px 0px rgba(193,193,193,0.75);-moz-box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px 0px rgba(193,193,193,0.75);}” custom_css_member_image=”border-radius:4px;” custom_css_member_description=”line-height:1.2em;” module_class=”funds-bio-person”]

    Degrees received: Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University

    Andre used his scholarship to pursue his undergraduate degree at Columbia University, and continued on as a medical student. In 2018 he received an MD from the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Andre believes the need-based awards he received during his undergraduate work were essential in funding his college education.
     
    [/et_pb_team_member]
    [et_pb_team_member admin_label=”Katelynne Bazile ” name=”Katelynne Bazile ” image_url=”/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Katelynne-Bazile-Graduation-Icon.jpg” animation=”off” background_layout=”light” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_css_main_element=”text-align:center; max-width: 400px; border: 1px solid #e1e1e1; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; background-color:#f7f7f7; box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px 0px rgba(193,193,193,0.75); -webkit-box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px 0px rgba(193,193,193,0.75);-moz-box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px 0px rgba(193,193,193,0.75);}” custom_css_member_image=”border-radius:4px;” custom_css_member_description=”line-height:1.2em;” module_class=”funds-bio-person”]

    Degree received: Bachelor of Arts from Newbury College

    Katelynne graduated from Newbury College Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology. She was the 2017 recipient of the President’s Award for academic excellence, and was selected to be the student speaker at graduation. Outside of the classroom, Bazile has served as an Executive Admissions Ambassador, Resident Assistant, Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor. She used her JTS award for all four years of her undergraduate degree. [/et_pb_team_member]
  • Maria Rodriguez: Member Profile

    Maria Rodriguez: Member Profile

    Maria Rodriguez

    With the help of her coverage, Maria Rodriguez received the care she needed and took control of her health.

    Hypertension has been a part of Maria Rodriguez’s life for as long as she can remember. The condition runs in her family, with one of her seven siblings suffering a heart attack and another needing two open-heart surgeries. But when Maria’s 55-year-old brother, Raymond, died after a cardiac arrest in 2013, Maria, a Secretary II at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, knew it was time to have her heart checked. On a co-worker’s recommendation, Maria made an appointment with a doctor, and after a physical exam and an EKG test, the doctor told her that the results were concerning. Two days later, Maria suffered a heart attack.

    “I’ll never forget the day it happened,” Maria said. She and her husband, Luis, were in bed when she suddenly felt a burning sensation in her chest. Before her checkup, she would have written the pain off as indigestion, but she knew that it could be something more serious. “Going to the doctor when I did saved my life,” Maria said. Her left artery was 99 percent blocked, and she had to have a stent inserted.

    The benefits I receive as an 1199SEIU member are amazing. They allowed me to find a doctor who really cared about me and is committed to helping me live a healthier life.

    Maria Rodriguez

    Secretary II

    Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx

    Since her heart attack, Maria has worked with her doctor to make lifestyle changes to improve her heart health, like altering her eating habits to include more vitamin-rich vegetables to control her blood pressure. Maria has also started walking during her lunch break three times a week, a low-impact exercise that is easy for her to fit into her busy schedule.

    “The benefits I receive as an 1199SEIU member are amazing,” Maria said. “They allowed me to find a doctor who really cared about me and is committed to helping me live a healthier life.” Now, she is feeling better and looking forward to seeing her daughter, Diamond, graduate from college: “I’m so grateful for the second chance my benefits have given me.”

    For Your Benefit Magazine

  • ChoosingWisely.org

    ChoosingWisely.org

    When it comes to medical tests and treatments, more is not always better. Although a number of them are commonly prescribed, many are frequently overused and unnecessary. That’s why your 1199SEIU Benefit Funds would like to connect you with ChoosingWisely.org — an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation — to assist you in making sound healthcare decisions for yourself and your family, as well as help stretch valuable benefit dollars.

    Being informed — knowing how, where and when to access medical care — can help you protect your health, avoid hassles and recover from illness faster. Helpful resources include lists of tests and procedures that may be overused, questions to ask your physician, and brochures and videos that explain appropriate care recommended by medical specialty societies.

    Visit ChoosingWisely.org

    Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice. The contents of this website, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
  • Episode One: Meet Your Pension Counselor

    Episode One: Meet Your Pension Counselor

  • Episode Two: How Do I Earn My Pension Benefit?

    Episode Two: How Do I Earn My Pension Benefit?

  • Episode Three: How Much Will My Pension Be?

    Episode Three: How Much Will My Pension Be?

  • Episode Four: How Do I Apply for My Pension Benefit?

    Episode Four: How Do I Apply for My Pension Benefit?

  • Episode Five: What Are My Pension Options?

    Episode Five: What Are My Pension Options?