A Health Newsletter Serving the North Coast Schools Medical Insurance Group
Vol. 26, No. 8 | August 2018
In this Issue: Director’s Note | Immunization Awareness Month | Recipe: Shrimp de Gallo
Director’s Note
Stacy Lane, JPA Director
By now you should have received your new Medical plan ID card, if you chose to change your plan during Open Enrollment or during your special plan change period after the close of your unit’s bargaining. If you have not received your card, please go to your account at www.blueshieldca.com to print out a temporary card. If you changed plans and now have a new deductible, you will automatically receive credit for anything you had applied under your old plan, from January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018. For example, if you were on Oak and had met your $350 annual deductible, then moved to Spruce with a $500 deductible, you would only have to meet an additional $150 after July 1st. You wouldn’t have to meet a new $500 deductible. All deductibles restart annually on January 1st.
If you have dual coverage, either both through the JPA or with another plan, it is very important that you have your services billed in the proper order. Failure to do so can cause payment issues or denials, which can be difficult to unravel, or you may end up paying more than you should. You will always be primary for yourself and your plan through your spouse or partner will be secondary. For your spouse or partner, their plan will always be primary for them and secondary for you. The billing order for your dependent children will be based upon each policyholder’s birthdate. The employee with the birthdate closer to January 1st should be billed as primary.
If your plans are both with the JPA, you can call Blue Shield and ask them to “link” your accounts. Linking your social security number under each of your Blue Shield plans will allow your secondary insurance to automatically adjust once the primary claim has been processed. This speeds up payment to your provider and will make tracking bills much easier for you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 707-445-7126.
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccinations. Every year tens of thousands of adults needlessly suffer, are hospitalized, and even die as a result of diseases that could have been prevented by a vaccination. While most adults believe immunization is important, a recent national survey showed that most adults are not aware that they need vaccines throughout their lives to protect against diseases like shingles, pertussis, and hepatitis. While vaccinations are ultimately a personal choice, the following are vaccines are some you may want to consider:
Influenza “Flu” – Seasonal flu vaccine
Fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, headache, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, muscle or body aches, and fatigue (very tired), and some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
Disease Complications: Pneumonia (infection in the lungs), worsening of chronic health conditions, hospitalization, possibly resulting in disability, or even death
Hepatitis A – Hep A vaccine
Fever, tiredness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), and dark urine; however, there may be no symptoms.
Disease Complications: Liver failure; arthralgia (joint pain); and kidney, pancreatic, and blood disorders
Hepatitis B – Hep B vaccine
Flu-like illness with loss of appetite, fever, tiredness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and joint pain; however, there may be no symptoms.
Disease Complications: Chronic liver infection, liver failure, and liver cancer
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – HPV vaccine
Frequently, there are no symptoms for years until cancer appears.
Disease Complications: Cervical cancer in women, anal cancer, and genital warts in both women and men
Measles – MMR
Fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body.
Disease Complications: Ear infection, pneumonia, swelling in the brain due to infection, or even death
Meningococcal Disease – Meningococcal vaccine
Nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, fever, headache, increased sensitivity to light, confusion, tiredness, and rash.
Disease Complications: Brain damage, loss of arms or legs, loss of hearing, seizures, strokes, or even death
Pneumococcal Disease – Pneumococcal vaccine
Fever, chills, difficulty breathing, chest pain, stiff neck, earache, increased sensitivity to light, and cough.
Disease Complications: Infections of the lung, middle ear, or sinuses, heart problems, brain damage, loss of hearing, loss of arms or legs, or even death
Shingles – Zoster vaccine
Painful rash on one side of the face or body, which blisters and then typically scabs, headache, fever, chills, and upset stomach.
Disease Complications: Severe pain that can last for months or years after the rash goes away, pneumonia, loss of eyesight and hearing, or even death
Tetanus – Td/Tdap vaccine
Serious, painful spasms and stiffness of all muscles, lockjaw (difficulty opening mouth), difficulty swallowing or breathing, muscle spasms, and fever.
Disease Complications: Broken bones, breathing difficulty, or even death
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) – Tdap vaccine
Prolonged cold symptoms (cough and runny nose) leading to violent coughing or choking making it hard to breathe, drink, or eat.
Disease Complications: Rib fractures, pneumonia, or even death
For more helpful information on vaccines, including a breakdown of recommendations by age, please visit the CDC’s website at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vaccines-age.html
Recipe of the Month: Shrimpo de Gallo
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp. chili powder
- 1 lb. large shrimp, tails removed
- Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 lb. tomatoes, seeded and finely diced (about 3 cups)
- 1/2 c. finely chopped white onion
- 1/2 c. finely chopped cilantro
- 2 jalapeño peppers, seeds removed and finely diced
- 1 avocado, finely diced
- 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Season shrimp with salt and add to skillet along with garlic and chili powder. Season with salt. Cook, tossing occasionally, until shrimp are pink and just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shrimp to a cutting board to cool.
- Roughly chop shrimp into small pieces and scrape into a medium bowl. Add tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeños, lime juice, avocado, and season with salt.
- Mix until combined and serve with tortilla chips.
Servings: 8 Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 25 mins
Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a21271867/shrimpo-de-gallo-recipe/