Category: Wellness

Lunch & Learn: Orthodontic Prevention: Oxymoron or Contemporary Paradigm?

February is Children’s Dental Health month! Please join our dynamic and entertaining speaker, Dr. Darin Ward of UPWard Orthodontics, on Tuesday, February 15 at 12:00pm in the MUB Ballrooom B1 as he discusses preventative orthodontics. Dr. Ward will explore why so many kids (and adults) today are told that they “need braces.” Dr. Ward will present his thoughts on the causes of crooked teeth and less than ideal jaw growth/facial growth and what you can do about it. It is a lot simpler than you think and unfortunately like most simple things, it’s hard to do! Whether you are an adult considering orthodontics or the parent of a child whose smiles needs attention, this presentation and discussion is a must attend.

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist.

Heart Health – Lunch & Learn

Join Dr. Zachariah DeYoung from Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center on Tuesday, February 8 at 12:00pm for a Lunch & Learn in the MUB Ballroom B1 as we celebrate Heart Health Month.

Because there’s a movement for primary care doctors to focus more on outcomes that mean something to the patient rather than abnormal numbers on tests, health care providers are now encouraged to focus more on helping their patients get health and stay that way than the previous focus on “throwing pills at labs.”

Join DeYoung for a conversation on:
-How this is playing out in the prevention of cardiovascular disease
-Why you might be able to stop taking that daily aspirin
-How there’s no such thing as routine labs anymore

Please email benefits@mtu.edu to reserve your seat today!

This Lunch & Learn counts toward Option 2 in your Husky Health Checklist

New Year/Healthier You: Ready – Set – Now What

Join Angela Luskin, group exercise instructor at Portage Health, on Tuesday, January 18th in the MUB Ballroom B1/B2 at 12:00pm as she helps us start the new year in a healthier way.  If you are fired up and ready to start the week/ month/New Year off with a new exercise program, but not quite sure where to start this Lunch and Learn is for you. She will help you set up an exercise program and come up with new ideas to improve your physical activity. This interactive presentation is just what you need to start off 2022 on the right track! We’ll talk about how to get started, healthy goals and also try out some exercise we can do at home.

This presentation counts towards option 2 for your Husky Health Checklist!

Reminder: Husky Health Checklists

Don’t forget to complete your Husky Health Checklists with the activities you completed between January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021.

Monday, January 10, 2022 is the last day to submit your Husky Health Checklist for the reporting period of January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021, to receive your Husky Health payout incentive in early 2022.

Check out the Husky Health website or follow us on Facebook at Michigan Tech Wellness for more information about Husky Health, Lunch and Learns, wellness tips and fitness programs that count toward the Husky Health incentive. To find out more about Husky Health and other wellness benefits, click here.

Questions? Contact the Benefits Office at benefits@mtu.edu or call 487-2517.

Lunch and Learn: Celebrating Women’s Health

Join us on Wednesday, November 3 at Noon in the MUB Ballroom (B3) as physical therapist Dr. Anne Cooke and licensed massage therapist, Kristi Kirkpatrick, celebrate women’s health.

Cook and Kirkpatrick will explore many aspects of women’s health including: mental health, self-care, physical health and nutrition. Learn how these all merge to make us our optimal selves at work and home.

This Lunch and Learn will count toward Option 2 on your Husky Health Checklist form for 2021!

Fall 2021 Flu Shot Clinics

U.P. Health System-Portage will offer walk-in flu vaccine clinics on campus this Fall. Employees, retirees, family members and students are welcome to attend one of the flu clinics. The flu vaccine can be billed to insurance, so be sure to have a valid copy of your insurance card with you when you arrive.

Flu shots are $40 for those who do not have insurance and are payable by cash, check or credit card. All flu shot clinics will practice 6 feet social distancing and you are required to wear a mask. If you don’t feel well, please stay home and plan to attend a future clinic.

Be sure to fill out the 2021 Influenza Vaccination Authorization Form before you arrive.

Flu Shot Clinic Schedule for Fall 2021
Date Location Time
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 Rozsa Lobby (Building 10) 11:00AM – 2:00PM
Tuesday, October 12, 2021 SDC Ice Arena Balcony (Building 24) 4:00PM – 6:00PM
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 Rozsa Lobby (Building 10) 11:00AM – 2:00PM
Thursday, October 28, 2021 Rozsa Lobby (Building 10) 4:00PM – 6:00PM

Lunch & Learn: Stress Less

Lunch & Learn: Stress Less
Join Employee Wellness and Don Grisham, Northstar Employee Assistance Program and Michigan Tech Alumnus to learn about:

  • Physical & mental symptoms of stress
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Healthy ways to deal with stress
  • Tools for your mental health toolbox
  • Q & A

This presentation will take place from 12-1pm. Tuesday, September 17, in the MUB Alumni Lounge.  Register here.

Feel free to bring your lunch; beverages will be provided.

This free event is open to faculty, staff, students and community members and is sponsored by Employee Wellness.

Attendance counts toward Husky Health Option 2.

Questions? Contact benefits@mtu.edu.

Lunch & Learn: Campus Bike Week Kickoff

 

 

 

Join Campus Bike Initiative as we talk about smart cycling, e-bikes, and riding in the snow.

  • How to be a smart bicyclist
    • Checking your bike and yourself
    • Being comfortable on your bicycle
    • Rules of the road
  • A look at e-bikes
  • Preparing for winter cycling
  • Q&A

The presentation will take place from 12-1 p.m. Monday, September 9, in the Memorial Union Alumni Lounge. Register online.

Feel free to bring your lunch; beverages will be provided.

This free event is open to faculty, staff, students and community members and is sponsored by Employee Wellness.

Attendance counts toward Husky Health Option 2.

Questions? Contact benefits@mtu.edu.

BCBSM Lunch & Learn Follow Up and Resources

Thank you to everyone who attended this event.  We learned how to download and navigate the BCBSM Online Visits app and better manage our healthcare through this technology.  Several questions were asked during the event and Molly Mikesch, our BCBSM Account Manager, sent the following response:

First of all, thank you so much for the opportunity to discuss The Value of Online Visits during the Lunch and Learn Tuesday.  As discussed, I wanted to follow up with answers to some of the questions that came up during the meeting. 

How do you sign in with older phones/devices?  

  • If you have Apple App store or Google Play you will be able to create an account.  You can always create and account through the web at bcbsmonlinevisits.com 

Can you set up separate accounts under the same plan? 

  • Anyone over the age of 18 NEEDS to set up their own account for Online Visits.  One individual will sign up as primary, and everyone else under the plan over the age of 18 will create their own account but will not indicate they are the primary account holder.  Any online visits for all members that take place through Medical or Behavioral Health will show up on your Explanation of Benefits statement.

 If you can’t be diagnosed during the visit will you get referred?

  • The Provider you are having your visit with will recommend you either follow up with your PCP, or any other Specialist he/she feels necessary.  You would still be billed for the visit even if there wasn’t a diagnosis made during the online visit.  However, if within the first minute or so of the appointment if the provider feels that an individual needs to seek care elsewhere immediately (ex: broken leg), the member shouldn’t be charged for their visit.

 Are all services covered through online visits and are all Providers in-network?

  • Yes, all services are covered and all providers are in network. 

 Do you have to pay for Online Visits at time of service?

  • Yes, you will be responsible for the portion of your visit you are responsible for, similar to what your co-pay would be if you visited your PCP, or co-pay for Behavioral Health Services.

 Where are the providers located?

  • The providers are located all across the United States.  They are specifically trained in online visits.  They have an average of 15 years practicing and are U.S. board certified.  They have experience in pediatrics, family medicine, and emergency care.  Psychiatrists are board-certified in psychiatry or neurology.  The masters and doctoral level therapists are psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors.  They are licensed and credentialed in the state of Michigan.

 What if I am disconnected during my visit, will I get charged?

  • If you are disconnected, the provider will make every attempt to re-connect with you.  If the provider feels the visit was substantial and near finished you will more than likely be charged, however, it is up to the individual provider to make that determination.  Any questions or issues with this can be directed to 1-844-606-1608.

 Can I use online visits outside of the U.S.?

  • No, the program is not available outside of the U.S. 

Below are the links that we had issue with during the presentation for your reference:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amp73PAh6uE&feature=youtu.be    How to set up an Online Visits Account

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeqG6FV7-lk&feature=youtu.be            Online Visit Testimonial #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQL29MapRl0&feature=youtu.be         Online Visit Testimonial #2

Device Requirements

To use BCMI Blue Cross Online Visits on your mobile device, ensure that your device meets the requirements below.

  • BCMI Blue Cross Online Visits app is installed (see above)
  • To support two-way video visits, your device must have a front-facing camera
  • Operating System – iOS (iOS 10 or later is required)
    • iPhone 5 and neweriPad 4th Gen and newer
    • iPad mini 2 and neweriPod Touch 6th generation and newer
  • Operating System – Android API 19 (KitKat v4.4.0 or above)

Note: only applicable for consumer app

    • Android Phone
    • Android Tablet
    • Not supported: HTC myTouch, all Prestige devices, and the PantechP9070

 Finally, if there are any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.  Again, I appreciated the opportunity. 

Molly Mikesch

Account Manager

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Upper Peninsula Regional Sales

Office: 906-225-4101

Cell: 906-236-2166

mmikesch@bcbsm.com

Weight Watchers@Work

Register here for the 12-week Weight Watchers at Work session, which begins Wednesday, August 28th; 11:30 a.m. for weigh-in and completion of paperwork and 12:00 p.m. for the meeting.

Open to employees and retirees, participants must register online by Wednesday, August 21st.

The fee for this 12-week session is $138.00 per participant and includes free access to Weight Watcher’s premium “Online Plus” website.

Registrations will no longer be done on site—all registrations must be completed onlineYou will have the option of paying with a credit/debit card or TechFit. If using TechFit, choose “yes” for “Payroll Deduct”.

Flexible Spending Account money (FSA) is not accepted as a method of payment. The WW Monthly Pass is not accepted in At Work. Credit/debit cards or bank accounts will not be billed until a minimum of 12 participants have registered for the meeting.

Questions? Contact Shannon Brodeur or 7-3301.