Member Newsletter 2014
Your WELL BEING Find us on Facebook and YouTube PAGE 2
Understanding type 2 diabetes PAGE 5
Going into hospital PAGE 6
Year in review PAGE 14
.au uh.com Visit t
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Glad you’re with TUH... Different health funds package their products and services to offer a selection of general and hospital treatments, with varying benefits, restrictions and exclusions. It can be difficult to know what you’re paying for, and what you’ll receive in return when you need it. To see how competitive a health fund is, a good place to start is ‘top hospital’ cover, which is much the same across all funds. Here’s a snapshot of the monthly premium for top hospital cover offered by some well-known private health funds, with an excess. With differences of up to 40%, there are great savings to be made by being with TUH!
d a frien r e f e R et a and g eward.* r $100
These general comparisons are based on the full Queensland monthly premium before any rebate or Lifetime Health Cover loading is calculated.
Did you know this about carrots? ~~
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They are an excellent source of beta carotene, which is converted in the body to vitamin A which helps with night vision. Vitamin A also benefits the skin and is great for the immune system. The deeper the orange colour, the higher the beta carotene content. With many vegetables, cooking destroys some of their vitamins, but you can absorb more beta carotene from cooked carrots than from raw ones. The ancient Greeks considered the carrot a powerful love charm that would make both men and women more amorous. The root of the wild carrot was purple, red, white or yellow. In the 1500s, the Dutch crossed red and pale yellow specimens to develop the orange carrot in honour of the royal family of the House of Orange.
YOUR WELLBEING 2014
Rates are effective from 2 April 2014 and are subject to change. Source: www.privatehealth.gov.au. The average monthly savings are calculated as
s apply
ition *Cond
the difference between TUH and the average of the three examples given.
Keep up with what’s happening! Our Facebook page is a great way to keep up with what’s happening in the exciting world of TUH. ‘Like’ us to receive tips on how to make the most of your cover and optimise your health and wellbeing. Congratulations to Nic MacBean, the winner of our World Sight Day photo competition in November. Nic received a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses for sharing his ‘gift of vision’ photo and story. Find us on facebook.com/TUHhealthfund. Another way for you to find out more about your cover is to visit our YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/TUHQLD. While you’re there, check out our latest video with some members who love what we do!
PROFIT or NOT-FOR-PROFIT?
Nic’s winning photo: My cousins were fascinated when I showed them how to fire a camera flash remotely.
It’s worth knowing that our fund is run to benefit members not shareholders. With the public listing of Medibank Private, three out of five of the largest health funds are for-profit. In fact, after the listing of Medibank, for-profit insurers make up approximately 70% of the Private Health Insurance market based on policies covered. TUH prides itself on being a notfor-profit and you can rest assured we are working in your best interests, not shareholders.
Happy members, Happy TUH “My wife recently had an operation and I write to say how delighted we were to receive at home quality discharge treatment through the Home Care Program. The quality service provided by the visiting professionals has helped greatly with my wife’s ongoing recuperation. We cannot thank TUH enough for making such help available.”
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Understanding type 2 diabetes Claiming Review of cover mobile app Have you tried our online claiming app yet? Download the app for your iPhone/iPad or android phone, then simply photograph your receipts and submit your claim. And now you can also upload other types of documents, such as forms for membership changes including direct debit, student dependant, etc., to the app.
It’s worth taking the time to review your cover to ensure it still meets you and your family’s needs. TUH has a wide range of products to choose from that cater for your individual circumstances. Think about the stage of life you’re at and what services you’re going to need the most. You’ll enjoy better value for money with a cover that is relevant to your needs, budget and lifestyle.
Annual Statement We’re busy preparing annual statements which will be coming to an email inbox near you in December. Now is a good time to jump onto Member Services Online and check your email details are correct or sign up to receive email communication.
When you’re ready to review your cover, give us a call and we’ll help you make the right choice.
UNDELIVERED
EMAIL Are you worried that you’re not receiving your TUH emails? Sometimes your email privacy settings may be the culprit, especially if you’re using a work email address (eg. .gov. au or .edu.au). You may be able to adjust your privacy settings to add @tuh.com.au addresses to your safe senders list. Otherwise, if you have a home email address, this might be a better one to assign for TUH communication. You can update any of your contact details through Member Services Online, or just give us a call.
Type 2 is the most prevalent form of diabetes, accounting for 8590% of all cases of this condition. Nearly a quarter of adults over the age of 25 years have either diabetes or a condition known as pre-diabetes (also known as impaired glucose metabolism). Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin to convert glucose (sugars) to energy. A lack of insulin results in glucose building up in the blood which can damage other organs such as the eyes, kidneys, feet and more.
Be assured that TUH is still the health fund that supports and represents the best interests of the education community, union members and their families in Queensland. To highlight this we’d like to share some feedback we received recently.
YOUR WELLBEING 2014
In 1977 I joined TUH as a single teacher. Until recently I have been a continuous member of the fund for 35 years. During that time the fund has supported all my life events – marriage, the arrival of children, their memberships as they became adults, my husband’s heart attack in 2005 and my breast cancer in 2007. In that time we changed states and jobs but top level cover with TUH has remained constant.
I’m writing to ask you to encourage your members to read the fine print before they make such a major decision. As I was a long term member of TUH on changing I lost my loyalty benefits.
Just over 12 months ago we decided to change funds. Now living in NSW, my NSW teaching colleagues spoke highly of their fund – saying it was the best in Australia. Even health professionals praised it. I understand that NSW Teachers Health Fund is marketing to Queensland Teachers.
I am sorry I made the change originally. I will now start the process of rejoining. This has been a very expensive mistake and I hope that no other members make the same one.
I rang NSW THF to discuss my concern their response was – I should have read the fine print. I should have used www. privatehealth.gov.au to compare the two funds. I have tried that site – and it isn’t easy to use or very helpful.
We look forward to welcoming this member back into the fold.
Many people may not recognise the early signs of type 2 diabetes with some even being asymptomatic. Common symptoms include: ~~ ~~
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WHO IS AT RISK? There are several risk factors that can contribute to type 2 diabetes including: ~~
Sydney based Teachers Health Fund (THF) recently started campaigning in the Queensland market. Considering the similarities in name and target market, there is sure to be some confusion with consumers.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS & SYMPTOMS?
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obesity being over the age of 40 years physical inactivity having high cholesterol and high blood pressure family history of diabetes
The risk is also higher in women who have given birth to a child over 4.5kgs or who have previously contracted gestational diabetes.
increased or excessive thirst passing more urine than normal lethargy constant hunger itchiness and skin infections blurred vision gradual weight gain headaches, mood swings & dizziness leg cramps
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK The key to reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes is leading a healthy lifestyle. Ensuring that your weight is within the healthy range for your height is important. Your BMI (Body Mass Index) is one guide used to assess whether your weight is healthy. BMI is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared (m2). If the number is between 20 and 25 this indicates you’re in a healthy weight range. Between 26-30 indicates you are overweight. For people over 74 years of age a general health check may be a more important guide. You can check you BMI here: www.mydr.com.au/ tools/bmi-calculator.
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE WITH OR WITHOUT DIABETES A healthy eating plan for a person with diabetes involves three regular meals a day. Diet should be low in fat, low in sugar and high in fibre. It is important to include at least two pieces of fruit and five serves of vegetables in your daily eating plan. Ensure you eat wholegrain or wholemeal breads, cereals and pasta and make sure to limit fats in cooking. Regular physical activity is also imperative with thirty minutes a day being a good start to becoming healthy. Take small steps to increase your activity, such as walking instead of taking the car on short trips or take the stairs instead of the lift. If you have medical conditions or take any form of prescription medication it is important to consult your doctor first before commencing any exercise or weight loss program. For more information visit: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
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Going into hospital
what are the ins and outs? Going into hospital can be over whelming and you’re probably not sure what to expect. The important thing is that you are as informed as possible, so you can make the best decision about your personal health care. With private hospital cover you can choose to be treated as a private patient in either a private OR a public hospital with private facilities. The benefits paid for hospital services will depend on your type of cover and whether we have an agreement in place with the hospital in which you are treated. When there is an agreement between us and your selected private hospital, you will have no out-of-pocket expenses for things like accommodation and theatre fees. In relation to the surgeon and other medical specialists (eg. anaesthetist) you may have no out-of-pocket expenses or if you do, your doctor will provide you with details of these.
You should also be aware that some expenses, such as experimental procedures/treatments, some pharmacy items, high cost medications*, robotic surgery* and personal sundries are not covered by health insurance. If you choose to be admitted to a non-contracted hospital your benefit is likely to be less. Public hospitals don’t have agreements with specific funds and if you choose to stay as a private patient in a public hospital you may be charged more for your stay and treatment. So you can focus on getting better sooner, we provide advice, support and information you might need before, during and after your time in hospital. If you have an appointment to see a specialist about possible surgery, give us a ring first. We can give you some hints and tips to help make you a savvy user of your private health cover. The members’ area on our website has a comprehensive hospitalisation guide and you can also view short tutorials on our YouTube channel. * We will consider special requests for benefits towards certain health care items on a caseby-case basis.
YOUR WELLBEING 2014
COSMETIC or PLASTIC SURGERY What’s the difference? There are a number of surgical procedures on the Medicare Benefits Schedule under the category of ‘Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’ and it can be confusing to know what you can claim from your health insurance. Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of physical irregularities, whether acquired or congenital. Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually performed to improve function or appearance after a trauma or other associated illness. When these procedures are ‘medically necessary’, we can provide a benefit, assuming the procedures are included on your level of cover.
Cosmetic surgery and procedures performed for nonmedical reasons are not recognised by Medicare, and we do not pay benefits for these procedures or the hospital costs associated with them. To help us determine if your treatment is medically necessary, we may ask for further information from your treating practitioner before authorising payment. If in doubt, talk to your doctor and give us a call before committing to any treatment.
No gap radiology TUH now has a contract with Queensland X-ray which means members won’t have any out-of-pocket expenses for X-ray services in hospital provided by Queensland X-ray. Queensland X-ray is the largest private radiology practice in Queensland with 36 centres located throughout Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. Other no-gap radiology providers include Symbion and Medical Imaging Australia.
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9 Get your claim processed
Medical Bracelet Did you know that if you need to wear a medical bracelet, you can claim up to 80% of the cost up to the limit, if you have one of our comprehensive or mid range general covers? To claim a benefit, your medical practitioner must complete a Health Management Program Approval form, which you can find under ‘My forms and brochures’ on our website.
faster We understand that when you’ve submitted a claim for payment, you want to receive your benefit as soon as possible. Our claims team has assembled a few tips on how to have your claims paid sooner: ~~
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Avoid busy periods – our busy periods include school holidays, the Christmas period, and end of financial year. Check your receipts – do they contain: 1. The provider’s name and address? 2. The patient’s name? 3. Description or item number of the product/service? 4. The date the product/service was provided? 5. The cost of the service/product?
6. Whether the account is paid or unpaid? ~~
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Attach receipts to claim form - if sending via email, ensure scanned receipts are legible. Check your cover – are these items claimable? If you are unsure give us a call and our friendly customer service team can check for you. Visit Medicare first – many doctors’ bills should go to either Medicare only or Medicare first (inpatient treatments only). To make it even easier you can also claim online via Member Services Online for claims under $400 (no receipts required) or download our smart phone claiming app to claim on-the-go.
Eligibility
STILL TIME TO USE YOUR BENEFITS
- More health fund options for Queensland unions After 40 years of being the health fund for Queensland teachers and their families, We expanded our membership eligibility to all union members in July this year. According to CEO, Rob Seljak, this positive and proactive move is supported by the teachers’ unions and the membership of TUH. “As a small fund with a long history of service to Queens landers and their families, we’re
YOUR WELLBEING 2014
proud to give our members personal service, along with competitive and innovative products,” Mr Seljak said. “Opening up our membership will enable more Queenslanders than ever before to take advantage of great value products and personal service. Working families feeling financial pressure from the rising cost of living can make some great savings by switching from the major health funds.”
Health Care Centre news
“To ensure we’re able to continue to deliver quality products and services to our members, TUH must maintain steady membership growth. In opening our membership to members of other unions, we’ll benefit from a diversified membership base, but still retain the spirit and philosophy of support that prevails throughout the union community,“ Mr Seljak said.
Your general treatment limits are reset at the end of each calendar year. To check your remaining limits simply go to Member Services Online. If you have any benefits remaining, why not visit our Health Care Centre and treat yourself to a new pair of glasses or a relaxing massage. Book an appointment by calling 1300 360 701 or email
[email protected]. Services: dental, eyecare, massage therapy, exercise physiology, acupuncture, physiotherapy, pilates, podiatry, audiology, dietetics
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Sun protection for your eyes We all know the importance of protecting our skin from UV radiation, but don’t forget to protect your eyes. Wearing sunglasses is the primary defence against glare and UV radiation – and you can get sunglasses in your prescription too.
Christmas is nearly here!
Are you looking for gift ideas or want to use your optical benefits before the end of the year? Prescription sunglasses might be the perfect solution for you. TUH Eyecare has great prices on a wide range of Up to 50% of UV rays are sunglasses including Ray-Ban, reflected off the inside surface of Oakley, Maui Jim, Mako and clear prescription lenses, which many more. can lead to skin cancer, cataracts Drop in or contact us for a and premature aging. Certain quote today. As always you get a clear lenses can protect your 30% discount of marked prices eyes, such as Essilor’s Crizal on all optical purchases as a UV, which is the only clear TUH member. prescription lens endorsed by the Cancer Council.
Do you suffer from dry mouth? Many of us may not realise the importance of saliva for our health and wellbeing. Good quality and quantities of saliva are vital to our oral health and digestive function. Saliva contains antibacterial substances that protect the mouth, teeth and throat from
YOUR WELLBEING 2014
infection by bacteria, yeasts and viruses (including decay and gum disease). It also aids the digestive process by breaking down starches and neutralizing stomach acid. If we don’t have adequate amounts of saliva, dry mouth can become uncomfortable and lead to teeth loss.
Common symptoms of dry mouth include frequent thirst, dry sticky feeling in the mouth, bad breath, poor sleep (waking often with uncomfortable dryness and thirst) increased plaque levels, decay and gum disease. Advanced symptoms of dry mouth may lead to rampant tooth decay, mouth sores or infections, difficulties in tasting, chewing and swallowing food and even difficulties speaking. The most common cause of dry mouth is dehydration – from not drinking enough water, intense levels of exercise or from using substances such as alcohol, smoking and caffeine.
Exercise tips that can improve your health Exercise is often associated with getting fit or losing weight, but you can help a range of health conditions by the right type of exercise. Below are some common health conditions that can be helped with exercise.
1. Pelvic floor muscle training improves urinary incontinence in people with stress or any type of urinary incontinence. 2. Targeted exercise decreases pain and improves function in people with knee osteoarthritis. 3. Physical training decreases breathlessness and fatigue and improves health, quality of life and function in people with chronic lung diseases. 4. Exercise programs decrease the rate of falls and risk of falling for older people living at home.
The physiotherapy team takes full advantage of the greater multidisciplinary team of podiatrists, exercise physiologists, acupuncturist and massage therapists in the Health Care Centre to maximise client outcomes and the benefit of exercise. They treat a wide range of injuries and clients of all ages. In their fully equipped clinical Pilates gym, they are able to continue the treatment and progression of exercises outside the treatment room through small group rehabilitation Pilates classes. You can see the time table for the classes in the Health Care Centre area on our website.
AU IOLOGY Dry mouth can also be caused by stress, a blockage in one or more salivary ducts, some medications, chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment, trauma or surgery to the head or neck, nerve damage or chronic disease, hepatitis C, diabetes, depression, Parkinson’s disease or stroke. To alleviate the symptoms and severity of dry mouth: ~~
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Drink plenty of water especially in the warmer months or when exercising. Chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets to help stimulate saliva flow. Brush and floss teeth and gum line thoroughly after every meal.
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Use dry mouth products. Use a humidifier at night to keep the air moist.
You should also try to avoid sugary and carbonated drinks, fruit juices and sticky foods, hot and spicy foods, smoking, alcohol, caffeine as well as alcohol based mouth rinses. Saliva is an essential body fluid. See your dentist, hygienist and GP regularly if you have concerns. As part of a dental exam your dentist and hygienist will examine your mouth to assess your risk to decay, gum disease and oral infections.
Our audiologist offers quality hearing aids with the very latest technology (including invisible hearing aid solutions) from all major brands at prices on average 30-40% lower than most other hearing clinics. Services include: ~~ Hearing assessment for adults and children over the age of 5. ~~ Hearing services for pensioners under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. ~~ Hearing aid assessment and fittings. ~~ Ongoing hearing aid care and maintenance. If you can’t get to the Health Care Centre, but still want high performance, digital hearing aids at low prices, buy online and receive $50 cash back per hearing aid in addition to any TUH benefits. The service is quick and easy and includes an online hearing test. Visit www.blameysaunders.com.au/TUH to get started.
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Strive for health
Christmas at the centre We’ll be decking the halls throughout December and showing some Christmas cheer for some less fortunate Queenslanders. Members and employees are asked to help us support the Salvation Army’s Youth Outreach Service by leaving a gift under the tree in our Health Care Centre. Your contribution of small household items will help disadvantaged young people to move from crisis accommodation into their own accommodation. Items like toasters, kettles, linen, towels, cutlery, crockery and personal hygiene items are ideal – and will be appreciated long after the tinsel has come down.
Have you heard about Strive for Health? It is the collective name for the suite of health management programs that we offer you at no extra cost. The key innovation about Strive for Health is the seamless service you will experience if you transition from one health management program to another to support you in achieving wellness.
OPENING HOURS:
HEALTH CARE CENTRE
CONTACT CENTRE
Monday 22/12
8.30am-5.30pm
8.00am-5.00pm
Tuesday 23/12
8.30am-5.30pm
8.00am-5.00pm
Wednesday 24/12
8.30am-3.00pm
8.00am-3.00pm
Thursday 25/12
Closed
Closed
Friday 26/12
Closed
Closed
Monday 29/12
8.30am-5.30pm
8.00am-5.00pm
Tuesday 30/12
8.30am-5.30pm
8.00am-5.00pm
Wednesday 31/12
8.30am-3.00pm
8.00am-3.00pm
Thursday 1 /1
Closed
Closed
Friday 2/1
8.30am-5.30pm
8.00am-5.00pm
Concierge service The Health Care Centre has recently introduced a concierge service to assist and support members visiting the centre. Our helpful team will give you a friendly greeting, help you to checkin for your appointment and be on hand to answer any questions you might have.
WIN A CUBBY HOUSE WITH TUH
During December and January we will be running a colouring competition for children aged 2-12 years. All entries have a chance to win a cubby house package to the value of $2,500 (including delivery). Two runners-up prizes of a $50 Coles Myer gift voucher are also up for grabs. Simply jump onto facebook.com/TUHhealthfund and ‘like’ our page, where we will post the start date of our competition and a link to download the colouring page. Visit www.tuh.com.au for full terms and conditions.
SUPPORTLINE At TUH we know life is not always smooth, but a little support often makes it easier to look after yourself. You can call the TUH SupportLine when you need someone who can actively assist or you just want someone to listen. Our professional counsellors are real people who work one-on-one with you to help find a way through life’s complexities. So no matter how small you may feel your concern is or how often you call, TUH SupportLine is here for that little extra support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on
1800 655 302
Chronic Disease Management Program This program provides expert telephone, or home support tailored to your unique health needs. The program is designed to complement the services provided by your existing health providers and includes access to a 24 hour telephone advice service. For more information on any of the programs we provide please call us on 1300 360 701 or email
[email protected]. The waiting period for CDMP is 6 months and HCP is 2 months.
YOUR WELLBEING 2014
Home Care Programs Our Home Care Programs provide tailored treatment options to keep you out of hospital or to assist in a speedy recovery, in the comfort of your own home, after illness or an operation. Services you can access include: ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Advanced acute wound management Medication management Anticoagulant therapy Chemotherapy Blood transfusions Negative pressure therapy Rehabilitation
Brisbane Catholic Education Award - BCE Executive Director Pam Betts, Liam Beattie, Archbishop Mark Coleridge and TUH CEO Rob Seljak
Brisbane Catholic Education Award - BCE Executive Director Pam Betts, Adrian Biddulph, Archbishop Mark Coleridge and TUH CEO Rob Seljak
Stakeholder Breakfast - Pat Welsh and Professor Ian Frazer
Year in review: Brisbane Catholic Education award In April we co-sponsored five awards at the inaugural ‘Excellence in Teaching’ awards ceremony, which saw Brisbane Catholic Education recognise its most outstanding teachers. The winners were Liam Beattie from St Augustine’s College, Augustine Heights; Anne Chambers from Unity College, Caloundra West; Adrian Biddulph from St Mark’s School, Inala; Paul Mackay from St Peter Claver College, Riverview and the Curriculum Leaders Team from St Columban’s College in Caboolture.
YOUR WELLBEING 2014
Labour Day The biggest event on the calendar for our union community is the Labour Day march, held on the first Sunday in May each year. The march commences from the city and travels past our front door on St Pauls Terrace to finish at the RNA show grounds. TUH is there each year to show support to our members and the wider union community.
Stakeholder Breakfast In October we held our fourth annual Stakeholder Breakfast to give back to our supporters in the education and union community. With talks focused on leadership and having a unique Queensland flavour, this event has become more popular each year. This year we were pleased to welcome speaker, Professor Ian Frazer, 2006 Australian of the Year. As part of his speech he provided us with four tips to prevent cancer: don’t smoke, control your weight, limit alcohol use and avoid the Aussie sun.
QCT Teaching Award - QCT Board Chair Dr Joe McCorley, David Rawson, Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek, and TUH CEO Rob Seljak. Labour Day
Life Education We are proud to support Life Education programs in Queensland schools. Their program drives mobile classrooms to partner schools to deliver accessible and exciting learning experiences on issues such as health and wellbeing, communication and problemsolving, drugs and alcohol, bullying, and safety. The largest, independent, Australian, health and drug education provider for school children, Life Education has been empowering children and young people to make safer and healthier choices for more than 35 years.
World Sight Day Challenge October 9 is World Sight Day. Around the world this day is used to draw attention to blindness and vision impairment. Throughout October, TUH participated in the World Sight Day Challenge to support the theme of “No more avoidable blindness”. Generous donations were received from TUH employees and visitors to the Health Care Centre. Additional support was received from Eyes Right Optical and Maui Jim Australia as sponsors for events run by TUH Eyecare. Together we raised enough to provide over one hundred pairs of glasses for those in need.
QCT Teaching Award On World Teachers’ Day, 31 October, we were pleased to present the Queensland College of Teacher’s (QCT) ‘Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award’ to David Rawson from St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba. TUH has been a proud sponsor of this award since its inception in 2009. We believe these awards are a great way of recognising and celebrating the achievements of Queensland’s inspirational teachers.
Queensland Teachers’ Union Health Fund Limited ABN 38 085 150 376
438 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 1300 360 701 (07) 3259 5821 www.tuh.com.au
[email protected]
