• LiveWell Personal Health Assessment Questions
• LiveWell Quit For Life® Questions
• LiveWell Condition Management Questions

LiveWell Personal Health Assessment Questions

Should I complete the personal health assessment if I’m already healthy?

Definitely. Although genetics and environment play important roles in your health, your habits and behaviors cannot only affect the way you feel today, they can also contribute to a longer, healthier life. So even if you feel great, taking the PHA may uncover valuable information that can help you enjoy even better health.

How often can I submit a personal health assessment?

You and your spouse or same sex domestic partner may each complete and submit a PHA once a year, if you like. Taking the PHA each year allows you to track your progress from year to year. You can also go back to LiveWell Online throughout the year to the “What If” section to see the effects of your healthy changes and see how your health risks have changed.

Why is it important to take the PHA?

The Trust is continuing to encourage and reward healthy behaviors among our plan participants. We want to get as much participation as possible in our wellness programs. These programs are designed to give participants direct access to the medical expertise, information and personalized support they need to make better health decisions and enjoy healthier, happier lives. With healthier participants come lower medical costs, which allows us to continue offering excellent medical coverage.

What if I don’t know the answers to all of the questions?

If you don’t know some of the answers to the questions (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.), you may leave them blank. The only required screening measurements on the PHA are height and weight. However, the more questions you answer, the more tailored and useful your results will be.

Is my privacy protected?

Yes. Any information you supply is completely confidential, protected by federal law, and cannot be shared with the Sound Health & Wellness Retiree Trust or the union without your permission.

Based on your answers to the questions in the PHA, you may be contacted by phone or mail to participate in a number of other voluntary LiveWell programs that are relevant to your situation and health status. For example, you may be contacted about a quit smoking program, a health coaching program to work on a particular area of concern such as exercise or nutrition, or a program to help manage a chronic condition such as diabetes.

Please be aware that information on your health status and health conditions is shared only with the independent service providers that manage the LiveWell programs and is not shared with the Trust, or union. By law, this information cannot be used to determine or deny health care coverage.

How do I take the Personal Health Assessment?

The fastest way is online. Click here to take your PHA. If you are not already logged in, you will be asked to log in to MySoundHealth. If you do not yet have a user name and password, or if you’ve forgotten your password, see the bullets at the bottom of the log in box and click on “Forgot your password?” or “Haven’t registered?”. Then simply follow the instructions to complete your assessment. When you’ve finished, click “Submit,” and your personal plan will be displayed online in just a few moments.

If you don’t have web access, call (877) 362-9969, option 3, to request a paper PHA.

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LiveWell Quit For Life® Questions

How does the LiveWell Quit For Life Program® work?

Once you are enrolled, your Quit Coach will help you develop a personalized quit plan. The Quit Coach will also determine whether nicotine patches, gum, or prescription medication will be helpful for you during the quit process.

You then receive a series of self-paced Quit Guides to implement your personal quit plan (with guidance from the Quit Coach).

Participants who smoke cigarettes also receive a Welcome email with a password to Web Coach, Alere Wellbeing®’s interactive web site. With Web Coach, you can:

• Track your progress and further track your personalized quit plan.
• Interact with others who are trying to quit and with Quit Coach Moderators on the discussion forums. Peer support is a key factor in success.
• Receive coaching emails between calls with tips on quitting and reminders to help you stay on track.

Who is eligible for the program?

The LiveWell Quit For Life Program is available to all Sound Health & Wellness Retiree Trust participants and covered spouses or same sex domestic partners 18 years of age or older.

How much does it cost to participate in the LiveWell Quit For Life Program?

We are committed to helping our participants become free of tobacco, so we are fully subsidizing the cost of the LiveWell Quit For Life Program. Participants pay nothing for the program. Even the cost of nicotine patches or gum is fully covered. If you and your Quit Coach or doctor decide you should use a prescription medication instead of patches or gum, contact the Trust Office to find out what’s covered under your prescription drug benefit and what your co-payment would be.

Why is the Trust subsidizing this program?

We believe quitting tobacco is an important step to improve the health of our participants. The health benefits of quitting tobacco start almost immediately and continue for a lifetime. On average, people who don’t use tobacco have lower medical expenses than those who do. Our participants will enjoy better health, live longer and save money on healthcare.

What about other forms of tobacco besides cigarettes?

The Quit For Life Program is tailored to the needs of the participants. Whatever the tobacco type—cigarettes, cigars, pipes or even smokeless tobacco—LiveWell’s intensely trained Quit Coaches will work with participants to design an effective quit plan.

Is there evidence that the Quit For Life Program works?

Alere Wellbeing®, which administers the LiveWell Quit For Life Program, has helped more than 125,000 people successfully quit tobacco. In fact, Alere Wellbeing®’s quit rate is more than twice as high as the standard established by the U.S. Public Health Service and more than eight times as high as quitting “cold turkey.”

The program was first validated in 1989 through a randomized clinical trial funded by the National Cancer Institute and the University of North Carolina. The study demonstrated that the combination of self-help materials and telephone counseling boosted quit rates by 50 percent. The program has continued to conduct large, randomized trials to prove its methods and effectiveness over the years and has also received six consecutive awards from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) for achievements in tobacco control initiatives.

Is participation in the Quit For Life Program confidential?

Yes. Participation is completely confidential. Alere Wellbeing® will not share personal health information with the Trustees, your union or your employer.

How does someone enroll in the Quit For Life Program?

Enrollment is easy—call 1.866.QUIT.4.LIFE (866.784.8454) or go to http://www.quitnow.net/soundhealthwellness/ to get started. A registration specialist will verify your eligibility to enroll and transfer you to a Quit Coach for an initial intervention.

Can I enroll again if I start using tobacco again?

Yes. We recognize that it often takes several attempts to quit tobacco for good, and that participants may start using tobacco again during the program. Participants are able to repeat the program a second time if necessary.

What are the hours for the Support Line?

You can call the toll-free Support Line anytime you need additional information or support. The line is staffed by expert Quit Coaches from 5 a.m. – 12 a.m.

How long does the program last?

The calls we make to you are typically completed within two to six months, depending on how quickly you move through the process of quitting. However, the Quit Coaches will help you establish your new tobacco-free lifestyle and provide you with ongoing support for up to 12 months after you enroll.

What if I miss my phone call from the Quit Coach?

Please call us back at a convenient time for you. Studies have shown that the more calls you complete with a Quit Coach, the more success you will have in quitting tobacco. Call 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (866-784-844).

What if I don’t have an email address?

Participants who smoke cigarettes need an email address to experience the benefit of Web Coach. If you choose to set up an email account, you will then get access to the web site. Even if you don’t use Web Coach, you will still get all scheduled calls with a Quit Coach.

Do I have to attend classes?

No. All of your counseling sessions take place over the telephone. This means you don’t have to try to find time for classes or trips to someone’s office. And, you can talk to a Quit Coach any day of the week—even Saturday or Sunday.

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LiveWell Condition Management Questions

• Download a printable version of these Q&As

What is LiveWell Condition Management?

Condition Management is part of Sound Health & Wellness Retiree Trust’s LiveWell program that can help you manage specific chronic conditions. This free, confidential, and voluntary program offers an innovative, comprehensive approach to chronic condition management by striking a good balance between self-care and professional help. Participants work one-on-one with a specially trained personal nurse advocate—via telephone—in the comfort of their homes. They gain greater confidence in managing their disease or condition, and as a result, improve their health.

How does the Condition Management program work?

It is easy to enroll in the LiveWell Condition Management program. Here’s how it works:

1. If you have a certain medical condition—such as diabetes, asthma, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or coronary artery disease—you will be invited to participate in the LiveWell Condition Management program.
2. If you are interested in enrolling, you will be evaluated by a personal nurse advocate. The nurse will perform an initial assessment to determine how you are currently caring for yourself and your condition, your readiness to change health and lifestyle behaviors, other medical concerns, medications and general health status.
3. A personal nurse advocate will then work with you to develop a personal plan. That plan identifies critical behaviors and lifestyle changes to help you better control your medical condition and improve your health.
4. You will receive ongoing telephone counseling and educational materials to support behavior changes and increase your understanding of your condition. Your progress with your personal plan is periodically reevaluated and revised by your personal nurse advocate.

Do I have to participate in the program if I don’t want to?

No, the LiveWell Condition Management programs are voluntary and strictly confidential.

What chronic conditions does the LiveWell Condition Management program cover?

The LiveWell Condition Management program manages asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure and diabetes.

How can the LiveWell Condition Management program benefit me if I’m already working with my doctor?

Managing a chronic condition requires ongoing education and support. If your doctor has diagnosed you with a chronic condition, your personal nurse advocate can answer your questions, educate you about self-care techniques and help you make lifestyle changes for maximum health and quality of life. The counseling support provided by your personal nurse advocate is meant to supplement, but does not replace, your doctor’s advice.

What are some reasonable outcomes I can expect from participating in the LiveWell Condition Management program?

LiveWell Condition Management program participants understand their conditions better, increase their ability to follow their physician-directed treatment plans, and reduce the amount of unnecessary care they receive. They also take a more active role in their health care, become better at using self-care techniques and improve their overall health.

How does the LiveWell Condition Management program work with the LiveWell Nurse Line Plus?

The LiveWell Condition Management provides intensive counseling support to participants who have certain chronic conditions, whereas the LiveWell Nurse Line Plus provides information on almost any health care, administrative, or advocacy concern you may have. Individuals with chronic conditions are likely to require more involved medical care and benefit from intensive contact with a personal nurse advocate. So turn to the LiveWell Condition Management program for a chronic condition, but call the LiveWell Nurse Line Plus to find out how to handle a sore throat or a sprained ankle. Together, these two great LiveWell programs have you covered!

How do I participate?

You will receive a letter and follow-up phone call from LiveWell inviting you to participate. The invitation is based on your medical claims and your Personal Health Assessment. Or you can self enroll.

Who is eligible for the program?

Programs are available for employees and their covered spouses/partners enrolled in the health plans. No dependent children are eligible.

How long does the LiveWell Condition Management program last?

This will vary person to person. Our goal is make sure you understand your condition, treatment plan, options and how to avoid complications. Your understanding and how your condition is presently managed will determine the length of time you will be in the program.

If I participate in the LiveWell Condition Management program is there any incentive?

Sound Health & Wellness Retiree Trust will send you $20 per month, up to $180.

Is there a maximum period of time that I can receive the incentive?

If you are actively participating in the program, you can continue to receive the incentive until you have reached the maximum of $180 per year. You may continue to participate in the program, without receiving the incentive, after you have reached the $180 maximum based on your program goals with your nurse advocate.

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