3rd Quarter 2021 Benefits Corner

Benefits Corner

By Bill Dodge, CRA Benefits Chair

Bill Dodge

Included in this article:

Your Pandemic Health Recovery Plan  

T-Mobile Unlimited 55+ Cell Phone Discount Plans offered on ChevRec/BenefitHub

 

YOUR PANDEMIC HEALTH RECOVERY PLAN

 
  • The past 12 months have weighted on us all - mentally and physically. Now’s the perfect time to assess the damage.

     

  • Important ways to get fitter faster. 

 STEP ONE:  EVALUATE YOUR WEIGHT 



Find out if you are at a healthy weight with the body mass index (BMI) calculator and your waist circumference.

Assessing Your Weight | Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity | CDC

STEP TWO:  SQUARE YOUR MEALS



An eating plan that helps manage your weight includes a variety of healthy foods. Add an array of colors to your plate and think of it as eating the rainbow. Dark, leafy greens, oranges, and tomatoes—even fresh herbs—are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Adding frozen peppers, broccoli, or onions to stews and omelets gives them a quick and convenient boost of color and nutrients.

Balancing Food and Activity for Healthy Weight | Healthy Weight | DNPAO | CDC


STEP THREE: CHALLENGE YOUR FITNESS



Physical Activity
How much physical activity you need depends mostly on your age.

• Adults age 65 and older need at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking, at least two days a week of activities that strengthen muscles, and activities to improve balance such as standing on one foot.

 

STEP FOUR: WHERE YOUR HEAD’S AT  




There are times when being older is a solid advantage:  A study by the CDC last summer found that people age 65 and older reported significantly lower rates of anxiety, depression and stress-related disorder during the pandemic than younger folks. Still, it can’t hurt to check in with yourself. 

Older-Adults-Care-for-Yourself.pdf (cdc.gov)

Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19 | CDC


STEP FIVE: CHECK IN ON YOUR HEALTH CHECKUPS



By mid-pandemic an estimated 41 percent of U.S. adults - about 105 million people - had postponed in-person medical care, be it routine or emergency, according to the CDC.  Elective surgeries were mostly shut down, routine health screenings had dropped by more than half, and millions of people simply stayed away from doctor’s offices. Here’s what to ask yourself if you, too, avoided routine care this past year. 

  • Am I taking my important daily medications? Refills needed?
  • Three catch-up medical visits to schedule
    • Cancer screenings
    • Vision maintenance
    • Dentist


Content sources: AARP The Magazine, April/May 2021
                            Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

                             T-Mobile Unlimited 55+ Cell Phone Discount Plans 
                                        offered on ChevRec/BenefitHub

The ChevRec/BenefitHub is the go-to source for many of the corporate discounts available to employees, contractors and retirees. Information about T-Mobile’s new unlimited 55+ senior cell phone discount plans can be found on ChevRec/BenefitHub.  To enjoy the discounts available through BenefitHub (chevrec.benefithub.com), it is necessary to create an account (unless you have already have one). To create an account, you will need a Referral Code. For instructions on obtaining the code, please click here.  If you have any questions, please contact Jim Bonwell, a member of the CRA Benefits Committee, who can assist you. His contact information is shown in the Benefits Guide which can be found on the CRA Benefits page located on the CRA website ( www.chevronretirees.org ) .