Your ERS Connection, Volume 24, Number 3, Fall 2019 Page: 4
5 p. : col. ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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E3taying in MotionTn
One step at a time:
Kicking the tobacco habit
By Lacy Wolff, ERS Health Promotion Administrator
We all know that tobacco is harmful for our health. The U.S.
Surgeon General warns us on every tobacco product package.
When it comes to quitting, however, there is no magic solution.
It takes hard work and determination to successfully change any
behavior.
If you or a loved one is interested in quitting a tobacco habit,
these suggestions can help with the transition.
- Find your why. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to quit?" Is
it health? Money? To set a good example for children or
grandchildren? Remember your "why" when you have the
strong desire to use tobacco.
- Know that cravings come and go. Find a distraction to help
you through the craving. Take a walk, practice a breathing
technique, talk to a friend or listen to motivational music.
- Have a plan to deal with triggers. If you smoke or dip while
driving, expect to have strong sensations when you get into
your car. Have a plan in place to manage the cravings.
- Visualize. See yourself as a non-user of tobacco. Refer to
yourself as a non-smoker or tobacco-free rather than someone
who is trying to quit.
- Tell your friends. Ask friends and family for support. Have a
plan to deal with any mood changes you experience.
- Take it one day at a time. Remember that the first three days
are the most challenging. It gets a little easier every day.More help to
become tobaCCO-frer * GR EAT *I
AMERICAN
SMQKEOUT*
NOVEMBER 21Take advantage of the tobacco cessation
programs and resources offered by your health
plan:
HealthSelect of Texas* and
Consumer Directed HealthSelectsM
https :llhealthselect.bcbstx.comlcontentlhealth-
and-weliness-incentives/tobacco-cessation
HealthSelectsM Medicare Advantage
https:/lour.humana.com (search tobacco
cessation)
Scott and White Health Plan
https://ers.swhp.orglwellness-value-added-
service
KelseyCare Advantage Medicare HMO: Contact
your physician to develop an individualized plan.
Community First Health Plans
https://members.cfhp.com/
View ers.texas.govAbout-ERS/Policies/
Tobacco-Policy-and-Certification to learn about
state-mandated certification requirements for
tobacco use and more resources to help you quit.News from the 86th Legislature
Legislation benefits ERS members
Like most state agencies and
institutions, ERS tracks hundreds
of bills during each legislative
session. We also spend a lot
7 of time providing information to
ejI'. * * e'I'j legislators and their staff about
Wei& a the value of the benefits we
manage-both to ERS members and to the Texas economy.
During the most recent session, there were no changes
to ERS retirement funding or benefits. Only a few of the
bills that passed have a direct impact on ERS' insurance
programs, and all of them will be beneficial to our members.In
particular, lawmakers passed new regulations that:
allow ERS to explore offering individual long-term care
insurance,- prohibit health care providers from balance billing health
insurance participants in medical emergencies and certain
other situations, and
- change coverage for diagnostic mammograms in certain
situations.
The last two laws are detailed and complicated. We are working
to understand their full impact to health plan participants. We will
provide more information closer to their effective dates.
In the meantime, visit https:l/www.ers.texas.govlAbout-ERS/
ERS-OrganizationlLegislative-Activity-Related-to-ERS to
learn more about ERS' activities during the 2019 session and
the new laws that affect your benefits.4
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Employees Retirement System of Texas. Your ERS Connection, Volume 24, Number 3, Fall 2019, periodical, Autumn 2019; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1365015/m1/4/: accessed June 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.