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		Health Insurance Basics

		How Premium Dollars Are Spent

		Why Costs Are Rising

		What You Can Do

		What Employers Can Do

		What Wellmark Is Doing

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Download Documents

For your convenience, here are some downloadable materials to help you learn more about what you can do to make a difference in your health care costs. You can view or print these materials using Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

Weight Management

Fitness First Steps (426Kb) Find out how modest weight loss can make a real difference in your health and in the associated costs you may have to pay.

Fitness for Kids — brochure (257Kb) Learn what you can do to help teach children healthy habits for life.

Fitness for Kids — Spanish (656Kb) Learn what you can do to help teach your children healthy habits for life. Text is written in Spanish.

Obesity (669Kb) Persons with obesity are at risk for serious medical conditions, but weight loss of just 10 percent can improve existing conditions or reduce the chance of developing them.

Heartburn (205Kb) More than 25 million Americans battle the daily pain and pressure of heartburn daily. What is heartburn and what can you do to reduce your symptoms?

WalkingWorks®

WalkingWorks (456Kb) - Overview of the WalkingWorks program. Includes walking log to track individual progress.

WalkingWorks Consumer Guide (624Kb) - Guide explains how to develop your own walking program. Includes walking journal to track your progress.

Know Your Benefits

Alliance Select - What You Need to Know (628Kb) - Highlights Alliance Select plan to help members get the most out of their benefits. (Iowa)

Blue Advantage - What You Need to Know (1Mb) - Highlights the Blue Advantage plan to help members get the most out of their benefits. (Iowa)

Blue Access - What You Need to Know (921Kb) - Highlights the Blue Access plan to help members get the most out of their benefits. (Iowa)

Blue Choice - What You Need to Know (1.3Mb) - Highlights the Blue Choice plan to help members get the most out of their benefits. (Iowa)

Blue Dental - What you Need to Know (782Kb) - Highlights Blue Dental plan to help members get the most of their benefits. (Iowa)

Blue Rx - 3 Tier Drug Plan (228Kb) - Highlights the Blue Rx 3-tier drug plan and provides information on generic and brand name drugs. (Iowa)

Blue Rx - 3 Tier Drug Plan (481Kb) - Highlights the Blue Rx 3-tier drug plan and provides information on generic and brand name drugs. (South Dakota)

Blue Rx Preferred - 3 Tier Drug Plan (330Kb) - Highlights the Blue Rx Preferred 3-tier drug plan and provides information on generic and brand name drugs. (Iowa)

Blue Rx Preferred - 3 Tier Drug Plan (332Kb) - Highlights the Blue Rx Preferred 3-tier drug plan and provides information on generic and brand name drugs. (South Dakota)

Blue Select - What You Need to Know (1.14Mb) - Highlights the Blue Select plan to help members get the most out of their benefits. (South Dakota)

Classic Blue - What You Need to Know (785Kb) - Highlights the Classic Blue plan to help members get the most out of their benefits. (Iowa)

Take an Active Role in Your Care

Consumer's Guide to Understanding Health Care Costs (448Kb) - In-depth 20-page guide explains why health care costs are rising, what Wellmark is doing to keep costs under control, and what consumers can do to make a difference.

Understanding Health Care Costs (544Kb) - Mailer-size brochure highlighting why health care costs are rising, what Wellmark is doing to keep costs under control and what consumers can do.

Develop a Relationship with Your Physician (496Kb) - This checklist outlines what members can do to develop a relationship with your physician.

How to Cut Medical Costs (628Kb) - Here are some tips to help consumers reduce their medical bills at the doctor’s office, hospital and the pharmacy.

Preventing Medical Errors (913Kb) - This checklist outlines what consumers can do to prevent medical errors at the hospital and pharmacy.

Understanding the True Cost of Health Care (761Kb) - Most people don't know what health care services really cost. Discover what Wellmark and its members pay for common procedures.

Use the Emergency Room Wisely (842Kb) - Unnecessary ER visits can delay care for people with true emergencies and cost all of us billions of dollars.

Prescription Drugs & Medical Trends

Ask About Generics (423Kb) - Generic drugs cost much less than brand name prescriptions and are just as effective in treating many conditions.

The Wellmark Report - Because health care costs are skyrocketing, recent issues of The Wellmark Report profile specific prescription drug categories and medical trends, including an analysis of usage, health risks, and options for consumers.

Practice Prevention

Better Beginnings (465Kb) - Learn about Wellmark’s preconception and prenatal program for members.

Bike Helmet Safety (1.01Mb) - Stay safe and wear a bike helmet. Find out about discounts on bike helmets for Wellmark members.

Preventive Care for Women (822Kb) - Addresses women’s key health care concerns and the need for preventive exams/screenings.


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