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6 steps to managing your type 2 diabetes

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Do You Need Durable Medical Equipment or Diabetic Management Supplies-Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be the end of your life. While it may be tempting to panic and cut out everything enjoyable from your life, it is not necessary. With proper planning, you can live a happy, healthy life with type 2 diabetes. While it may feel like a big step to start monitoring and managing your blood sugar, your new regimen may improve your life in other ways too.

Here are six steps to improving your lifestyle, and your diabetes.

  1. Mind your diet. This is obvious, but arguably the most important part of managing your diabetes. Avoid red meats, cheeses, sodium-heavy foods, and sugars. This doesn’t have to be tortuous, though! Try finding recipes online to make your transition easier.
  2. Exercise. This is something few people want to do, but it’s just as important as eating right and taking relaxation time. No matter who you are, a brisk walk or a run on the treadmill can vastly improve your health, on top of helping you manage your diabetes.
  3. Quit smoking. While you’ve probably heard the lung-cancer bit before, cutting your habit will also benefit your diabetes as well. Within months, you can see the symptoms of your diabetes lessening and even disappearing altogether, on top of many other minor health problems.
  4. Monitor your blood sugar. If you feel yourself dropping, test it! Keep a journal, and make a habit of checking you blood sugar multiple times a day, with a reliable diabetic monitoring system. Collecting results can be satisfying, especially if you see yourself improving over the course of a few months.
  5. Drink in moderation. While this is something everyone should do, getting heavily drunk can really affect your diabetes. Talk to your doctor if you plan on partying, and be sure to go over the effects it may have on you and your glucose levels.
  6. Take your medicine. A few simple pills can make your life and health much easier, so be sure to follow the guidelines your doctor gives you. Set alarms and build habits, and before long if will feel like an everyday part of your life!

If you are newly diabetic, or just want a head-start for the new year, one of the best commitments you can make is towards a plan that will truly help you in the long run.  With 2BenefitU’s diabetes program, you can save hundreds of dollars in time, money, and hassle.

5 unusual ways to save money

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save money with your business piggy bank

save money with your business piggy bank

If you’ve ever lived paycheck-to-paycheck or wanted to sock back money for the future, you may know the struggle of finding ways to cut corners. You don’t have to squeeze every bit of enjoyment out of your life to save a few dollars, however. Enjoy your fresh fruit and fancy cereal, and try other, less painful methods of saving money.

If you’re a little too close to throwing your calculator out the window, here are a few tips and tricks to saving yourself, and your wallet, from tons of stress. While none of these methods are foolproof, if you combine them with your existing ideas and tips from friends, you can put together a plan that will have your piggy banks stuffed in no time.

  1. Shop less. When you stop picking up extras from the store, you might just see the potential hiding in unlikely places. Force yourself to think about what’s in your pantry, and come up with fun new ideas for dinner. To spice things up, and try websites to find recipes for what you can find in your fridge.
  2. Stuck on delivery? Don’t feel ashamed! Many busy adults just don’t have the time to make meals or go on thoughtful shopping trips every week. Skip the pizza and the frozen foods, and try looking at online delivery services. If done right, these delivery services can actually save you money and time in the long run.
  3. On Wednesdays, we shop. If you’re trying to set a date for your weekly shopping trip, the middle of the week is always wise. Stores start to put out new deals for the end of the week, and coupons from last week may still be redeemable.
  4. Take an odd job for your next vacation. While may craigslist ads may seem strange at first glance, house sitting for an eccentric old lady may be interesting, as long as you’re not allergic to cat hair. Just be sure to water the plants, and spend your vacation relaxing on someone else’s couch.
  5. Utilize technology. Apps and price-saving websites exist for a good reason, why not take advantage? Use price-comparison tools on your browser when you do retail therapy, and be sure to check the store apps before you head in for a shopping spree.

Not interested in these methods, or want a package that includes even more? 2BenefitU offers a plan for the most frugal shoppers, so don’t miss out on all the great deals and discounts.

Health, Wealth, and Happiness – There’s a Connection!

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Your money and your wellbeing could be inextricably linked, according to studies from the CDC, which reveal that 4/5 of people with chronic illness have their condition caused or severely exacerbated by stress – and that ¾ of healthcare costs are due to chronic illness. Some of the signs of stress related illness include:

  • Headaches / migraines
  • Stomach trouble / IBS / ulcers
  • Shoulder, back, and neck pain
  • Dental issues (tooth grinding and clenching, bruxism)
  • Sleeplessness, insomnia, and fatigue

Most people cite the following in all or part as contributing to their stress levels:

  • Issues with finances (including medical bills and student debt)
  • Issues at work (including wages and / or scheduling)
  • Issues at school (including worries over tuition and bullying)
  • Issues at home (including family, kids, spouses, and pets)

If your everyday level of anxiety is high, it could be contributing to how you feel physically. For many people, just a little more financial security can make a big change in how they feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. Since health and wealth are connected, improving one can improve the other.

The Health Wealth Connection Benefit from 2BenefitU

This benefit is ideal for those seeking to regain some control over their finances and their physical health. The connection offers a fully customizable approach to your needs, with features like a financial planner who can help you balance your budget, save money, get rid of debt, and create a five or ten year plan.

You’ll also have a health coach who can provide tips for sleeping, exercise, and fitness options as well as reminders to visit the doctor, dentist, and other medical professionals on a regular basis for check ups and tune ups.

A nutritionist will deliver all kinds of healthy ideas and fun recipes to you, along with recipes, dietary tips, calorie counting, and weight loss. Finally, your mental and emotional health can be addressed by a counselor to help you manage or eliminate anxiety, frustration, stress, and depression.

The Health Wealth Connection gives you access to a vast library of information you can use to make your day to day life better and create a future to work towards.  You’ll love the weekly tips on health, money, and managing stress, and it’s well worth it when you consider you get over a dozen other benefits  with our plan starting at just $15.95 a month.

10 Tips for Living with Braces

10 Tips for Living with Braces

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Living with braces can be a big adjustment! It’s hard to get used to the new feel of the inside of your mouth and the surfaces of your teeth. However, with proper care and maintenance, and a little time, you’ll soon be accustomed to your braces and when they finally come off you’ll be surprised at how quickly time has passed. These 12 tips can make living with braces easier!

  1. When you first get braces, plan to be eating soft foods for a few days – like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and smoothies. Your mouth will be just a little sore from the fitting and the feel of the braces against your inner lips may make them tender. You can put some wax on your braces to ease the transition.
  2. Up your oral hygiene game. Brushing and flossing is even more important now, as food particles and bacteria can get stuck behind braces. Your dentist will show you how to brush and floss with braces on.
  3. Stay away from sticky foods and foods high in starch or sugar as well as hard foods and candies. Anything you have to bite into such as chicken on the bone, corn on the cob, or even whole apples can be hard on your braces so cut everything up and take small bites.
  4. Don’t chew or bite on things. Pencils, pens, fingernails – all of these can do damage to your braces and the alignment of your teeth and lengthen your course of treatment.
  5. Use mouthwash to help kill bacteria in your mouth after lunch and snacks, when you can’t brush or floss. You can also use intraoral dental pics to get at food stuck behind braces.
  6. Don’t use whitening products on your teeth while you have braces. The whitener won’t be able to get to the enamel where the braces are attached, and you’ll end up with spots on your teeth when the braces come off. You can have a professional tooth whitening done as a celebratory gift to yourself when the treatment is over.
  7. Check your braces and wires regularly for signs of damage, and go to the dentist immediately if there are any issues. If you have to cut a wire, use strong fingernail clippers that were sterilized with alcohol.
  8. Don’t panic if teeth feel slightly loose. Teeth may feel slightly loose at times as they shift position, and will become firmly stuck in place again soon.
  9. If you play sports, a mouthguard is a must; even if you don’t wear braces it’s a good idea. This can prevent damage to your teeth, lips and gums in case of a face impact.
  10. Don’t forget to smile! Don’t be self-conscious about your braces. Lots of people have braces and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. In just 12-24 months your smile will be as gorgeous as you always hoped it would be.

Our Dental Benefit can make getting braces easier. Get the smile you’ve always wanted!

Fall Travel Tips: Roadside Safety in Case of Breakdown

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What should you do in case of a vehicular breakdown on your cross country fall road trip? All breakdowns are not equal – there’s not one size fits all procedure, However, there are some safety measures that apply just about to any occasion, so find out what you should do in case you have a breakdown.

Turn Your Hazard Lights On

Visibility is key, so make sure those hazard lights work and turn them on at the first sign of trouble. The flashing lights let people know to slow down and pay attention, and you can often signal with your arm out the window to indicate a need to cross lanes and get off the road if people are going slow enough.

Pull Over as Far as Possible

Pull onto the shoulder if at all possible to prevent your car from becoming a road hazard to other drivers. Get as far off the road as you can. For some reason, especially at night and in bad weather, a pulled over vehicle acts like a magnet if a driver is impaired or tired, and more accidents happen involving pulled over vehicles than you would think.

Make Yourself Even More Visible

Lift the hood, tie a white rag or cloth to an antenna, and place road hazard triangles to the traffic side of your vehicle if possible. This lets people know to be wary and makes you more easily seen by assistance or police.

Decide Whether or Not to Stay in the Car

If you feel there is a chance your car will be hit be oncoming traffic, get out and move to a safe place. If you are in a rural area or well off to the side, staying in your car may be the best bet. Keep your seat belt buckled if there is lots of traffic around you just in case the car is impacted. Don’t stand behind or next to the vehicle.

Change Tires Carefully

If you just have a flat, know how to change a tire, and have all the appropriate tools as well as a spare on a rim. You may decide to change the tire yourself. Make sure you are as far off the side as possible, and have a spotter watching traffic if you have someone else with you.

Don’t Flag Down Strangers

The National Safety Council recommends to not try to flag down other vehicles or solicit the help of passing motorists. Call for help using your 2BenefitU Roadside Assistance Benefit and wait patiently for help to arrive. You will soon be back on the road, or safely towed.

Tax Tips

Fourth Quarter Tax Tips for Small Businesses

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October through December is the fourth and final quarter of the tax year. Planning ahead can help your next fiscal year start off properly, so here are some tips and important dates to remember before wrapping up your small business’ books for the year.

File any unfiled taxes. October 17 is the deadline to file the previous year’s individual federal income tax returns through automatic extension.

Pay any anticipated taxes. October marks the final due date for quarterly taxes; if you know you will owe, estimating the total and paying ¼ of it every quarter can keep you from having penalties.

Delay additional income. If you think you will fall into a lower tax bracket in the coming year, delay any bonuses if possible until after January 1st. This can keep your taxes owed on additional income at a minimum.

Maximize tax benefits. If you can recognize a loss on stock transactions to offset gains, do it; also remember to check for capital loss carryovers from previous years that could affect this year’s final records.

Take advantage of pre-tax sheltering. Start a 529 plan for a child in your family, or set up an FSA for employees to contribute to.

Give money away. Charitable contributions to qualifying organizations are tax deductible. Top off your charitable giving before the end of the year. You can also gift up to $14,000 a year to anyone you want, without any tax consequences.

Are you eligible for Medicare? If so, annual open enrollment begins in October, and ends in early December. It’s time to figure out what this means for you, and make plans for your future health care options.

Pay outstanding medical bills. If you are under your cap, paying bills before year’s end can increase your total deduction in the following tax filing.    

Check your stock losses. November 30 is the last day to figure out if your stock trades are subject to “wash sale” rules – losses are disallowed if buying and selling of identical securities happens within a 30-day period.

Pay off any tax deductible amounts owed. Anything tax deductible paid by December 30th can be deducted from next year’s taxes.

Remember, if you have a tax question or need help, 2BenefitU’s Tax Helpline Benefit can give you peace of mind and steer you in the right direction.  

eyewear

Paying Too Much for Eyewear?

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Prescription eyewear can be a necessity to daily life for many. Those who need their vision corrected may be unable to drive, work, or read without their glasses or contacts – yet many health plans fail to provide this very necessary type of coverage. With 2BenefitU’s Vision Benefit, these out of pocket costs can be lowered.

And costly they are. According to many recent news articles, the prescription eyewear industry is ridiculously overpriced; with little regulation in the industry, those who need corrective lenses are virtually held captive by rising eyewear costs.

This is especially true for those for whom simple single vision lenses and frames won’t cut it. If you have astigmatism, need bifocal or trifocal lenses, or find yourself limited in frame selection due to thickness of lenses or other considerations, the cost can quickly double or triple.   

Prescription eyewear is currently a $64 billion industry with massive 500-percent markups. Eye doctors may tell you that you can’t have your own prescription, or may refuse to release pertinent details about your eyewear needs, such as the pupillary distance (aka PD, derived by measuring the space between your pupils with a ruler), cutting you off from cheaper deals elsewhere.

This can make it even more infuriating to get your glasses or contact lenses without paying trumped up costs. When you end up with a high pressure salesperson who assumes you need special non-scratch coating, sun reactive tint changing lenses, and the most expensive J-Lo designer frames, you can be looking at a $600 bill even for a basic pair of glasses.

To make things worse, even if you do have vision insurance, many companies pay the bare minimum and the lenses can take weeks to be ground in some remote lab. If you have kids on Medicaid plans, even eyewear stores with their own in-store lab are forced to send the lenses off to an “approved” lens grinder, and many parents end up paying cash for a pair of glasses as they are unable to wait 6-8 weeks or more for the backlog.

Thankfully there’s a better option. The Vision Benefit from 2BenefitU isn’t vision insurance, but it does provide major discounts at hundreds of opticians and eyewear retailers across the country – even the big names like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears, Target, JC Penney, VisionWorks, and more. Doctors not in network can be nominated.

Savings range from 20-60% off of prescription eyewear, 10-40% off of contacts, 10-30% off of eye exams, 15-40% off of online options and mail order services, and even a 40-50% discount off of the average price of Lasik eye surgery.  All of this with 2BenefitU’s Vision Benefit, which covers your whole family!

fight price

Fight Price Gouging for Important Medications with the Pharmacy Benefit

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Stopping at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription has become something many Americans fear, with pharmaceutical costs going through the roof. Recent news stories have brought to light the issue with privately owned medicine patents, and delivery devices, as evidence by first the Pharma Bro and then the Pharma Sis.

First it was a medication for AIDs patients, many of them children, suddenly unable to afford their meds when the price was inflated by the guy who had bought the patent. He was roundly denounced for price gouging a lifesaving drug, and public uproar had a negative impact on his company as the story went viral. Martin Shkreli became America’s most hated person overnight.

Next came an almost identical uproar over the price increases for the Epi-Pen – an injectable form of epinephrine in an easy to use delivery system. The Epi-Pen was patented by a company called Mylan, and when the CEO made the call to jack the cost of a two pack of pens up over $600, parents across the nation were outraged.

Since the pens expire yearly and must be replaced, used or not, the cost was seemingly overwhelming, even when 50% off coupons were distributed. The implications were clear – this wasn’t about helping children, but about increasing company profits, even as the company boosted legislation to make their devices mandatory in schools and other facilities across the nation.

Many other people find pharmacy costs out of control, with insurance companies often refusing to cover needed options and doctors writing name brand scrips over generics thanks to kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies. Things like migraine meds, acid blockers, and other quality of life medications are included in high priced categories. In many cases, people end up going without, or trying to take half doses to make meds last longer – neither idea a viable one.

2BenefitU’s Pharmacy Benefit can often save significant amounts of money even compared to insurance benefit final costs. The benefit is one of up to 20 or more benefits available for a low monthly cost starting at $15.95, and could provide the best savings option on generic medications at pharmacies coast to coast.

If you have been struggling with pharmacy costs, talk to your doctor about prescribing generics, and to your pharmacist about whether or not they accept the pharmacy benefit. Your medications costs shouldn’t impact your ability to pay for electricity and buy food – yet, sadly, that is the choice many Americans are being forced to make.

Pet Ownership Costs

Understanding the Lifetime Cost of Pet Ownership

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Whether you have a Fido the dog, a Fluffy the Cat, a Thumper the rabbit, or a Sprinter the pony (or any less usual pet including lizards, birds, fish, rodents, or llamas) the cost of their care, feeding, and vet bills over their lifetime can certainly add up.

The lifetime cost of owning a dog, for an easy example, will certainly depend on the type and breed of the dog, its size, and life expectancy, with larger dogs costing more and often living longer – however, the bulk of certain costs will occur in the first 12 months of life, when most shots and basic needs like neutering or spaying and microchipping are done and capital costs for carriers, beds, shelter, and other instant needs are accepted.

After that, it’s a known quantity for food, plus an unknown quantity for vet care. Food can range anywhere from $150-$1500 per year depending on the size of the dog; health care will vary wildly depending on the health of the animal, any accidents, and where in the country you live.

Other potential costs include pet sitting, pet walking, pet grooming, and other incidentals like toys, treats, outings, leashes and collars that have to be replaced, items for travel and car rides, and more.

Cats have slightly lower costs, but veterinary care is often higher – although cats may not get as many off the cuff injuries as dogs, they are susceptible to more kinds of illnesses and ailments as they get older which can rapidly rack up vet bills.

Exotic pets can cost a pretty penny at the vet as well. Unless you have a local vet who treats exotics, travel time will have to be factored in.

With the Pet Benefit from 2BenefitU, at least the veterinary portion of your lifetime pet responsibility budget can be cut down, as well as some of the ongoing costs for replaceable items that wear out, and services your vet may offer that aren’t directly health related- and you can even take advantage of the ID tag and pet finder system.

With this benefit, you can enjoy:

  • 25% off medical procedures at participating veterinarians
  • 10% to 35% off pet services and supplies
  • Free ID tag and 24-hour pet location service

Vet not in the network? You can nominate him or her and get the savings, and get them more business, too. Caring for a pet lasts their lifetime, so it only makes sense to get as much savings as you can.

Chiropractic Relief

Three Conditions You Didn’t Know a Chiropractor Could Help With

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Chiropractors don’t just treat tweaked backs, sore necks, and kinked spinal columns. There are many conditions that can be improved by chiropractic treatment, including:

Chronic Headaches

Headaches can ruin an afternoon, a whole day, or – in severe cases – a week or more. Chronic headaches can be tension or stress induced, or you may suffer from migraines that have a more neurological component and leave you disoriented and disabled. Not all headaches can be treated with chiropractic measures, but tension headaches and headaches that begin in the neck can often benefit from spinal manipulation that relieves stress, alleviates muscle tension and joint irritation, and eases or reduces headache pain. Many patients find that regular “adjustments” lead to a reduction in the number of headaches they have as well as a lessening of pain when they do have a headache.

Anxiety or Stress

There are three main kinds of stress triggers – body, mind, and environmental. Something as simple as noise, weather, time crunches and performance expectations can cause stress, as can physical illness, mental distress, or a variety of other causes. When you are stressed, the hypothalamus in your brain goes into overdrive. It stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, causing an increase in heart rate, blood volume and blood pressure, which can eventually lead to very real conditions such as high blood pressure, muscle tissue damage, diabetes, infertility, immune system compromise and more. A chiropractor isn’t a magician, but sometimes spinal manipulation can reduce nerve irritation and release muscle tension, relaxing the body and reducing the flight or fight response that pain sends to the brain.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is diagnosed in patients who typically have a minimum of 11 out of 18 specific tender points on the body, plus symptoms such as long-term fatigue, mood disorders, and insomnia.  People with FM may also present with additional conditions such as IBS, TMJ, psychological conditions, and / or some autoimmune diseases. This widespread pain and sensitivity throughout the entire musculoskeletal systems is thought to affect about 2 percent of the United States population. In one study, 60 percent of the subjects treated by a chiropractor experienced a significant improvement: reduced pain, improved sleep and decreased fatigue, as pressure points can be relieved and nerve pain reduced with proper manipulation.

With 2BenefitU’s Chiropractic Benefit, you can get discounted care from a chiropractor and have these and other conditions treated in a way that may provide more or different relief than you can obtain through regular medical channels.*

* This information is not provided as medical advice and should not be taken as such. Please consult your doctor before obtaining treatment of any kind.