With the upcoming General Strike for Climate Action happening at the Manitoba Legislative Building on Friday, September 27th, climate change is top of mind for many people. RRC’s Sustainability Office is marking the occasion in several ways.

Given this timing, it’s fitting to examine how mental health and climate change are connected. Once we take a look, there are indeed several ways that climate change affects mental health.

First, natural disasters place increased strain on people living in areas affected by droughts, floods, forest fires, hurricanes and the like. The trauma caused by these events increases risk of depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. While not everyone exposed to the trauma develops a disorder, when a whole community is affected by such a disaster, there will certainly be an increased demand for mental health services and a disruption to the community as a whole.

In addition, many people experience climate change related grief in response to experienced or anticipated loss of natural environments. Lakes, land, forests, and other natural environments help us develop a sense of place and are key settings in which we build good mental health. The grief related to losing these is very real and impacts a person’s well-being.

Yet another way in which climate change affects mental health is through climate anxiety: worry and fear related to the consequences of climate change. Many people can be concerned, even very concerned, about climate change while still functioning well in their lives. For some, however, this anxiety can become intense and lead to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, intense anger, inability to continue with daily activities and even thoughts of suicide.

If you are feeling this extreme form of climate anxiety, please reach out for support. Students can connect with RRC Counselling Services or use the student benefits plan to connect with a therapist in the community. Staff can reach out to our Employee and Family Assistance Program.

For anyone whose mental health is affected by climate change, it can be helpful to participate in direct positive action and to be around others who understand your concerns. So, check out the activities that the Sustainability Office has planned and get involved.

References:

Lewis, J. (2018). In the Room With Climate Anxiety PART 1. Psychiatric Times, 35(11), 1–2.

Focus on climate change and mental health. (2018). Nature Climate Change,(4), 259-259. 

STRATA Select

Have you taken advantage of the STRATA Select Program? Through our affiliation with HUB International STRATA Benefits Consulting, employees have access to voluntary products and services at discounted or preferred rates.

Travel Discounts – Take advantage of exclusive travel tour benefits, hotel discounts and preferred rates on vehicle rentals while you travel.

Direct Sellers Insurance Coverage – A unique program that provides coverage for a variety of risks and liabilities that direct sellers (e.g. Pampered Chef, Avon, Norwex, etc.) are exposed to when they are away from home, picking up or delivering products, at someone else’s home or at trade shows or other business events.

GOeVisit – Get convenient online access to medical professionals for non-emergency conditions, anywhere, anytime.

Group Home and Auto Insurance – Save up to 40% on your home and auto insurance by signing up for a group membership.

Home Phone Program – Reduce your monthly phone bill by accessing this home phone discount program which includes caller ID, voicemail and other calling features.

Home Security Systems – Through AAA, receive discounts on monitoring when you sign up for a home security system.

Hospital Cash – Receive money to assist you with unexpected costs during your hospital stay. Single or family coverage is available.

Individual Health, Dental and Travel Insurance – HUB STRATA’s Individual Insurance Specialist assists with the transition to personal insurance and provides coverage options for family members & relatives who do not have benefits in place.

Individual Life and Living Benefits – Access HUB STRATA’s Individual Life and Living Benefits Consultant to assess your coverage needs and recommend the best fit for you.

Long Distance Savings – Save on your landline or cellular long distance plans.

MyCare – In the event of a serious illness or major orthopaedic condition, MyCare provides affordable and timely access to world-renowned Mayo Clinic expertise.

Pet Health Insurance – Receive 10% off the regular monthly pet health insurance premiums through Petplan®.

Travel Health Insurance – Access to a full range of cost-effective travel insurance options through Medi-Quote Insurance Brokers.

For more information and to start using the discounts and services offered through the STRATA Select program, visit this website: http://select.hubinternational.com/selectredriver/.

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website offers a wealth of information and resources to help you make the most of all aspects of your life. For the month of March, LifeWorks is featuring a suite of resources called Work and Career Boosters.

Work and Career Boosters features resources to help you improve your productivity and advance professionally.

Be sure to visit www.lifeworks.com to take advantage of the new 2017 content, including videos, podcasts, audio tips and much more.

Remember your EFAP User ID and Password:

User ID: rrcefap                     Password: efap

Whether you’re moving, in transition, or you’re starting over, LifeWorks is here to help you through the changes in your life.

You may be leaving home, starting a new job, getting used to a roommate, or adjusting to life as a single person. Maybe you’re coping with a health change, or the challenges of a new phase of life. Contact LifeWorks any time, 24/7, to speak with a professional consultant for confidential support and resources.

You can also log in any time to www.lifeworks.com to access helpful online resources such as these:

• A new infographic on Getting Over a Breakup.
• A new podcast: Coping with Loss. A leading expert offers guidance for those going through a death, divorce, illness, or other painful event and describes how to come out stronger and more resilient.
• Our recordings, Navigating Workplace Change and Growing Stronger Through Change.
• Booklets, articles, and audio content in our Change and Resilience Toolkit.
• Articles on Coping with Change, Growing Stronger Through Change, Deciding to Move in with Your Partner, and Thriving Through Workplace Change.

Call LifeWorks toll-free, any time: 1-877-207-8833
TTY: 1-877-371-9978
You can also visit www.lifeworks.com
(username: rrcefap; password: efap).

Upcoming Submission Deadline!

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you to submit your 2015 claims to your Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) by March 31, 2016.

2015 claims must be received by Great-West Life prior to March 31^st, 2016 to be claimed against your 2015 HCSA dollars. Any unused 2015 benefit dollars remaining after this period will be forfeited.

The HCSA can be used to cover a range of benefits not normally covered under other types of group benefits plans or by provincial medical plans.

What are covered expenses?

You are covered for 100% of eligible expenses that you incur while you and your dependents are covered, up to the total amount of dollars in your HCSA.

The Income Tax Act governs the types of expenses that can be reimbursed under the HCSA. This includes medical or dental services provided by a:

• Licensed medical practitioner;
• Dentist; or
• Public or licensed private hospital.

Please visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca and search on medical expenses for a complete list.

When does my HCSA refresh?

On January 1^st, 2016 your HCSA refreshed based on the Flex Option you have chosen and part-time/full-time status where applicable. Please visit www.greatwestlife.com to review your claims history and obtain your HCSA statement including balance.

What happens if I have excess claims from 2015?

Under the HCSA, you can carry forward claims up to 12 months from the date of service. This means if you had more 2015 expenses than you had 2015 HCSA dollars, you can carry forward those claims for reimbursement against your 2016 HCSA balance.

Great-West Life online!

GroupNet

GroupNet for Plan Members gives you access to a world of secure, user-friendly services:

• Submit many of your claims online
• Sign up for Direct Deposit – claims paid directly into your bank account
• View your claim status and Explanation of Benefits for the past 24 months
• Access our Health & Wellness site for topics that are important to you

Visit www.greatwestlife.com to register and login for the first time if you have not already done so.

GroupNet Mobile app

GroupNet for Plan Members is now available through the free GroupNet Mobile app available for Android™, Blackberry® or iPhone.

• Submit claims online
• Access information about your benefits, coverage balances, claims and more
• View card information
• Locate the nearest provider for Provider eClaims, through built-in GPS mapping tool
• Search for medications by drug name or Drug Identification Number (DIN)
• See if a drug is covered and what percentage
• Access a library of drug information

eClaims

Great-West Life’s Provider eClaims offers on-the-spot claims submission at approved providers, including chiropractors, physiotherapists and acupuncturists.

Your provider will need to know your group benefits policy/plan number and your member ID number to submit claims using Provider eClaims.

GroupNet Text

Get instant access to your benefit details with GroupNet Text! Sign up on GroupNet for Plan Members under the Your Profile tab.

To utilize this feature, you text a keyword to 204-289-1667 and you’ll receive information on your benefit coverage inquiry. For a complete list of key words, text Help. For a description of the type of information a key word provides, text Help and the keyword.

DrugHub

DrugHub lets you use your iPhone to:

• Search thousands of medications – ingredients, interactions and side effects
• Set reminders for you and your family to take medications on schedule
• Know when you’re running low, when to order refills and more!

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website contains useful tools and articles to help you achieve your goals. Check out the new podcast Achieving Your Goals and other resources and seminars at www.lifeworks.com.

Remember your EFAP User ID and Password:

User ID: rrcefap                                Password: efap

Out-of-Country Emergency Travel Health Coverage

Eligible Red River College employees and their eligible dependents have 100% Emergency Travel Health Coverage for trips up to 90 days.

What is an out-of-country medical emergency?

The definition of an out-of-country medical emergency is “a sudden, unexpected injury or acute episode of disease”. You will not be covered if you are travelling against medical advice.

What to do during a medical emergency out-of-province/country?

When traveling abroad, it is important to carry your Great-West Life ID card. Your card includes the toll-free numbers required to obtain assistance during a medical emergency. In the event of an emergency call Global Medical Assistance (GMA) as soon as possible. The call can be made during or immediately following a medical situation, such as:

• You are hospitalized or about to be hospitalized.
• You need assistance in locating proper medical care.
• Physician and/or Hospital requires insurance verification (confirmed through GMA directly).
• You are involved in an accident requiring medical treatment.
• You have a medical problem and require translation service.
• Emergency evacuation is deemed medically necessary (arrangements will be made through GMA).
• Any serious medical problem arises.

Be prepared to give the name of the person covered, the group and contract number and a description of the problem.

For more information or to print your ID card, log in to the Great-West Life Member Portal with your Great-West Life user name and password.

Global Medical Assistance (GMA)

The Global Medical Assistance program through Great-West Life provides medical assistance through a worldwide communications network which operates 24 hours a day. The network locates medical services and obtains Great-West Life’s approval of covered services, when required as a result of a medical emergency. Coverage for travel within Canada is limited to emergencies arising more than 500 kilometers from home. You must be covered by the government health plan in your home province to be eligible. For a list of covered services, see your benefits booklet.

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website contains useful tools and articles to build resilience and develop relationships by volunteering and committing to your community. You even have access to seminars at www.lifeworks.com.

Check out these resources:

• Podcast – Giving Back
• Seminar – Happiness: Learning from Positive Psychology

Remember your EFAP User ID and Password:

User ID: rrcefap                                Password: efap

STRATA Select Voluntary Benefits

Through the Voluntary STRATA Select Program, you are eligible for discounts on a variety of products and services such as:

• Hotel Bookings
• Home & Auto Insurance
• Home Telephone
• Home Security Systems
• Hospital Cash
• Individual Health, Dental and Travel
• Long Distance Savings
• MyCare (Medical Access Plan)
• Personal Safety Monitoring Devices
• Pet Health Insurance
• Travel Discounts
• Vehicle Rental Discounts (National / Enterprise)

Log on to your STRATA Select website for more information.

Login: rrc              Password: voluntary

Preferred Vision Services (PVS)

Preferred Vision Services is a service provided by Great-West Life. PVS entitles you to a discount on a wide selection of quality eyewear and lens extras including scratch guarding and tints when purchased from a PVS network provider.

You can also obtain a discount on laser eye surgery and even hearing aids!

You can use this discount as often as you like for yourself and for your dependents.

Refer to your group benefits booklet for more information. You can also contact the PVS Information Hotline at 1-800-668-6444 or visit the PVS Web site at www.pvs.ca for information about PVS locations and the program.

Supporting Your Wellness

Are you missing out on the resources and support your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) has to offer? RRC’s EFAP through LifeWorks is a resource to help you stay healthy, reduce stress, and be happier at work and at home.

Remember your EFAP User ID and Password:

User ID: rrcefap                                Password: efap

LifeWorks is available any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone, online and by mobile application.

Your EFAP provides:

• Toll-free access to qualified, professional consultants for confidential, expert help with work, life and everything in between;
• Telephonic, face-to-face or video counseling live via webcam with Master’s level counselors across Canada;
• Customized research to assist you in addressing your particular issues;
• Information about resources and support agencies located in your community; and,
• Access to hundreds of educational materials including articles, booklets, audio recordings/CDs, toolkits and assessments, and more.

NEW! Try the LifeWorks mobile app available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry devices. This FREE app provides the convenience of EFAP access via your smart phone!

NEW! Now you can chat confidentially online with a qualified LifeWorks consultant. You can even access counseling services through the chat feature. You can launch a chat session on the LifeWorks website. A personal account is required to access the chat feature as well as self assessment tools and action plans. Visit www.lifeworks.com and click ‘REGISTER’ at the top right of your screen to register for a personal account. Personal account information and usage is confidential.

ORIENTATION WEBINARS! To provide you with more information on services available, LifeWorks provides 24/7 access to a pre-recorded program orientation webinars, and conducts scheduled live program orientation webinars throughout the year.

To view the pre-recorded program orientation webinar click here.

The next live program orientation webinar will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at 1pm EST, to register click here.

Check out these recommended LifeWorks resources:

• Podcast – Quick Stress Reducers
• NEW full-length audio recording/CD – Brief Exercises to Help Reduce Stress
• Seminar – Relax the Body, Calm the Mind

It is influenza season again. We want to protect our friends, family, colleagues, and any with whom we interact who could become seriously ill. See  below for different myths that are “busted” .

MYTH: The flu shot gives you the flu.

FACT: The flu shot cannot cause the flu. It’s normal to feel tired, feverish, and achy for a couple of days after the flu shot. The real flu lasts 1-2 weeks.

MYTH: I never get sick, so I don’t need a flu shot.

FACT: You can give other people the flu even if you don’t have symptoms yourself.

Kids, elderly persons, and people who have chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes, cancer, people who are on special medications) can get extremely sick from the flu.

MYTH: The flu shot will protect me from the stomach flu.

FACT: The flu affects your lungs, not your stomach. The flu shot is for a type of infection that affects your lungs only. The stomach flu is different and caused by different germs.

MYTH: You only need to get the flu shot once.

FACT: The flu shot only protects you for about 6 months. You need it once a year.

MYTH: Getting the flu shot is the only thing I need to do to not get sick.

FACT: You still need to wash your hands and cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing to prevent the spread of germs

Developed by Health Services 4th year Student Nurses who are here on practicum from Univeristy of Manitoba.

As part of Red River College’s group benefits, Employees in Flex Options 1, 2, 4 or 5 may have coverage for a variety of dental benefits. Your coverage is based on your Flex Option choice.

Preventive and Basic Services

• Recall exams, twice per calendar year* (only once where a complete oral exam is also provided within the same year)
• Bitewing x-rays, twice per calendar year*
• Complete series of x-rays, one per 24 months
• Panoramic x-rays, one per 36 months
• Complete oral examinations, one per calendar year (initial examination with a new dentist)
• Polishing, scaling and fluoride, twice per calendar year*
• Minor restorative services (fillings, posts, prefabricated crowns for primary teeth)
• Periodontal and Endodontic services
• Oral surgery

*must be separated by an interval of at least 5 months

Major Services

• Crowns, Onlays, Inlays and Veneer Restorations
• Dentures, maintenance and repairs
• Bridgework

Orthodontics

• Coverage for dependent children under the age of 19 (treatment must start before the child’s 18^th birthday)
• Diagnostic services and treatments

For detailed dental coverage information refer to your benefits booklet.

The above is a summary of the provisions of the group plan. In the event of a discrepancy between this benefit and the master contract, the terms of the group contract will apply.

Pre-Determination of Dentalcare Benefits

Before incurring any large dental expenses ($500 or more), or beginning any orthodontic treatment, ask your dental service provider to complete a treatment plan and submit it to Great-West Life. The benefits payable for the proposed treatment will be calculated, so you know if the expenses are eligible and the approximate portion of the cost you will have to pay.

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website contains useful tools and articles to help you and your family. You even have access to seminars at www.lifeworks.com.

It’s that busy time of year again, LifeWorks can support you with practical tips to tackle your individual, family and work to-do lists. Check out these resources:

• Podcast – Tackling Your ‘To-do’ List
• New Seminar – Stop Putting it Off: Strategies for Overcoming Procrastination

Have you experienced a Life Event?

When you elect a Health and Dental option, you are locked in at that level until the next re-enrolment period, which is every 2 years. However, if you experience a Life Event during a plan year that affects your coverage needs, you may make changes to your benefit options without waiting until the next re-enrolment period.

Any of the following is considered a Life Event:

• Acquiring a spouse
• Acquiring a child (birth, adoption or step-child)
• Gain or involuntary loss of similar coverage through your spouse’s group benefit program (for example, because of a change in your spouse’s employment status)
• Death of your spouse or child
• Your spouse or child ceasing to qualify for coverage (for example, through divorce or your child’s attainment of a limiting age)

For more information see your benefits booklet.

What do you do if you experience a Life Event?

If you experience a Life Event, contact Human Resource Services with your details no later than 60 days after the Life Event occurs. If you are electing to change your Flex Option and it is not reported within 60 days of the Life Event, the change will not take effect until the next re-enrolment date.

Additionally, any time you experience a Life Event resulting in a change to your family status, you should review your beneficiary designation.

For more information on your Flex Options, refer to your benefits booklet.

Coordination of Benefits

Coordination of Benefits, or COB, is a benefit claim procedure developed by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association for individuals covered under two or more Health and/or Dental policies.

Applying this procedure ensures that you and your dependents receive the maximum eligible benefits available from all policies under which you are covered. It also outlines the method used for determining where to submit your claims first.

An EOB (also called a payment summary) is a letter from the insurance company which is sent to you with the claim reimbursement. It outlines the amount of the expense and how much of it was reimbursed. For drug claims paid via your drug card, your pharmacy receipt is considered your EOB.

Here is how COB works:

Your Own Expenses

1. Submit your claim to your Great-West Life plan.
2. If a portion of your claim is not covered by the Great-West Life plan (such as a deductible, coinsurance or an amount over a maximum), submit the EOB form from Great-West Life to your spouse’s plan (if you have family coverage) for reimbursement of the remaining portion.
3. If a portion of the claim is still not reimbursed, you may submit the EOB form from your spouse’s insurer to your Health Care Spending Account.
4. If your spouse has a Health Care Spending Account, this plan would be the last payor.

Your Spouse’s Expenses

1. Your spouse will first submit their own claim to their own insurer.
2. If a portion of their claim is not payable under their own plan, the EOB can be submitted to your Great-West Life plan, if you have family coverage.
3. If a portion of their claim is still not payable, the remaining portion can be submitted to your spouse’s Health Care Spending Account, if applicable.
4. The last payor for your spouse’s expenses is your Health Care Spending Account.

Your Dependent Child’s Expenses

1. If both your Great-West Life plan and your spouse’s plan include coverage for dependent children, the claims should first be submitted to the plan of the parent whose birth date is earlier in the calendar year. For example, if your birth date is February and your spouse’s birth date is August, the claim should first be submitted to your Great-West Life plan. (In situations where you and your spouse have the same birth date, the claim should be submitted to the plan of the parent whose first name begins with the earlier letter in the alphabet.)
2. If the first payor doesn’t cover the full expense, the EOB can be forwarded to the other parent’s plan. Regardless of the above rules, if the parents are separated or divorced, the first payor is the insurer of the parent with custody of the child, then the plan of the spouse of that parent, then the plan of the parent not having custody of the child and finally the plan of the spouse of that parent.
3. Health Care Spending Accounts are the final payors. To determine which Health Care Spending Account the remaining portion of the expense should be submitted to first, apply the birth date rule as described in step 1.

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website contains useful tools and articles to help you and your family. You even have access to seminars at www.lifeworks.com.

Explore strategies to help you preserve your emotional well-being by checking out these recommended resources:

• Podcast – Making Positive Choices
• New Seminar – A New Attitude: The Truth About Mental Illness

Upcoming Submission Deadline!

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you to submit your 2014 claims to your Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) by March 31, 2015.

2014 claims must be received by Great-West Life prior to March 31^st, 2015 to be claimed against your 2014 HCSA dollars. Any unused 2014 benefit dollars remaining after this period will be forfeited.

The HCSA can be used to cover a range of benefits not normally covered under other types of group benefits plans or by provincial medical plans.

What are covered expenses?

You are covered for 100% of eligible expenses that you incur while you and your dependents are covered, up to the total amount of dollars in your HCSA.

The Income Tax Act governs the types of expenses that can be reimbursed under the HCSA. This includes medical or dental services provided by a:

• Licensed medical practitioner;
• Dentist; or
• Public or licensed private hospital.

Please visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca and search on medical expenses for a complete list.

On January 1^st, 2015 your HCSA refreshed based on the Flex Option you have chosen and part-time/full-time status where applicable. Please visit www.greatwestlife.com to review your claims history and obtain your HCSA statement including balance.

Under the HCSA, you can carry forward claims up to 12 months from the date of service. This means if you had more 2014 expenses than you had 2014 HCS A dollars, you can carry forward those claims for reimbursement against your 2015 HCSA balance.

Supporting Your Wellness

The LifeWorks website contains useful tools and articles to help you and your family prepare for winter. You even have access to seminars at www.lifeworks.com.

This month the recommended seminar is ‘Bouncing Back: How to Stay Resilient During Life’s Challenges’. Build resilience, overcome obstacles and achieve your New Year’s goals!

Did You Know?

Through the Voluntary STRATA Select Program, you are eligible for discounts on new security systems or monitoring of existing systems through AAA Alarms?    AAA Alarms has three incentives depending on customer needs. Check it out!

• Save 15% off all equipment with the first 3 months of Basic Monitoring.*
• Get an upgraded system and a $50 credit on your account just for signing up.*
• Eligible for current market promotions when you sign up!

*based on a 3 year contract

Log on to your STRATA Select website for more information.

Login: rrc              Password: voluntary