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Safeguard Your Family’s Wellness This Back-to-School Season

October 16, 2022/in Healthy Living, News, Personal

School is back in session!

As a parent, we’re sure you’re excited that the summer chaos, coordinating camps and activities, and simply having your children around 24/7 have ended!

As you know, going back to school typically means your child gets sick more frequently. So, how can you safeguard your child and the rest of your family’s wellness this back-to-school season?

Below are a few tips.

Stay Up-to-Date on Immunizations and Vaccines

Vaccination requirements typically vary on a state-by-state basis or even in a school-specific district. To find out precisely what immunizations your child needs, contact your local school board.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend a few specific vaccines based on your child’s age. These are as follows:

By Age Two

A vaccination series of the following vaccines should be completed in all children by age two:

  • Hepatitis B
  • DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis)
  • Hib (Haemophilus influenzae)
  • Polio
  • Pneumococcus
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  • Varicella (protects against chicken pox)

In addition, annual flu vaccines are recommended for infants from six to 24 months, as this age group is at high risk of complications from contracting the flu.

Hepatitis A vaccines may also be recommended starting at age 2 for those in high-risk groups or areas.

Age Four to Six

Typically, boosters are recommended between ages four to six for DTaP, Polio, and MMR. Those who are younger than nine and have not received the flu vaccine, need two doses of the vaccine given more than one month apart. After age nine, annual vaccination is recommended.

Children with asthma or lung diseases, sickle cell anemia, HIV, diabetes, and heart or kidney disease should receive the influenza vaccination annually.

Age 11 to 12

At around age 11 to 12, a pediatrician visit is recommended to review vaccinations and ensure all necessary immunizations have been provided. At this age, a hepatitis B, MMR, or varicella vaccine may be given if missed or incomplete at earlier ages.

Your child may also receive a combination of boosters for tetanus and diphtheria (if five years have passed since the last Td vaccine). Children with a high risk of complications from the flu should receive an annual vaccine. 

Attend Annual Checkups

Annual doctor’s office visits and check-ups can help prevent greater health issues later on down the line. These check-ups can help identify hearing and vision issues, malnutrition, and other lifestyle imbalances.

Hearing and Vision Issues

Vision and hearing losses are often overlooked in children at a younger age. These issues are difficult to identify if your child is not getting tested in their annual check-up for vision and hearing ability.

Identifying these issues early on can make a huge impact on your child’s ability to learn and engage both in school and at home.

Malnutrition

A child’s development depends on proper nutrition, both physically and cognitively. Malnutrition is an issue that impacts children globally, including in the U.S.

Annual checks and doctor’s visits can help give you greater insight into how your child is developing compared to other children of the same age. A slight change in nutrition can have a huge impact on your child’s ability to learn.

Infographic for "Safeguard Your Family's Wellness This Back-to-School Season"

MEC Covered Services for Children

To make sure your child can receive the care they need to remain healthy during the school year, you need proper insurance coverage.

Minimum essential coverage (MEC) offers an affordable coverage option to keep you and your family healthy at all times.

Some of the services covered for children include:

  • Alcohol and drug use assessments for adolescents
  • Autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months
  • Behavioral assessments for children at 0 to 11 months, one to four years, five to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, and 15 to 17 years
  • Bilirubin concentration screening for newborns
  • Blood Pressure screening for children at 0-11 months, one to four years, five to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, and 15 to 17 years
  • Blood screening for newborns
  • Cervical dysplasia screening for sexually active females
  • Depression screening for adolescents
  • Developmental screening for children under age three
  • Dyslipidemia screening for children at higher risk of lipid disorders at one to four years, five to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, and 15 to 17 years
  • Fluoride chemoprevention supplements for children without fluoride in their water source
  • Fluoride varnish for all infants and children as soon as teeth are present
  • Gonorrhea preventive medication for the eyes of all newborns
  • Hearing screen for all newborns; and for children once between 11 and 14 years, 15 and 17 years, and 18 and 21 years
  • Height, weight, and body mass index measurements for children at 0 to 11 months, one to four years, five to 10 years, 11 to 14 years, and 15 to 17 years of age
  • Hematocrit or hemoglobin screening for all children
  • Hemoglobinopathies or sickle cell screening for newborns
  • Hepatitis B screening for adolescents ages 11 to 17 years at high risk.
  • HIV screening for adolescents at higher risk
  • Hypothyroidism screening for newborns

These services in combination with preventative measures taken at home can help keep your family and your children safe during the back-to-school influx of sickness.

Looking to start a family or grow your current family? Take a look at one of our recent articles to learn about pregnancy and minimum essential coverage.

https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Safeguard-Your-Family_s-Wellness-This-Back-to-School-Season.png 628 1200 Amanda Rogers https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SBMA_Website-Logo_250x150.png Amanda Rogers2022-10-16 07:00:142022-08-28 22:27:24Safeguard Your Family’s Wellness This Back-to-School Season

Top Tips To Spring Clean Your Health

May 8, 2022/in Healthy Living, Personal, Telehealth

Spring is in the air. This means it’s time to spring clean not only your home but also your healthy habits. By focusing on simple ways to improve your health, you are setting yourself up to take advantage of lifelong health benefits. Implementing healthy habits is simpler than you’d think.

Read more
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Tips to Combat the Negative Effects of Sitting

April 10, 2022/in Employee Engagement, Healthy Living, News, Personal

Sitting is now one of the most common daily activities. Increased desk jobs and a bigger than ever stay-at-home workforce have contributed to more sedentary lives.

In fact, over a quarter of Americans sit for more than eight hours a day, and most sit for six to eight hours a day according to a report by TIME.

They call the results of sitting “the new smoking” because of the negative impacts it can have on your body. Do you sit all day? Are you tired of tight hamstrings or back pain?

Read more
https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Untitled-design-1-copy-8.png 924 1640 Amanda Rogers https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SBMA_Website-Logo_250x150.png Amanda Rogers2022-04-10 11:29:392022-04-07 14:42:05Tips to Combat the Negative Effects of Sitting

How to Use Your Health Insurance To Meet Your Health Goals

March 20, 2022/in Employee Engagement, Healthy Living, MEC, News, Personal

New Year’s resolutions are known to fall by the wayside just as quickly as they begin. Old habits die hard. The exercise routines, juice cleanse, and promises of a healthier fresh start can easily be put on the backburner. No matter where you are on your health journey – you can still use your health insurance to meet your health goals. But how? It’s simpler than you’d think. Let’s dive in.

Read more
https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Untitled-design-1-copy-6.png 924 1640 Amanda Rogers https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SBMA_Website-Logo_250x150.png Amanda Rogers2022-03-20 09:00:112022-03-11 09:03:06How to Use Your Health Insurance To Meet Your Health Goals

What Does PHI Stand For?

March 13, 2022/in HIPAA, News, Personal

The healthcare industry has many acronyms to keep track of.

For example, HIPAA for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, CDC for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more. When it comes to keeping your personal records as secure as you want them to be, let’s dive into PHI, what it stands for, and why it’s important for you.

Read more
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What Happens if Your Employee Misses Open Enrollment?

February 20, 2022/in ACA Compliance, Employee Engagement, Employee Retention, MEC, Open Enrollment, Personal

There are strict deadlines for open enrollment each year. It opens nationally on November 1st, and closes on January 15th. Some states, such as New York and California, have extended deadlines through January 31st. Click here to see your state’s open enrollment period.

During this period, people have the opportunity to enroll in healthcare coverage, or change their plans. Failing to take action during this time can pose serious consequences because open enrollment is the time employers can take advantage of having health, dental, vision, life and other voluntary benefit insurance plans.

Read more
https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Untitled-design-copy-4.png 924 1640 Amanda Rogers https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SBMA_Website-Logo_250x150.png Amanda Rogers2022-02-20 15:23:562022-01-26 15:47:17What Happens if Your Employee Misses Open Enrollment?

How the Build Back Better Bill Affects ACA Compliance

January 23, 2022/in ACA Compliance, Brokers, Employee Retention, MEC, News, Personal

The Build Back Better framework, created by the current administration, is engineered to “set the United States on course to meet its climate goals, create millions of good-paying jobs, enable more Americans to join and remain in the labor force, and grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out”. One of the elements of the bill allocates $165 billion to healthcare spending and support. $35 billion is earmarked for adding hearing services to existing Medicare coverage with $130 billion earmarked for Affordable Care Act (ACA) credits, including coverage for previously uncovered states.

Read more
https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Untitled-design-copy-5.png 924 1640 Amanda Rogers https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SBMA_Website-Logo_250x150.png Amanda Rogers2022-01-23 17:06:212021-12-20 17:12:54How the Build Back Better Bill Affects ACA Compliance

Your Ultimate Guide to COBRA: Continued Health Coverage

January 16, 2022/in ACA Compliance, Brokers, COBRA, MEC, News, Personal

COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Under this Act, group health plans are required to provide temporary benefits and group health coverage to individuals who experience adverse events, such as job termination. In the United States, COBRA is a continuation of health coverage for workers for a certain period of time.

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https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Untitled-design-copy-3.png 924 1640 Amanda Rogers https://www.sbmabenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SBMA_Website-Logo_250x150.png Amanda Rogers2022-01-16 15:31:292022-01-06 11:31:35Your Ultimate Guide to COBRA: Continued Health Coverage

What OSHA’s COVID Vaccine Mandate Means for ALEs

December 26, 2021/in COVID-19, News, Personal

OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It’s an agency of the United States Department of Labor. OSHA’s mission is “to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.”

Read more
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How to Combat Holiday Stress

December 5, 2021/in Healthy Living, Personal

The holidays are like finals for adults—you spend weeks preparing in anticipation, all leading up to a few days of stress, and then go time for the big event. Holidays can be a stressful time of the year, to say the least.Physical activity doesn’t always mean an intense hour-long workout at the gym every day. While this form of exercise has great benefits, it’s not for everyone.

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