In a typical day, you face long hours at a computer screen, commuting in your car, and other tedious chores that can make your eyes scream for relief. Most of the time we just need to find a way to rest our eyes. A VSP network doctor offers some suggestions on how to relax tired eyes. Read More…
If you are newly diagnosed with a chronic illness, a special Blue Cross Blue Shield nurse can help you develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to better self-manage disease-related problems. Better management of chronic illnesses means more efficient and effective care: fewer complications, fewer emergency room visits, and fewer hospital stays. And that helps you and BMC save money on health care. Read More…
Getting enough sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health. Read more about why a good night’s sleep matters.
Add flaxseed to your diet. These small brown seeds are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids and help lower your total cholesterol.
Source: bcbstx.com
These easy-to-make spring rolls are filled with smoked salmon, tender-crisp asparagus and plenty of fresh herbs. Read More…
Source: eatingwell.com
This oatmeal-meets-muffin-tin cake recipe is perfect for having a healthy breakfast available on busy weekdays. Read More…
Source: eatingwell.com
The American Heart Association has deemed April as Move More Month. Use this opportunity as a chance to taking your first step towards a healthier lifestyle.
Try adding physical activity to your life at least three times a week. Walking is a great way to introduce physical activity, but you could do anything to be active! Try swimming, biking, running, dancing or yard work – anything that causes you to break a sweat.
Start small. Add short walks to your routine in the morning, on your lunch break or walking around the playground with your family. It all adds up!
Useful Links
Check out these easy tips to get active from the American Heart Association.
Do you have trouble staying energized for your post-day workout? Try these tips to keep your energy going strong so you can Move More.
Stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand. Every type of demand or stressor—such as exercise, work, school, major life changes, or traumatic events—can be stressful.
Stress can affect your health. And it’s important to pay attention to how you deal with minor and major stress events so that you know when to seek help. Read the 5 Things You Should Know About Stress from the National Institute of Mental Health.
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently changed the contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) covering families. The 2018 contribution limit for HSAs linked to family coverage will be $6,850 — not $6,900, as the IRS had previously announced. The individual contribution limit for 2018 will remain $3,450.
Since the IRS reduced the maximum contribution amount for 2018, your annual contribution will be lowered to $6,850 ($7,850 if eligible for catch-up contributions). No action on your part is required. You will receive a confirmation statement that shows your new reduced annual HSA contribution amount. You will also notice a slight decrease in the HSA deduction from your paycheck.
If you have already contributed more than the new allowable maximum in 2018, the HSA bank will determine how the excess (up to $50) will be handled – you will not lose your money. You can expect to hear more about this process later this year.
The Heart-a-Palooza Challenge shifts to healthy eating in April, marking the start of the second phase of the heart health campaign. Check out the exciting line-up of healthy eating challenges — Sack the Sodium and Meatless Munchies — at mybmcwellness.com and sign up! And you’ll find lots of heart-healthy eating information at mybmcbenefits.com.
While you focus on heart-healthy eating in April, continue measuring your blood pressure each week. Digital blood pressure cuffs are available at each BMC campus. If you work from home, check with the pharmacist at a retail pharmacy or grocery store near you to access a free blood pressure health station.
The Heart-a-Palooza Health Challenge runs until May 27 and is all about matters of the heart – controlling blood pressure, eating well, and being active. Participate and learn that you don’t have to make big changes for a healthier heart. Even small, basic steps can have dramatic effects. And by making small lifestyle changes for heart health, you’ll earn 300 bWell points.
The annual the Step-It-Up Challenge returns on April 30. Soon it will be time to form your band and compete in the ultimate battle of the bands. You and your band can earn 250 bWell points when you step into the spotlight and shine like a bWell rock star. Two bands will also take home a $400 gift card for each member — one for the team with the highest average steps per member, and one for the team who wins the random prize draw. (If each team member meets the weekly 50,000 steps goal).
Life brings lots of changes – some planned, others not. New for 2018, your BMC benefits include several work-life-family programs from Bright Horizons®.
Register in advance so that you are ready to use the Back-Up Care Advantage Program when you need care. You can register two ways: Online at careadvantage.com/bmc and enter the BMC employer username: BMC and password: CARE4YOU, or call the toll-free number at 1-877-BH-CARES (1-877-242-2737).
See the Benefits Guide for more information about this new benefit.
Statistics say that money problems negatively influence our relationships. Join Magellan’s live interactive webinar on Wednesday, April 11, Relationships, and Money. In this webinar, you will receive the tools for and confidence in removing stress and frustration from your money conversations, including how to assess your personal history with money, best practices for marriage and money, teaching children about money, and establishing ground rules with family. Space is limited so register now.
Useful Links
Read how couples can avoid money arguments from the American Psychological Association.
The tax overhaul likely gave your paycheck a boost in February. So now is a good time to take a second look at your tax withholding from your paycheck.
Reviewing your W-4 is a good practice in any tax year. If not enough is withheld, you’ll owe money come tax time. Pay too much, and you end up with a large refund. And if the IRS sends you a huge check this spring, it means you’ve likely overpaid on taxes throughout the year.
With the change to federal income tax rates and brackets, you may want to consider updating your witholding allowances. Checking your withholding allowances is especially important if you previously itemized your deductions, have two or more jobs in your household, or have dependents.
Visit the IRS website to use the W-4 Calculator to determine the correct number of withholding allowances to claim or to learn more.
You can make changes to your W-4 in your ADP Payroll portal.
Useful Links
Read about the drawbacks of receiving a large refund from 20somethingfinance.com.
7 Reasons to Adjust Your Federal Tax Withholding from Fidelity.
A communications campaign to educate and motivate BMC employees to save and invest in the BMC 401(k) Plan won second place at Pensions and Investment’s 2018 Eddy Awards on March 18 in Miami.
The award recognized the effectiveness of the BMC Savings Hero Week campaign, which ran from September 12 to 19, 2017. The campaign placed second in the Special Projects category for corporations with between 1,000 and 5,000 employees.
The Eddy Awards are hosted by Pensions and Investments, a media organization that delivers news, research, and analysis to the professional investment community.
MyBMC Rewards provides a snapshot of your pay, retirement benefits, health and insurance benefits and corporate programs. Visit MyBMC Rewards to:
Go online anytime or call 877-262-4849. Representatives are available from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Eastern time.
From enrollment reminders to important 401(k) information and benefits updates, you can be the first to know when your attention or action is required.
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