Fighting the Flu

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Holiday gatherings are beginning to ramp up — and so is the flu. According to the Maricopa County Seasonal Respiratory Illness Dashboard, the number of people infected with the flu has been rapidly increasing every week since the flu season officially began September 28. While numbers are trending down from last year and the five-year seasonal average, flu cases are expected to peak in mid to late December.

Whether you’re getting together with family and friends, attending a school event, shopping at the mall, or participating in any activity with people, you’re likely to encounter the flu virus.

Here are some tips for staying healthy:

  • Get a flu vaccine: The flu shot is the primary way to prevent the flu and can also reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick. Keep in mind it takes a couple of weeks for the vaccine to become fully effective so be extra cautious until your body has built up its defenses against the flu.
  • Wash your hands frequently: Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song) or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available. Make it a point to wash your hands every time you get home from an outing.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue and throw it away immediately, or cough/sneeze into your elbow. 
  • Avoid touching your face: Germs can spread when you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. 
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces: Regularly clean high-traffic areas and objects like doorknobs, phones, and keyboards. Antibacterial wipes are an easy tool to keep handy for daily wipe-downs of high-traffic places.
  • Avoid close contact with sick people: Maintain distance from those who are ill. 
  • Consider wearing a mask: Masks can add an extra layer of protection for both yourself and others. 

Remember that while most people are only down with the flu for a few days, people with chronic medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, a weakened immune system and other illnesses can become very sick and even die from the flu. Taking steps to protect yourself from becoming ill helps stop the virus from spreading. If you do become infected, continue to follow the tips above to prevent others from getting sick. You may also want to visit your healthcare provider to discuss antiviral medication to lessen symptoms and reduce the time you are sick.

If you think you might have the flu or would like to get vaccinated, call 480-882-4545 to schedule an appointment or request one online.

Navigating the Holidays as a Diabetic

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Food choices can feel difficult to make during the holiday season if you are diabetic. It’s especially hard to make good choices among a spread of options at every holiday party and get together. Taking time to make a plan before the event is a good way to avoid temptation; you’ll feel good about your choices and your body will too.

Tips to Stay on Track

Be a picky eater when choosing your foods. Scan the options first before choosing and find a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables.

Choose a smaller dinner plate. Use a plate that is 9” in diameter or smaller for better portion control and to combat overeating. Avoid going back for extra helpings of carbohydrate foods like potatoes, stuffing, casseroles, and dessert.

Serve yourself non-starchy, low carbohydrate foods first as these foods won’t have a significant impact on your blood sugar. Vegetables like asparagus, green beans, carrots, leafy greens, mushrooms, and broccoli are all great low carbohydrate options.

Watch the drinks which can contain hidden calories and sugar. Opt for water, zero-calorie sparkling water, or only one glass of something special!

Stay active by taking time to move. Mingle with friends, play with family members, or help cook and prepare food.

Find substitutions for ingredients when you are preparing any food. Offer to bring a dessert that you can enjoy and know how it will fit in with your other choices (ex. sugar-free pudding with cool whip, baked apples, oatmeal bars). Check out NOAH’s collection of healthy recipes for inspiration!

Don’t skip meals in anticipation of a feast! Although we want to save up our calories for a great dinner, make sure meals or snacks are still included during the day to avoid spikes in blood sugar.

Although the holiday season might seem challenging, using the tips above can make it more manageable. The holidays are more than food – they’re about seeing family and friends, creating memories, and enjoying good company. 

Learn how to manage your diabetes along with other healthy eating tips and tricks with the help of a NOAH dietitian. Call 480-882-4545 to schedule an appointment or request one online.

Tips for Picking a Health Plan

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Choosing the right health plan can feel overwhelming, but a little preparation can make the process much easier. Whether you’re updating your insurance during open enrollment, experiencing a life-changing event, or just needing to better understand your current plan, use these tips to find a plan that fits your family’s health needs and budget.

Look at Your Needs

Think about how much you went to the doctor last year or if your family’s situation has changed.

Learn Key Words

  • Deductible: How much you pay before your insurance starts helping.
  • Copay: A set amount you pay when you see a doctor.
  • Coinsurance: The percent you pay after your deductible.
  • Out-of-pocket maximum: The most you’ll pay in a year for covered care.
  • Preventive care: Routine services like wellness visits, screenings, and vaccinations to prevent illnesses or catch them early. These services usually do not cost anything out of pocket as long as you use an in-network provider and get any required referrals.

Check Your Doctors and Medicine

Make sure your doctors and prescriptions are covered by your plan.

Learn About Health Accounts

Some plans have savings accounts (like HSA or FSA) to help pay for medical costs.

Compare Carefully

Don’t just look at the monthly price. Check what each plan covers and what you’ll pay when you get care.

Know What Your Job Offers

If your employer gives you money for an HSA or helps pay for your plan, that can save you money.

Let NOAH Help

Only you can pick the plan that’s right for your family’s needs. However, we can help make sure the plan you choose will cover your services at NOAH. Call us at 480-882-4545 to verify accepted plans.

Understanding Open Enrollment

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Open enrollment is a time each year when people can sign up for or change their health insurance plans. Knowing when it happens and what your options are can help you get the coverage you need. The most common types of health insurance are Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and employer plans.

Medicaid

Medicaid, or AHCCCS in Arizona, is free or low-cost health insurance from the state. There is no open enrollment period, you can apply any time of the year. To qualify, you must meet certain rules about how much money you make, how big your family is, or if you have a disability.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health plan mainly for people 65 and older. Some younger people can also get it if they have certain illnesses or disabilities. Open enrollment for Medicare is from October 15 to December 7 each year.

There are different parts of Medicare:

  • Part A helps pay for hospital care.
  • Part B helps pay for doctor visits.
  • Part D helps pay for medicine.
  • Part C (Medicare Advantage) is a plan that combines A, B, and D in one option.

People still pay some costs like monthly fees or copays and also have an opportunity to purchase extra insurance for more coverage.

Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace has many plans you can choose from. You can sign up or make changes between November 1 and January 15. Some people can get help paying for their insurance through tax credits that lower their monthly costs.

Right now, there are talks in Congress about whether to keep extra tax credits that make plans cheaper. If those go away, plans could cost more in 2026. Even so, people should still sign up for coverage and update their plans later if the rules change.

Employer-Sponsored Plans

Some people get health insurance through their jobs. The company usually pays part of the cost. Open enrollment for work plans is often in the fall, but the dates depend on the employer.

Special Enrollment Period

Sometimes you can sign up for health insurance outside of open enrollment. This happens if something big changes in your life like losing your job, moving, getting married, or having a baby. Usually, you have 60 days after the event to enroll.

Getting Started

If you aren’t sure what types of insurance you qualify for, check out Health-e-Arizona Plus or schedule an appointment with NOAH’s Community Resources team. Our team can also help you apply for assistance programs if you have lost your coverage or can no longer afford health insurance. For help with choosing a plan that’s right for you, visit Tips for Picking a Health Plan.