Back to School – NCHealthPlans.com Health News

BCBSNC Keeps Kids Healthy! – Back to School Tips for Staying Well

Kristen Baily — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 17:48:36 +0000

It’s that time of year again- back to school and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina encourages preventive care for your school-aged children! Every year when school starts, exposure to all kinds of viruses and bacteria increases. It’s simply unavoidable. Our kids are back together in one place sharing space, air, restrooms and possibly even pencils and all it takes is one sick child in the group to create a ripple effect. In a recent KidsHealth in the Classroom survey of school nurses, the majority agree that the most important thing parents can do to help keep their children stay healthy during the school year is to make sure students wash their hands.

In fact, school nurses encourage parents not only to emphasize the importance of hand washing, but also to teach your children how and when to wash their hands. It is also important to stress the importance of keeping their fingers away from their eyes, nose and mouth and how to cover any coughs and sneezes using elbows instead of hands.

Other things parents can do to help give their kids a great chance at staying healthy this school year include providing a nutritious diet, making sure kids get enough sleep and staying up to date on immunizations. Also, make sure you keep your kids home from school when they do fall sick so that they have an opportunity to rest and recover and other children are not affected. This will minimize the spread of illnesses. Most schools require that students stay home for at least 24 hours after a fever subsides, but some children may require more time to ensure a full recovery.

Teachers can also help keep kids healthy in the classroom by keeping desks and classrooms clean. Providing your child with a pack of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer to keep in their desk is always a good idea and sure to be appreciated by their teacher.

There’s an old proverb that says, “it takes a village to raise a child,” and nothing is more true when it comes to maintaining health during a long school year. Parents, teachers, administrators and children alike must all work together to make sure the school and home environments are clean, safe, and conducive to the health and well-being of our students. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina supports healthy living, which is why preventive services are covered at 100%. Before they start school, make sure your child has a preventive care checkup. If your child is not currently insured, consider obtaining a health insurance policy that allows you to keep them up to date on wellness visits and vaccinations. This school year, let’s work together to keep our kids healthy both in the classroom and out.

For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov to apply for your subsidy, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents. Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.

Easy, Healthy Back to School Breakfast

Kristen Baily — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 15:50:02 +0000

It’s back to school time again and I don’t know about you, but one of the toughest parts is making sure my kids eat a healthy, high-protein breakfast before rushing out the door just after 7 am. Studies show that children need a good, preferably protein-based breakfast in order to achieve optimum success in school, but as a working mother of four, this can be a challenge. I need something quick, tasty and easy to prepare as well as something I can make ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze. This recipe for Egg Muffins from Recipe Girl is my all time favorite for busy school mornings when kids are dragging and may wind up having to eat in the car.

I usually make these muffins the night before and refrigerate them overnight. My kids heat them up in the microwave and usually eat while trying to find their soccer cleats or the permission slip that needs to be signed. The good news is these protein filled egg muffins are simple and also delicious. My children absolutely love them and will often even ask me to put a second (or third) one in their lunch for that day as well. And with this snack, I never have to worry about receiving a nasty gram from the school chiding me about the nutritional content of my child’s lunchbox. For me, that’s a serious win.

This recipe calls for sausage, but I often substitute ham or bacon and I sometimes even put bread crumbs on the bottom just to add another layer. You can add any vegetables your kids like or sneak in the ones they don’t, and if you add enough cheese, they will hardly notice.

Eating well is such an important part of maintaining health and a nutritious breakfast can give your kids the energy they need to start their day off right. NC Health Plans wishes you a successful back to school and encourages you to teach your kids the importance of preventive care!

Back To School – Up to Date on Vaccinations?

Kristen Baily — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 15:48:57 +0000

August means back to school, but did you know it is also recognized as National Immunization Awareness month? Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is proud to serve the residents of NC by providing health coverage for children and adults alike. BCBSNC has made preventive care a top priority by covering preventive services at 100% so that you never have to worry whether or not your kids are receiving the health care they need.

Immunizations are an important part of preventive care maintenance and The North Carolina Division of Public Health reminds parents each August to make sure your school-aged children are up to date on the vaccinations they are required to have by law. The laws for immunizations apply to all school-aged children, whether they attend public, private, parochial, charter or home school.

Unfortunately, vaccine-preventable diseases, such as chicken-pox, meningitis, whooping cough (pertussis) and others still present themselves in North Carolina. By keeping your children up-to-date on their vaccinations, you can help protect schools and communities from diseases that can cause illness and death. Vaccines can help protect the community by reducing the spread of infectious diseases and they are one of the most important things parents can do to get their kids ready for school.

Keep in mind that there are new changes in immunization requirements for 2015 and it is important for parents to know what is required before school begins. For questions regarding any changes in the law or a list of required vaccinations, visit www.immunizenc.gov.

This school year, make sure your kids are well-prepared! Make an annual physical, including any needed immunizations a top priority!

Bullying

Kristen Baily — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:31:06 +0000

Bullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, or over the Internet.

When Your Child Is Bullied

Help your child learn how to respond by teaching your child how to:
      1. Look the bully in the eye.
      2. Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
      3. Walk away.

Teach your child how to say in a firm voice.
      1. “I don’t like what you are doing.”
      2. “Please do NOT talk to me like that.”
      3. “Why would you say that?”
— Teach your child when and how to ask for help.
— Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
— Support activities that interest your child.
— Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
— Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child’s safety and well-being when you cannot be there.

When Your Child Is the Bully

— Be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK.
— Set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior.
— Be a positive role mode. Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
— Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges.
— Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, counselors, and parents of the children your child has bullied.

When Your Child Is a Bystander

— Tell your child not to cheer on or even quietly watch bullying.
— Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying.
— Help your child support other children who may be bullied. Encourage your child to include these children in activities.
— Encourage your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop

The information in this article : Back to School Tips is from the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site ( http://www.aap.org ).

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our professional agents. Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health. Call us for details.

DEVELOPING GOOD HOMEWORK AND STUDY HABITS

Kristen Baily — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:27:47 +0000

Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Youngsters need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy.

— Schedule ample time for homework.
— Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time.
— Supervise computer and internet use.
— Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child’s homework for her.

— Take steps to help alleviate eye fatigue, neck fatigue and brain fatigue while studying. It may be helpful to close the books for a few minutes, stretch, and take a break periodically when it will not be too disruptive.
— If your child is struggling with a particular subject, and you aren’t able to help her yourself, a tutor can be a good solution. Talk it over with your child’s teacher first.

The information in this article : Back to School Tips is from the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site ( http://www.aap.org ).

Preparing for the 1st Day of School

Kristen Baily — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:28:42 +0000

MAKING THE FIRST DAY EASIER
Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
Point out the positive aspects of starting school: It will be fun. She’ll see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh her positive memories about previous years, when she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because she had a good time. Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus. If you feel it is appropriate, drive your child (or walk with her) to school and pick her up on the first day.

The information in this article : Back to School Tips is from the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site ( http://www.aap.org ).

Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC offers child only health insurance policies. As you prepare for the 1st Day of School, don’t forget about insurance especially if sports are a part of your child’s school experience.