Delaware Statewide Benefits Office

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The latest Benefits Bulletin newsletter is now available for benefit-eligible State of Delaware employees. View the current newsletter from the State of Delaware Statewide Benefits Office (SBO), Department of Human Resources (DHR) by selecting the link below:
https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/news/index.shtml

Open Enrollment starts today!
The 2024 Open Enrollment period is May 1 – 17, 2024.
(Plan Year July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025)

Unless you experience a qualifying event, Open Enrollment is your only chance to enroll, cancel coverage, or change plans for yourself, an eligible spouse, or dependent children.

Learn More: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/oe/index.shtml

Alcohol is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and many people have experienced new or worsened problems with alcohol consumption in the past few years. Learn more about alcohol and your health and explore substance abuse resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan on the Behavioral Health & Emotional Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Program pages.

Alcohol and Your Health: https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Behavioral Health: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/behavioral-health/index.shtml
EAP: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/compsych/index.shtml

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month. Developmental disabilities are impairments in physical, learning, language, and/or behavior. Examples include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning or intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, vision impairment, and other developmental delays. Developmental Disability Awareness Month promotes the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life and raises awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to their communities. Learn about resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan on the Behavioral Health/Emotional Wellbeing page.

Developmental Disability Awareness Month: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/index.html
Behavioral Health/Emotional Wellbeing: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/behavioral-health/index.shtml

Developmental Disabilities | CDC Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. Learn more.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. This is an opportunity to encourage the children in your life to establish good oral hygiene habits such as brushing, flossing, and going to the dentist for routine cleanings. Modeling these habits while children are young can help prevent oral health problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Learn more about the dental plans offered by the State of Delaware on SBO's website by selecting your group (located under Benefits Menu) and then selecting Delta Dental or Dominion National.

National Children's Dental Health Month: https://www.adha.org/ncdhm/
SBO: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, used to be a leading cause of death among people with a cervix. Today, however, the disease is almost entirely preventable with proper vaccination and regular screenings with a PAP smear and HPV testing. When detected early and managed effectively, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer. Learn about resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan on the Cancer Resources and Preventive Care pages.

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/cervicalcancer/index.htm
Cancer Resources: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/cancer/index.shtml
Preventive Care: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/preventive-care/index.shtml

Cervical Cancer Awareness You can lower your cervical cancer risk by getting screened regularly.

Not feeling particularly cheery this time of year? You’re not alone. Many find that the holidays bring as much stress as they do joy. This can be a particularly difficult time for those who are grieving a loss, processing other trauma, or experiencing financial strain. Learn more about strategies and resources to help benefit-eligible State of Delaware employees, retirees, and their families manage holiday stress on the American Psychological Association website or the Behavioral Health/Emotional Wellbeing page.

APA: https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/holiday-money
Behavioral Health: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/behavioral-health/index.shtml

How to deal with financial stress during the holiday season Approximately two-thirds of Americans report feeling stressed about money, according to APA’s 2023 Stress in America survey.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. In fiscal year 2022, approximately 1 in 6 of our active employee and early retiree Group Health Insurance Plan (GHIP) members had an episode of treatment for diabetes or an indication of pre-diabetes at a cost of over $126.4 million dollars and representing over 15.1% of total healthcare expenditures. Diabetes puts people at risk for nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, foot and limb injuries, vision problems, and other complications that arise from having uncontrolled blood sugar. Diabetes also raises a person’s risk of having severe symptoms and complications from COVID-19. The good news is that prediabetes and diabetes are treatable. Information about diabetes prevention and management resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan can be found on the Diabetes Resources page.

Diabetes Awareness Month: https://diabetes.org/
Diabetes Resources: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/diabetes/index.shtml

American Diabetes Association | Research, Education, Advocacy Leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes for those affected by it through research funding, community services, education and advocacy.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year in the United States, about 264,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer and 42,000 people die from the disease (CDC). Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, before you experience symptoms and while it is easier to treat. An annual preventive mammogram is covered 100% for members of State of Delaware health plans (age and s*x parameters apply). Check out other services offered to members of State of Delaware non-Medicare health plans on the Cancer Resources page.

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/breastcancerawareness/index.htm
Preventive Care: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/preventive-care/index.shtml
Cancer Resources: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/cancer/index.shtml

Breast Cancer Awareness Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Talk to your doctor about mammograms.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month. Getting your cholesterol levels checked is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain a healthy heart. If it is determined that you have high cholesterol, it is a good idea to work with your doctor to manage it in order to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. Learn about resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan on the Heart Health Resources page.

National Cholesterol Education Month: https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/index.htm
Heart Health Resources: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/heart-health/index.shtml

High Cholesterol | cdc.gov Learn about how you can manage cholesterol levels and lower your risk.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. It is important for people of all ages to be vaccinated against serious, sometimes deadly, diseases. Members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan can check out immunizations and other preventive services covered at 100% on the Preventive Care page.

National Immunization Awareness Month: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/index.html

SBO Preventive Care Page: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/preventive-care/index.shtml

Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) provides an opportunity to highlight the value of immunization across the lifespan.

July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Racial and ethnic minority communities face unique struggles that can be compounded by the stigma of mental health. Learn about mental health resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan on the Employee Assistance Program and Behavioral Health/Emotional Wellbeing pages.

Learn More: https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/minority-mental-health/

Employee Assistance Program: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/compsych/index.shtml

Behavioral Health/Emotional Wellbeing: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/behavioral-health/index.shtml

Congratulations to last month’s Benefits Bulletin “Hidden Treasures” contest winner, Leslie H. from DelDOT, who found the 2023 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for the nearest hospital to their work location on our website. Leslie won a blanket and umbrella provided by Highmark!
Answer: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/right-care/doctors-hospitals.shtml

June is National Safety Month. National Safety Month is an opportunity to make a difference in your home, work, and community. Identifying risks and improving safety standards in your home or workplace protects everyone. To learn more, check out the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the National Safety Council (NSC), and the State of Delaware Insurance Coverage Office (ICO)'s monthly newsletter, Safety Matters.

NIOSH: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/index.htm
NSC: https://www.nsc.org/
ICO: https://dhr.delaware.gov/inscov/safety-information.shtml

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. Remember to protect your skin from sun exposure, check your skin for warning signs, and get screened for skin cancer. Learn more about Cancer Resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan here: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/cancer/index.shtml

Open Enrollment closes TONIGHT at 11:59 PM!
Benefit-eligible employees have an opportunity during Open Enrollment to review and make changes to their benefits for the upcoming plan year. Per legislation, employees of the State of Delaware, which includes all State Agencies, K12 (School Districts and Charter Schools), DTCC, and DSU, are required to actively participate in the Open Enrollment process each year. Employees who actively participate between May 1 - 17, 2023 by completing three simple steps (view the Enrollment Action Checklist to learn more) will meet the requirements to actively participate. Be sure to visit the SBO website for helpful resources including self-service guides, plan rates and comparison charts, benefit vendor videos, FAQs, and more.

SBO Website: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/oe/index.shtml
Enrollment Action Checklist for State Agency, K12, DTCC & DSU Employees:https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/oe/documents/oe-action-checklist-active.pdf

Open Enrollment starts today!
Benefit-eligible employees have an opportunity during Open Enrollment to review and make changes to their benefits for the upcoming plan year. Per legislation, employees of the State of Delaware, which includes all State Agencies, K12 (School Districts and Charter Schools), DTCC, and DSU, are required to actively participate in the Open Enrollment process each year. Employees who actively participate in Open Enrollment between May 1 - 17, 2023 by completing three simple steps (view the Enrollment Action Checklist to learn more) will meet the requirements to actively participate. Be sure to visit the SBO website for helpful resources including self-service guides, plan rates and comparison charts, benefit vendor videos, FAQs, and more.
SBO Website: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/oe/index.shtml
Enrollment Action Checklist for State Agency, K12, DTCC & DSU Employees:https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/oe/documents/oe-action-checklist-active.pdf

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Alcohol is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and many people have experienced new or worsened problems with alcohol consumption in the past few years. Learn more about alcohol and your health and explore substance abuse resources available to members of a State of Delaware non-Medicare health plan on the Behavioral Health & Emotional Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Program pages.

NIAAA: https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/
Behavioral Health & Emotional Wellbeing: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/behavioral-health/index.shtml
Employee Assistance Program: https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/compsych/index.shtml