Brush up on your oral health

Brushing and flossing are widely recognized as essential for maintaining good oral health. Despite this common knowledge, Statistics Canada reports that only seven out of 10 Canadians brush their teeth twice a day, and only three in 10 floss at least five times a week. Failing to take proper care of your teeth can have serious consequences – 26% of Canadians experience oral pain or avoid certain foods due to pain or sensitivities.

Who is most likely to experience oral pain?

While oral pain can affect anyone, certain groups are at a higher risk, including:  

• Adults (18+) are twice as likely to report oral health problems compared to children and youth.
• Females are more likely to report oral pain compared to males.
• Almost half of Canadians with a disability report oral pain, compared to 24% of all those without a disability.

What can be done to prevent oral pain?

• Brush and floss twice a day. 
• Manage tooth sensitivity by using specialized toothpaste to reduce discomfort. 
• Schedule regular dental checkups for cleanings, prevent plaque buildup, and early identify any potential issues.

What can plan sponsors do to help?

Prevention and routine checkups are essential for maintaining optimal dental health. Promoting healthy dental practices and providing information on group plan dental coverage can equip plan members with the knowledge to create and maintain healthy oral habits. 

Sleep tight: rest well for better health

Recent sleep research has provided us with concrete recommendations to help optimize sleep. While an encouraging 77% of Canadians aged 18-64 years old are meeting the recommended eight hours of sleep, there is always room for improvement in sleep habits and hygiene.

Impacts of sleep loss:

Consistently getting less than seven hours per night can have a wide range of effects on the body, including:

• Exercise: it can be challenging to set and stick to an exercise goal; it’s even harder to follow-through with an exercise plan when sleep deprived.
• Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance: sleep deprivation disrupts insulin release and raises blood sugar levels.  
• Cardiovascular disease and hypertension: chronic sleep loss can increase blood pressure and elevate levels of inflammation-related chemicals.
• Mental and cognitive disorders: poor sleep is linked to a higher risk of anxiety and depression.

How individuals can help themselves:

Fortunately, there are many simple adjustments that can be made to improve sleep, without spending a lot of money. Share the following top sleep tips with your plan members:

• Create an optimal sleep environment. If you’re sensitive to light, try blackout curtains or a sleep mask. Set the room temperature to a cool setting, use an alarm clock instead of your phone, and limit screen time in the bedroom.
• Establish a pre-bed ritual. This signals to your body that it’s time to wind down. Enjoy a cup of non-caffeinated tea, read a book, follow a skincare routine, and brush your teeth.
• Consider your daytime routines. Exercise earlier in the day, limit your alcohol intake, and avoid caffeine at least six hours before bedtime.

How employers can help:

• Share tips: Provide employees with the tips above through your internal communication channels.
• Host wellness sessions: Employers can organize wellness sessions focused on healthy sleep habits, offered through our partnership with Homewood Health. For more information on this, please reach out to healthandwellness@pac.bluecross.ca and to book a session directly, please contact wellnessrequest@homewoodhealth.com.
• Communicate options: Inform employees about available sleep solutions, such as EFAP for insomnia support, the iCBT program through MindBeacon, TELUS Health CBT, and the Health Connected wellness portal through Member Profile, which helps identify personal health risks such as sleep loss. BounceBack BC offers free online self-paced modules, with one specifically for sleep.

Grants to improve workplace disability management program

Over 926,000 British Columbians aged 15 and older are living with a disability. Disability management programs and policies play a vital role in helping individuals with a safe and timely return-to-work. 

There’s good news – an initiative for BC workplaces to evaluate or improve their programs is now available through the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR). Participating workplaces are provided a comprehensive Workplace Disability Management Assessment (WDMA), and a subsidy of up to $7,500 is available to support efforts in addressing any issues identified during the assessment.

To apply for this subsidized program, which is supported by a provincial grant, please visit the NIDMAR website. For further inquiries, you may also reach out to Steve Inouye, Director of Program Assessments at NIDMAR via email at steve.inouye@nidmar.ca.

Preventing delays in disability claims

Navigating the healthcare system and accessing timely primary care can present some obstacles, but with the right guidance, delays can be mitigated.

For Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability claims, an Attending Physician’s Statement (APS) form must be submitted by the claiming deadline to initiate the claim review process. Please note that the APS should be completed by a physician. In exceptional circumstances, for example when a plan member is unable to access a physician, the APS may be completed by a nurse practitioner as a short-term solution.

We understand that due to the nationwide shortage, not everyone has access to a family physician. Here are some resources and tips that may help members find a primary care provider to complete the APS form:

• Medimap is a free resource to help find local care providers.
• Read tips on finding care from Vancouver Coastal Health.
• Many Divisions of Family Practice help connect patients to a family doctor. Contact the local division for more information by calling 1 (800) 665-2262.
• Search for community providers and clinics through the Pathways Medical Care Directory.
• Register with the Health Connect Registry to connect with primary care providers.
• Use Find a Doctor BC to discover local clinics that may be accepting new patients.
• Virtual care providers may be able to complete a digital APS form for an STD claim. Options include:
  • 8-1-1 virtual physicians at HealthLink BC
  • WELL Health VirtualClinic+
  • Telus MyCare
  • Rocket Doctor
  • Tia Health

For an overview of the disability claims process, please visit our Disability Claims Guide.

Please be aware that a positive COVID-19 test result no longer automatically qualifies a member for Short-Term Disability benefits. If preventing the spread of the virus is a concern, encourage members to use sick or vacation time during the contagious period.