Posted December 29, 2022 by Julie Sich, MS ATC, Director of Quality Improvement and Provider Engagement
When it comes to catching your zzzs, quality is just as important as quantity.
The average adult should get between seven to nine hours of sleep every night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But even if you’re sleeping an adequate amount of time each night, if you don’t reach a deep enough stage of sleep, you won’t feel well-rested and refreshed in the morning.
Getting a quality night’s sleep means falling asleep after 10 to 15 minutes and...
Posted December 15, 2022 by Christine Elerick, Director, Member Experience
With today’s busy family schedules, fitting in time to volunteer can be challenging. But, finding the time to give back isn’t just a matter of kindness, it’s a matter of your health!
Volunteering makes a huge difference in the lives of others. Acts of service such as dishing out meals in a soup kitchen, fostering animals or making blankets for kids in hospitals give tremendous help to people in need, worthy causes and your community.
What you may not know is...
Posted November 23, 2022 by Sue Crawford
Did you recently lose your health insurance? Does your employer not offer health insurance, or are you just looking to switch? Do you need to bridge the gap before qualifying for Medicare?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, SummaCare is here to help.
We offer insurance options for individuals and families who do not have access to group coverage, don’t yet qualify for Medicare or make too much money for Medicaid. For nearly 30 years, we’re proud to...
Posted November 18, 2022 by Matt Baker, Director of Commercial Sales
Small businesses need every advantage they can get when competing with larger companies for top talent. One of the best ways they can do this is by offering a competitive, comprehensive benefits package to their employees. Studies show healthcare benefits play a large role in people’s employment choices and can lead to reduced turnover and increased job satisfaction.
When building your benefits package with SummaCare, you are working with a company that takes a...
Posted November 10, 2022 by Julie Sich
SummaCare is proud to share our 2023 Medicare Advantage Plan recently earned a 5-Star Rating (out of five stars) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is an increase from our 4.5-Star Rating in 2022, which underscores our hard work, dedication and commitment to providing high-quality products and services to our Medicare members just like you.
Each year, CMS releases star ratings that deliver important information about the quality and performance of...
Posted October 27, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG, Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, Summa
Colorectal cancer screening should be an important part of your routine health care. Screening can detect cancer and even prevent it by identifying precancerous polyps, which can be removed.
Unfortunately, too many people wait until they experience symptoms before scheduling a screening. By then, the cancer may be more difficult to treat and cure.
Colorectal cancer, like many cancers, can be found early before it has a chance to grow and spread. Studies prove catching it...
Posted October 13, 2022 by Sue Crawford
SummaCare is committed to contributing to a healthy community by guiding members to be the healthiest versions of themselves. That’s why we take pride in going beyond basic Medicare with valuable extra benefits designed to fit your different needs to reach optimal health.
Every year, we are pleased to add Medicare Advantage extra benefits and enhancements to our plans — and this year is no different.
We’re thrilled to introduce our new Medicare Advantage plan...
Posted October 06, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
When one of your employees comes to work with a broken leg, you make concessions – like moving their workspace to an accessible area. Just as important, and often overlooked, is an employee’s mental health needs. At first glance, it may be impossible to know when someone is struggling, but studies show one in five adults is experiencing some form of a mental health disorder (anxiety, depression, stress, addiction issues). To put that into perspective, that’s...
Posted September 29, 2022 by Henry W. Mahncke, Ph.D., CEO of Posit Science.
Brain health is important for everyone because our brain is at the center of everything we think, say and do. That’s why keeping our brain in optimal health is key to living a full, engaging and independent life.
As we age — even past mid-20s! — our brain starts to develop a kind of static that can make it difficult to focus and remember things. Fortunately, scientists now know what we can do to harness our brain’s unique power to adapt and change...
Posted September 15, 2022 by Michelle Bisson | Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Since our founding in 1990, one of SummaCare’s core commitments has been to partner with the community. While celebrating the 25th anniversary of our Medicare Advantage Plans in 2021, SummaCare looked for a way to both honor that commitment and to also inspire and support a local small business via a mentorship project called Lift Up Local.
What began as a project to improve and refocus small businesses’ marketing efforts and training, has evolved into an annual...
Posted September 01, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services (healthcare delivery and education via video and audio technology) gained visibility as a safe and effective way to receive quality medical care. As a result of its rise in popularity, employers saw gains in workforce productivity due to employees not having to travel to a provider’s office, sit in a waiting room, wait for the provider to see them and travel back to work.
In the past, your employees may have been...
Posted August 25, 2022 by Tiffanie Mrakovich, Pharm.D.
When you’re prescribed medication, missing a dose or two seems like no big deal, right? Wrong. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medication non-adherence leads to up to 50 percent of chronic disease treatment failure and 125,000 deaths each year in this country.
There are many reasons patients don’t stick to their medication routine. Misunderstanding the directions, forgetfulness, uncomfortable side effects, high prescription costs...
Posted August 01, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
When you go to the grocery store you probably notice the generic brand peanut butter is cheaper than the “name brand.” While they contain the same ingredients, the name brand company has spent a lot of dollars marketing its product to give its brand visibility and an edge over its competitors. For many people, the 50 cents to $1 savings may not be enough to entice them to give up their favorite peanut butter, but for things like prescription drugs, the difference...
Posted July 01, 2022 by Julie Sich
Having trouble deciding which Medicare Advantage plan is right for you? Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or considering a change, look no further than the Medicare Advantage Star Rating system.
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) release star ratings that deliver important information about the quality and performance of specific plans to help Medicare eligible individuals compare them. Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription...
Posted June 29, 2022
When it comes to the appropriate utilization of high-cost services like the emergency room (ER), one of the best ways employers can help reign in their healthcare expenses is through employee education.
By design, ERs are expensive to manage and run because of the high-tech equipment, maintenance and supplies required to treat medical emergencies as well as the personnel needed to keep them open and operating 24/7. When your employees unnecessarily over utilize the ER for...
Posted June 08, 2022 by Sue Crawford, Vice President, Sales and Market Development
Whether you’re just turning 65 and newly eligible for Medicare or you’re simply looking to enhance your current Medicare coverage, there are key things to consider when weighing your options for a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage plans offer everything that original Medicare covers, but adds extra benefits and services. Those extras could include coverage for dental, vision, hearing aids, over-the-counter items, gym memberships, rides to your doctor and...
Posted May 31, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
Stress is our body’s response to pressure, and everyone copes with stress in their own unique way. When it isn’t managed in a healthy way, stress can impact every area of an individual’s personal and professional life. Feelings of excessive worry or fear can have a negative impact on mood, nutrition, sleeping habits and well-being. When this happens, it may be time to seek professional help. With SummaCare, your employees have access to a variety of health...
Posted May 19, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG, Senior Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, Summa.
If you’re battling diabetes, a retinal eye exam is imperative to your vision health. People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to vision loss. In fact, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Posted May 05, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Office
While we can’t turn back the clock, we can be proactive and slow down aging. By making preventive health screenings and treatment a priority, you are taking the necessary steps toward living a longer, healthier life.
Posted April 14, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
Posted April 13, 2022 by Anupreet Kaur, M.D., FAAFP, Medical Director, Care Management and Population Health
Catching on to insurance lingo can feel a little bit like learning a new language. Words like “copay, coinsurance and deductible” are common terms, but many wonder what do they mean and how does health insurance work?
Posted March 31, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Office
It’s estimated that six in ten adults have a chronic condition in this country, and four in ten have two or more, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sadly, chronic conditions, such as heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, are the leading causes of death and disability.
Posted March 30, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
Wellness programs, which were once considered a perk rather than a customary part of an employee’s benefit package, have surged in popularity because research shows they work. At their core, these programs offer employees education, tools and support to help them adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors to increase their quality of life, manage chronic conditions and reduce stress. In addition to physical illnesses, everyday life stressors can negatively impact a person’s mental and emotional health which may cause them to be distracted and less productive at work.
Posted March 18, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Office
As the snow begins to melt and buds appear, it’s that time of year for the annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) survey. Set to distribute in late March, the survey plays an integral role in how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) measures the quality of health care services and determines how to improve health care across the country.
Posted March 02, 2022 by Bill Epling | President
SummaCare Health Plan and Summa Health – oftentimes we are asked, how are the two related? To put it simply, we are two Akron-based, integrated organizations tied together with a singular focus, improving the cost and quality of healthcare and providing well-being for our entire community.
To share more about this lasting partnership, I must first share more about SummaCare’s history and how we got here.
In the early 1990s, one of the area’s largest...
Posted February 24, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Office
The COVID-19 vaccine is a proven way to protect individuals from severe illness, hospitalization and even death from the virus in most cases.
However, recent studies have shown that immunity from the initial COVID-19 vaccine series begins to wane over time, especially in people aged 65 and older. The COVID-19 booster vaccine is an additional dose of the vaccine to help people maintain their level of immunity.
That’s why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the...
Posted February 10, 2022 by Sue Crawford, Vice President, Sales and Market Development.
Dates play a critical part in our lives. From birthdays to vacation times to doctor appointments, we mark important dates on our calendars. Recording Medicare Advantage enrollment periods on your calendar should be important, too.
Posted February 01, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
Choosing group healthcare for your business is a big task. Not only do you want to offer employees affordable options, but you also want them to have convenient access to local providers. So, in addition to considering the monthly premiums, deductibles and co-pays associated with a plan, it’s important to look at the facilities, pharmacies, labs and providers that are part of a network.
To give consumers better value, many insurers offer plans that are less expensive...
Posted January 27, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Office
SummaCare is proud to share that our 2022 Medicare Advantage Plan recently earned a 4.5 Star Rating (out of 5) from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is an increase from our 4-Star Rating in 2021, which underscores our hard work, dedication and commitment to providing high-quality service to our Medicare members.
Each year, CMS releases star ratings that deliver important information about the quality of specific plans to help people selecting Medicare...
Posted January 14, 2022 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Office
Yearly wellness exams are an especially important tool to be proactive about your health. During these visits, you can discuss preventive care with your primary care provider, ask questions about current medications, address your health concerns and more.
Posted January 05, 2022 by Steve Chrzanowski, Director, Group Retention & Sales Support
The people you hire to work at your company have diverse healthcare needs. For this reason, health insurance coverage can be a make-or-break issue for prospective employees. People who are healthy may gravitate towards a plan completely different than someone with an underlying health condition. No single healthcare plan will fit everyone’s requirements. When shopping around for group coverage, look for an insurance provider that offers a variety of plans with different...