Local 591 EAP / Member Assistance

Credit IAM EAP, LAP

April Edition 2020

Ways to Support Yourself During Social Distancing,

Quarantine, and Isolation

UNDERSTAND THE RISK

Consider the real risk to yourself and others around you. The public perception of risk during a situation such as an infectious disease outbreak is often inaccurate. Media coverage may create the impression that people are in immediate danger when the risk for infection may be very low. Take steps to get the facts:

Limit your media exposure. Avoid watching or listening to news reports 24/7. This tends to increase anxiety and worry. Remember that children are especially affected by what they hear and see on television.

Look to credible sources for information on the infectious disease outbreak BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE

Speaking out about your needs is important if you are in quarantine, make sure that you are advocating that your basic needs are being met. Ensure you have what you need to feel safe, secure, and comfortable.

• Work with local resources to find out how you can arrange for groceries and toiletries to be delivered to your home as needed. Most restaurants and grocery stores will deliver to your front door.

• Inform health care providers your primary care physician or health authorities of any needed medications and work with them to ensure that you continue to receive those medications.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Health care providers and health authorities should provide information on the disease, its diagnosis, and treatment. Look to credible resources for accurate information – see the insert on page 3 for some good sources of information

• Do not be afraid to ask questions—clear communication with a health care provider may help reduce any anxiety or distress associated with social distancing, quarantine, or isolation.

• Ask for written information when available.
• Ask a family member or friend to help when you are unable to secure this information on your own.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS

Reaching out to people you trust is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness, and boredom during social distancing, quarantine, and isolation. You can:

• Use the telephone, email, text messaging, and social media to connect with friends, family, and others.
• Use Skype or FaceTime or Zoom to talk “face to face” with friends and loved ones
• If approved by health authorities and your health care providers, arrange for your friends and loved ones to bring you newspapers, movies, and books. Practice healthy hygiene with any of these materials.
• Sign up for alerts via text or email to ensure you get updates as soon as they are available.
• Use the Internet, radio, and television to keep up with local, national, and world events.
• If you need to connect with someone because of an ongoing alcohol or drug problem, consider calling your local Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous offices.

What to Expect: Typical Reactions

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations such as an infectious disease outbreak that requires social distancing, quarantine, or isolation. You may feel:
• Anxiety, worry, or fear related to:

• Your own health status.
• Time taken off from work and the potential loss of income and job security
• The challenges of securing things you need, such as groceries and personal care items
• Concern about being able to effectively care for children or others in your care
• Uncertainty or frustration about how long you will need to remain in this situation, and uncertainty about the future

• Loneliness associated with feeling cut off from the world and from loved ones
• Boredom and frustration because you may not be able to engage in regular day-to-day activities
• Uncertainty or ambivalence about the situation
• A desire to use alcohol or drugs to cope
• Symptoms of depression, such as feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite or sleep habits

Should you experience any of these concerns, please contact your EAP representative listed below:

Sources for Reliable Outbreak Related Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30329-4027 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232- 4636) http://www .cdc.gov

World Health Organization

Regional Office for the Americas World Health Organization 525 23rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037 202-97 4-3000 http://www .who.int/en

GOIAM.org

Up to date information about the latest developments of the Corona virus situation

April Monthly Observances

Alcohol Awareness Month                                                             

Cancer Control Month

International Twit Award Month

Benefits and you

Spending Account Contributions

You can contribute through payroll deduction up to $2,700 in 2020 in your HCFSA. A minimum annual election amount of $120 is required to complete enrollment.

At the beginning of each Plan Year, the full amount of your elected HCFSA amount for the entire year is available for your use, regardless of the actual balance in your account.

Deadline to Incur Claims

For your 2020 HCFSA, you have until December 31, 2020 to incur eligible claims and until June 15, 2021to request reimbursement for those claims.

$500 Carryover of Remaining Account Balance

If you have an HCFSA in 2020, the Plan allows you to carryover up to $500 of any amount remaining in your 2020 HCFSA as of the end of the 2020 Plan Year. Such carryover amount may be used to pay or reimburse medical expenses incurred during all of 2020. Any unused amount of more than $500 remaining in your 2020 HCFSA at the end of the 2020 will be forfeited.

If you were a participant in the CORE Medical Benefit Option in the prior Plan Year and you do not elect to participate in the CORE Medical Benefit Option for the current Plan Year, and you have a remaining balance from the previous Plan Year in your Limited Purpose Health Care Flexible Spending Account, the remaining balance from the previous Plan Year (of up to $500) will be credited to a HCFSA for you. For example, if you are enrolled in the CORE Medical Benefit Option in year one, and have a Limited Purpose Health Care Flexible Spending Account balance of $400, and you elect the STANDARD Medical Benefit Option in year two, $400 will be credited to a HCFSA for you, even if you do not elect to enroll in a HCFSA.

If you elect to participate in the CORE Medical Benefit Option for a Plan Year and have a remaining balance from the prior Plan Year from your HCFSA, the remaining balance from the previous Plan Year (of up to $500) will be credited to a LPFSA for you, even if you do not elect to enroll in a LPFSA. For example, if you were enrolled in the HIGH COST COVERAGE Medical Benefit Option in year one, and you have a HCFSA balance of $300, and you elect the CORE Medical Benefit Option in year two, $300 will be credited to a LPFSA for you, even if you do not elect to enroll in a LPFSA.

Local 591 EAP / Member Assistance Representatives

Ken Morse- (815) 483-8585 - k.morse@local591.com

 National EAP and Benefits–Member Assistance Program Coordinator

Hector Posa- (815) 323-9648       ORD MLS EAP-Member Assistance Peer

Mark Smejkal- (847)757-1954- ORD EAP-Member Assistance Peer

Tony Lepore- (940) 536-8817- t.lepore@local591.com

National Benefits and EAP-Member Assistance Coordinator

Danny Wilson-(631) 334-0933- d.wilson@local591.com

Northeast Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits Coordinator

Rawle Skeet- (954) 559-7505- r.skeete@local591.com

Southeast Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits Coordinator

Phil Revollo- (954) 665-7383 MIA EAP-Member Assistance Peer

Sean Bruno- (310) 594-2025-s.bruno@local591.com

West Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits Coordinator

Edwin Joseph- (310) 709-4755- jord352000@yahoo.com

West Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits peer Coordinator

John Hadaway- (817) 637-8075- J.hadaway@local591.com

Southwest Region Member Assistance Program (Terminal) EAP and Benefits Coordinator

David San Miguel- (817) 875-5808- D.sanmiguel@local591.com

Southwest Region Member Assistance Program (Hangar) EAP and Benefits Coordinator

David Emerline- (469) 408-8197- EEMERLINEE07@YAHOO.COM

April 2020 EAP News Letter-1.pdf