EBS Helpline: 0800 268 3763
Email: [email protected]
www.ebs.org.nz
Winter Newsletter 2014
Welcome to our Winter newsletter, we hope that you are well and
managing to dodge the bugs in the classroom!
Have a read through your newsletter below to make sure you know
what you can access through your union and how to get the best out of
the benefits you have.
Our union bargaining power enables us to offer you discounts and
products not generally available to the public.
Check out our website: http://ebs.org.nz/
Through your union membership you have
access to the following EBS benefits:
Standard Plan – A plan to assist with day to day medical
costs such as; GP & prescription costs, physiotherapy,
optical, birth benefits, orthodontic (children) and minor
hospital expenses.
Hospital Plan – designed to protect you from those really
big surgical costs when you undergo medically necessary
procedures in a private hospital. You can also add an
optional specialist & tests benefit.
A reminder from the team at EBS
When you apply for an EBS Standard Plan, please
remember to put your ‘MOE’ number on your
application form.
You will find this number on your payslip or be
able to obtain this from your school office staff.
Did you know?
Life Insurance – A lump sum or monthly income to assist
your family following death
Disability Insurance – A lump sum or monthly income to
offset additional costs or cover lost income if you become
serious ill or injured. This can include a combination of
income/mortgage protection, total permanent
disablement and trauma cover.
EBS Home Loans Solution – A debt management program
to help you repay your home loan faster, saving thousands
of dollars in interest.
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EBS Home Insurance - Preferential Rates for insuring your
family’s; home, contents, cars and boats
In order to access any of these great benefits, visit the EBS
website http://www.ebs.org.nz for more information
Alternatively phone 0800 268 3763 to ask questions or
arrange an appointment with an EBS Financial Adviser
near you.
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If you are thinking of retiring anytime soon
you can still keep your Standard Plan as
long as you become an honorary/affiliate
member of your education union. The
honorary/affiliate membership costs are
low and enable you to keep this
important benefit at a time in your life
when you will probably use it most!
If you want to apply for the EBS Standard
Plan or add family members to your
existing plan the easiest way to do this is to
apply online, don’t forget to note your EBS
advisers name if you know this.
http://www.ebsstandardplan.co.nz/
If you know how much life insurance you
want and do not require any advice you
can get a quick quote and apply online,
visit the website http://www.ebsinsure.co.nz/
Disclaimer: The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are of a general nature and may not be relevant to your situation
Boost your mood this winter
Studies have shown increased depression,
irritability, anxiety and tiredness in people with
low selenium levels – so by just eating a few
Brazil nuts a couple of times a week might help
to improve your mood
Eating a diet high in omega 3 will also keep
your brain healthy and improve mood by
keeping brain cells flexible, so the brain's
messaging chemicals – neurotransmitters –
can work more effectively.
Bananas contain the important amino acid
tryptophan and also vitamins A, B6 and C,
fibre, potassium, phosphorous, iron and
carbohydrate. Mood-boosting carbohydrates
aid in the absorption of tryptophan in the brain,
and vitamin B6 helps convert the tryptophan
into the mood-lifting hormone serotonin. This
helps to boost your mood and also aids good
sleep.
Eat chicken and turkey breast to increase
your intake of the amino acid tryptophan.
The body uses tryptophan to make
serotonin – one of the most important
neurotransmitters affecting mood, as well
as to make the hormone melatonin, which
helps regulate sleep.
Important B vitamins to look out for include
folate, vitamins B3, B6 and B12. Eating leafy
green vegetables – such as spinach or
broccoli, for example – will help keep your
levels up.
Water - is extremely important for our bodies
to function properly. It's not only our body
that is affected by hydration but also our
brain. So when dehydrated, it can affect our
ability to concentrate.
The darker the chocolate you eat, the
better. A small square of dark chocolate
can cause the brain to release endorphins
and boost serotonin levels.
For further information refer to the article ’11 Foods to Boost your Mood’
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk
Claiming made easier
Suffering medical events can be a
stressful time and we want to
eliminate as much of the stress as
possible by making the claims
process simple!
In the first instance contact your EBS
financial adviser - helping you with
claims is a big part of their job!
However if for any reason you are
unsure who to call, call the EBS
helpline on 0800 268 3763. Our staff
are trained to make sure we get you
speaking with the right person as
soon as possible.
Too good to be true?
If the life cover you’ve been offered
seems dirt cheap, check again! The
$5 a month life insurance you’re
paying for may seem like a great
deal (you may have ticked a box
through your credit card provider).
However, you may not be getting
the cover you expected!
Chances are this is ‘Accidental
Death’ cover only. Accidental
deaths such as road accidents might
get all the headlines. However, of
the 29,000 deaths in New Zealand
each year, just 1,900 - or 6% - are
accidental. So there is only a very
small chance of claiming on this
policy. If you are serious about
providing for those you’ll leave
behind, it would be a good idea to
have a ‘true’ life insurance policy
that would pay your family for death
by any reason (excludes suicide in
first 13 months).
Apply for EBS life insurance online
http://www.ebs-insure.co.nz or call
the EBS helpline to speak with an EBS
Financial Adviser.
http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/mortali
ty-and-demographic-data-2010
To find out more on any of the benefits available to you as a union member, please call the EBS Helpline on
0800 268 3763. You can also go check the website www.ebs.org.nz or email [email protected]