H E A L T H
N
E
W
S
SUMMER 2009 EDITION
FREECALL: 1800 808 690 • Wollongong: (02) 4224 4333 • Fax: (02) 4224 4300 • Email: [email protected] • Web: peoplecare.com.au
Seasons Greetings!
From the Board, Management
and Staff of Peoplecare
The team at Peoplecare wish you and your families
a safe, healthy and happy holiday season and a
wonderful 2010.
During a time of eating, drinking and merry-making,
it can be easy to over-indulge and we hope you
find the Health File on Alcohol at the end of this
newsletter useful.
With the New Year just around the corner, January
is often a time to plan the coming year and get our
busy lives organised.
Peoplecare recommends that you regularly review
your health cover to make sure it still suits your needs
and circumstances, particularly if you make any
changes to your family status or lifestyle. Getting
married or changing your marital status, having
children, growing older and children moving out of
the family home are all events which may change
the way you use your health cover.
Why not make each New Year the time when you
spend a few minutes refreshing yourself about what
your health cover includes and checking that this still
fits your lifestyle?
Remember, if you need any help, we’re just a
phone call away. Please feel free to call us on
1800 808 690 or email [email protected]
– we’re always happy to help you review your
cover!
Looking back at 2009
2009 has been another busy and successful year for Peoplecare. Following is a snapshot of our key
results for the year.
Revenue 2008/9
$55.9 million
Member
Satisfaction % 2009
98.4%
Benefits paid
2008/9
$43.9 million
Membership
Growth 2008/9
8.11% (industry
average 3.26%)
Admin expenses
2008/9
$5.03 million
(9.0%)
Members (as at
31/11/09)
19,870
Surplus 2008/9
$2.05 million
Persons covered
46,476
Lysaght Peoplecare Limited. A registered private health insurer. ABN: 95 087 648 753
It’s a Hat Trick!
While it will be no surprise to
our members, Peoplecare has
again been rated as one of
the best value health funds in
Australia. In their annual health
fund evaluation for New South
Wales and Victoria, Canstar
Cannex have listed Peoplecare
products amongst the best value
in both states and awarded
Peoplecare the 2009 State Award
for Outstanding Value Hospital
Cover in Victoria, again proving
a smaller player can compete
successfully with the largest health
funds in Australia.
This is the third bouquet in as many
months for Peoplecare, who have
been independently evaluated
and ranked amongst the best
value for 2009 by Australian
Financial Review’s Smart Investor
magazine, Choice magazine and
now Canstar Cannex.
that help consumers find the best
value options. I’m pleased to have
this independent recognition of
the value of our health covers”,
said Michael.
This most recent recognition once
again positions Peoplecare as
a health fund that provides high
value health cover to its members.
Peoplecare’s CEO Michael
Bassingthwaighte is extremely
happy with this acknowledgement
from Canstar Cannex.
“This is more proof that
as a smaller, not-forprofit company we can
be competitive at the
national level, while
remaining focused on
our local communities”.
“At Peoplecare, we make sure
we look after our members with
competitive products that give
them exceptional service and
value. It’s fantastic that there are
independent avenues such as this
Peoplecare were also featured
on the Today Tonight show
in October as a health fund
providing competitive health
cover options.
Peoplecare AGM & Board
Elections
The Peoplecare Annual General Meeting was held on
11 November 2009 and we are pleased to announce an
addition to our Board of Directors.
Dr. Jacqueline Jennings has
been elected by the members
to a 3 year term as Director.
Jacqueline resides at Kangaroo
Ground, in Victoria and holds
significant qualifications which
will add to the comprehensive
skill set of our Board. She has a
PhD in Management, a Masters
in Management, a Bachelor
of Metallurgy and is a Member
of the Australian Institute of
Company Directors. Jacqueline
has extensive experience in
management and executive
positions for BHP Steel, as well
as experience as a Director
in the finance sector and the
construction industry. She is
currently a full-time mother of 4
active children.
Jacqueline’s objective in
becoming a Peoplecare Board
Member is,
“to use the skills and
knowledge I have
developed to actively
take a role in directing
the future growth
activity of Peoplecare
while at all times
maintaining strong links
to the membership
via an ethical,
financially astute,
and compassionate
disposition.”
Existing Peoplecare Director,
Alan Gibbs, was re-elected to
the Board for a further 3 year
term and Andrew Gregory was
re-appointed to the Board in his
Associate Director position for a
further 1 year term.
Congratulations to Jacqueline,
Alan and Andrew on their
appointments.
Dr. Jacqueline Jennings
Electronic - the E@sy way
For some time we have been encouraging members
to register for our online services and register their email
address with Peoplecare. Over 12,000 of our members
(around 60%) already receive some fund materials
by email, which helps to reduce our administrative
expenses and impact on the environment.
We are delighted to announce the launch of our
expanded E-Communications, which means that now
you’ll be able to choose to receive more of your fund
letters and communications by email or SMS.
We already send out our annual Member
Satisfaction Survey and this newsletter by email,
and in 2010 we’ll be able to email more of your
fund information to reduce costs, operate more
effectively and be kind to our environment.
If you would like to receive more of your fund
communications electronically, please provide us
with your email address and complete the authority.
You can do this in one of 3 easy ways:
1. Email us:
[email protected]
2. Post:
Send coupon below to:
Reply Paid, Peoplecare
(no postage stamp required)
Locked Bag 83743
Wollongong DC NSW 2500
3. Call us:
1800 808 690
Enter your details if you’d like to receive more Peoplecare communications electronically. If you
have received this newsletter by email, there is no need to do anything.
Member Number:
First Name:
Last Name:
Email Address:
Please note:
•
If any electronic communications are not delivered successfully, Peoplecare will resend by
traditional mail.
•
Important letters will still be sent to you by traditional mail.
•
SMS is only available for a small number of confirmation messages at this stage.
•
If you do not wish to receive electronic communications, simply contact us by email, post or
telephone as noted above to unsubscribe.
Please send my communications using the methods below. Please mark all methods you’d like to use.
1.
My membership: : letters or information
about my membership with the fund.
2.
General communications:
(newsletters, Member surveys,
member offers and promotions etc.)
Email:
SMS:
Email:
SMS:
Signed:
WIN a $500
Date:
COLES GROUP &
MYER GIFT CARD
All members who register to receive electronic communications by 31
January 2010 will go into a draw to win a $500 Coles Group & Myer Gift Card*.
* Terms and Conditions: all Peoplecare members who have registered to receive electronic communications as at 31 January 2010 will be entered into a
random draw, which will be conducted at 12pm on 1 February 2010 at the Peoplecare Offi ce, Victoria Square, Wollongong. The winner will be contacted
by telephone and their details will be published in the March 2010 Peoplecare Health News. If the winner cannot be contacted within a period of 3 months,
a random redraw will be conducted under the same circumstances on 3 May 2010. (Coles Group & Myer Gift Card: Conditions & exclusions apply. For
full terms of use, visit giftcards.com.au or phone: 1300 304 990.) The promoter is Lysaght Peoplecare Limited (ABN 950 087 648 753) Authorised under NSW
Permit No LTPS/09/11622, ACT Permit No TP 09/04972.
Discounts on eyewear for
Peoplecare members
Peoplecare members receive discounts at a range of Eyecare outlets across the country . Simply let the
staff at any of the outlets below know that you’re a Peoplecare member and you’ll receive the discounts
outlined below!
Teachers Eyecare
Budget Eyewear
Teachers Eyecare has 4
outlets in New South Wales
and Victoria, along with an
online store.
Budget Eyewear has 85
outlets across Australia.
Phone 1300 303 606 for
your nearest outlet or visit
budgeteyewear.com.au
Please phone 1300 728 488 or
visit teacherseyecare.com.au
for more information.
OPSM
Laubman & Pank
OPSM has 300 outlets across
Australia and New Zealand.
Laubman & Pank has 126
outlets across Australia.
Phone 13 20 20 for your
nearest outlet or visit
opsm.com.au
the eye people
Call 131 567 for your
nearest store or visit
laubmanandpank.com.au
Frames
Lenses
(with prescription
lenses)
(when purchased
without frames)
35% discount
(on frames only)
20% discount
25% discount
21% discount
10% discount
Contact Lenses
Teachers Eyecare
Teachers Eyecare online
teacherseyecare.com.au
Budget Eyewear
Laubman & Pank
21% discount
Excludes Chanel, Bvlgari &
Tiffany & Co. Brands
OPSM
OPSM Direct
opsmdirect.com.au
Discounts do not apply in conjunction with any other offer.
N/A
N/A
free delivery
Competitions & Prizes!
0
5
$
!!
E
E
R
F
Family & Friends
Gift Card
If you think Peoplecare is
good value and delivers great
service, let your friends know
about us too! Refer a friend to
Peoplecare and if they join by
30 June 2010, you both receive
a FREE $50 Coles Group & Myer
Gift Card... PLUS go in the draw
to win one of these 3 fantastic
prizes valued at $500 or more!*
The new member can join
online at peoplecare.com.au
and enter your membership
number when requested, or join
by telephone on 1800 808 700.
All they need to do is mention
your membership details at the
time of joining.
$500
Coles Myer
Voucher
Apple
iPhone 3G
RRP $719
TomTom
GO 930 GPS
Navigator
RRP $749
*Lysaght Peoplecare Limited. A registered private health insurer. ABN: 95 087 648 753. This promotion is authorised
under NSW Permit No. LTPS/09/11499 and ACT permit No. TP 09/04872. Full details and conditions at peoplecare.com.
au/familyandfriends. Excludes ambulance only.
Great deals on travel insurance
Take out a QBE Travel
Insurance policy
through Peoplecare
between 1 December
2009 and 31 March
2010 and you could
WIN the value of your
premium back
(up to the value of $300)
Your chance to win back the value of your QBE Travel Insurance Policy!
If you’re thinking about travelling overseas, one of the most important
things you need to consider is travel insurance, as your health fund
membership doesn’t cover overseas medical services. You may also
want to consider travel insurance when travelling within Australia to
protect your pre-paid travel arrangements against cancellation or
disruption as a result of an illness or injury.
Either way, QBE and Peoplecare offer a travel insurance policy to suit
your needs at discounted prices and for a limited time only, you will
go into the draw to win back the value of the QBE travel insurance
policy you purchased with Peopelcare..
It’s simple to take out a policy by calling us on 1800 808 700 or
visiting our website at peoplecare.com.au
Promotion: All QBE Travel Insurance Policies purchased through Peoplecare between 1 Dec 2009 and 31 March
2010 will go into a random draw. 3 winners will be selected and each winner will receive the value of their Travel
Insurance policy (up to a maximum of $300). Full Terms and Conditions are available at peoplecare.com.au/
travelinsurancepromo2010.html Authorised under Permit No. NSW LTPS/09/10776 and ACT TP 09/04628.
Winners Circle
+ ‘Electronic the E@sy Way’ Promotion
The winners of the TomTom ONE (3rd edition) GPS Car Navigation System RRP $199* drawn on 1 October & 1
December 2009 were Paul Monaghan from Balarang NSW and Gabrielle Palmer from Lake Wendouree, VIC.
Congratulations - we hope you enjoy your prizes!
H E A L T H
F
I
L
E
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SUMMER 2009 EDITION
FREECALL: 1800 808 690 • Wollongong: (02) 4224 4333 • Fax: (02) 4224 4300 • Email: [email protected] • Web: peoplecare.com.au
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most widely used social drug in Australia. Its use affects different people in different ways.
While a small amount of alcohol may be beneficial to the heart for some older people, ‘risky’ drinking
can cause serious health, personal and social problems. Heavy drinkers, ‘binge drinkers’ and very young
drinkers are particularly at risk.
Recommended limits to reduce
health risks from drinking vary
according to age, gender and other
factors. ‘Binge drinking’ is a particular
problem among younger people,
but anyone who drinks heavily or
drinks too much in one session is at
risk of both immediate and longterm alcohol-related harm. Drinking
alcohol during pregnancy may also
affect your baby.
If you plan to drive, it is better not to
drink at all.
The standard drink
A standard drink contains 10g of
alcohol. However, the size of a
‘standard’ drink can vary according
to the type of alcohol. The size
of a drink served in some hotels,
restaurants or even at home may be
much bigger than a ‘standard’ drink.
Understanding how to count standard
drinks can help you keep track of how
much alcohol you consume.
One standard drink equals:
•
285ml or approximately one pot
of regular beer (4.8% alcohol
content)
•
375ml or one stubbie of midstrength beer (3.5% alcohol
content)
•
100ml or one small glass of table
wine (13.5% alcohol content)
•
30ml of spirits plus mixer (40%
alcohol content).
Cocktails can contain as much
•
alcohol as five or six standard drinks,
depending on the recipe.
safest choice for young people
under 18 years of age is not
to drink at all. Young people
under 15 years of age are at
the greatest risk of harm from
drinking and are advised not to
drink alcohol. If older teenagers
(over 15 years) do drink, it should
be under adult supervision and
within the adult guideline for lowrisk drinking (two standard drinks
in any one day).
Alcohol intake guidelines
The following guidelines can help you
determine if your alcohol intake is
harmful.
•
Adult men and women – drinking
up to two standard drinks in any
one day puts you at low risk for
alcohol-related problems. Four
or more standard drinks at a time
puts you at considerable risk of
alcohol-related harm. Everyone
should have one or two days free
of alcohol a week.
Children and young people –the
•
Pregnant and breastfeeding
women – the safest choice is not
to drink alcohol while pregnant
or breastfeeding or if you are
planning to become pregnant.
Alcohol - continued.
•
Breast cancer and other
gynaecological problems –
women who drink alcohol are at
a higher risk than non-drinking
women.
Binge drinking can be
dangerous
‘Binge drinking’ is the term commonly
used to describe drinking heavily
over a short period of time with the
intention of becoming intoxicated.
The resulting immediate and severe
intoxication can be very harmful to a
person’s health and wellbeing.
Drinking large amounts of alcohol
can result in confusion, blurred
vision, poor muscle control, nausea,
vomiting, sleep, coma or even
death. It can also impair a person’s
judgement and decision-making
capacity, which can increase the risk
that they may do silly things and put
themselves in dangerous situations.
The risk of injury and disease
increases the more you drink. Any
drinking above recommended
levels carries a higher risk than not
drinking. Mixing alcohol and other
drugs – either illegal drugs or some
prescription drugs – can cause
serious health problems.
How the body
processes alcohol
Alcohol gets into the bloodstream
through the stomach and the small
intestine. If a person has food in their
stomach, it will slow down the rate at
which the alcohol is absorbed but it
will not stop a person becoming drunk.
Eventually all the alcohol that was
consumed will reach the bloodstream.
Most of the alcohol in the body
(about 91%) is broken down by the
liver. A small amount also leaves the
body in urine, sweat and the breath.
Since the liver can only break down
about three-quarters of a standard
drink an hour, sobering up takes time.
Cold showers, exercise, black coffee,
fresh air or vomiting will not speed up
the process.
Effects of alcohol on
your health
Alcohol can affect a number of body
systems, including:
•
Cardiovascular system – raised
blood pressure and triglycerides
(especially after binge drinking),
damage to the heart muscle
and stroke.
•
Nervous system – brain
damage, tremors, dementia
and nerve damage. Alcohol is
a depressant drug and affects
your coordination, self-control,
judgement and reaction times.
•
Gastrointestinal system –
stomach inflammation (gastritis)
and bleeding.
•
Liver – cancer, hepatitis
(inflammation), fatty changes,
cirrhosis and liver failure.
•
Endocrine system – problems
controlling blood sugar, loss of
libido and reduced fertility.
•
Nutrition – malnutrition (alcohol
displaces nutrients from your
body) and obesity.
‘Binge drinking’ means different
things to different people. New
Australian recommendations were
released in 2009. The Australian
Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks
from Drinking talk about drinking
too much ‘on a single occasion of
drinking’ rather than ‘binge drinking’,
but the harm that can be done to
the drinker and their community are
essentially the same.
Health benefits of alcohol
Very moderate amounts of alcohol
(around half a standard drink a day)
may provide health benefits for some
middle-aged or older people by
reducing the risk of some types of
cardiovascular disease. However,
people who do not already drink
alcohol are not encouraged to take
up drinking just to get some health
benefits.
Recent scientific evidence suggests
that the potential for health benefits
may have been overestimated in
earlier studies. Possible benefits
need to be balanced against the
risk of cirrhosis, some cancers and
other diseases (which becomes
greater with increased alcohol
consumption).
Alcohol - continued.
The same benefits do not extend to
younger people. Drinking alcohol
can affect how the brain develops
in people under the age of 25.
Teenagers under 15 years of age are
particularly at risk.
Drinking alcohol could affect
your unborn baby
Women who drink alcohol while
pregnant are more likely to give birth
to babies who are:
•
Smaller
•
Premature
•
Born with a range of
developmental, behavioural
and physical effects – known as
foetal alcohol spectrum disorder
(FASD).
It may be that even a low intake of
alcohol is harmful to your unborn
baby. For this reason, pregnant
women are advised to drink no
alcohol.
Alcohol and breastfeeding
Alcohol is excreted into breast milk
and can reduce milk supply. During
the first 12 months of a baby’s life,
alcohol can cause damage to the
developing brain. Women who are
breastfeeding are advised to avoid
consumption of alcohol.
If you choose to drink alcohol while
breastfeeding, it is suggested that
you wait up to two hours before
breastfeeding your baby for each
standard drink. For example, if
you have two standard drinks you
should wait four hours before you
breastfeed.
Alcohol and driving
Alcohol can impair coordination
and judgement and is a major
cause of road injury in Australia. The
rate of alcohol absorption in the
body varies depending on body
size, gender, body fat and amount
of food in the stomach. The same
person can drink the same number
of drinks on different occasions
and have different blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) levels.
It is safest to avoid drinking alcohol if
you need to drive or operate heavy
machinery. If you do drink and drive,
it is important to keep your BAC
under the legal limit for driving (in
Victoria, this is 0.05 BAC). Remember
that alcohol takes time to leave the
body. You may still have alcohol
in your body several hours or even
the day after drinking. Learner and
probationary drivers and drivers of
trucks, buses, trams and trains must
maintain a zero blood alcohol limit.
It is not possible to say how many
drinks any one person can drink to
stay under a particular BAC. You can
get some idea of your general blood
alcohol level by recording your drinks
and testing yourself over a number
of occasions. Use a coin-operated
breath tester – these are available in
some venues.
How to drink responsibly
You can monitor your drinking if you:
•
Start with a non-alcoholic drink.
•
Eat before and while drinking to
slow the absorption of alcohol
into your bloodstream.
•
Avoid salty snacks that make you
thirsty and make you drink more.
•
Make every second or third drink
non-alcoholic.
•
Try low alcohol drinks.
•
Always keep your drink with you to
minimise the risk of drink spiking.
Where to get help
•
Your doctor
•
DrugInfo Clearinghouse
Ph: 1300 858 584 – for information
•
DirectLine Ph: 1800 888 236 – for
counselling and referral
•
Counselling Online – for online
counselling and referral
•
Family Drug Help – for
information and support for
people concerned about a
relative or friend using drugs
Ph: 1300 660 068
Things to remember
•
Alcohol affects different
people in different ways.
•
Moderate alcohol intake
may be beneficial for
some middle-aged or
older people but the same
benefits do not apply to
young people.
•
Heavy and ‘binge drinking’
can cause serious health
effects.
•
Drinking while pregnant or
breastfeeding may affect
your baby.
This information was provided by the Better Health
Channel, a Victorian Government (Australia) website.
Material on the Better Health Channel is regularly
updated. For the latest version of this information
please visit: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au