Preventative care is the key to a healthy and independent lifestyle, the Henry and Stark County Health Departments note.
Many may not realize that in order to help maintain personal wellness; Medicare covers an Annual Wellness visit for patients. What is an Annual Wellness visit and what does it include for the participant? During an annual wellness visit, their First Choice Healthcare staff will discuss your medical history; review your medication with you; assess your current health and safety; develop a personalized preventative healthcare plan; and answer any questions you may have about your health.
Medicare pays 100% of the cost of Annual Wellness Exams with no “out-of-pocket” expense to participants. For more information or to schedule your annual wellness exam call the First Choice Healthcare clinic nearest you: Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; or Toulon 309-852-3115.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program asks, “Do You Need Health Insurance?” Their Health Insurance Navigators will be present at an upcoming local event to assist anyone looking to set up health insurance coverage:
Salvation Army Store, 119 N. Tremont St., Kewanee, Ill., Friday, Aug. 15 from 1-4 p.m.
“Get Covered Illinois Navigators” can help you:
● Find affordable health coverage that meets your needs
● Fill out and submit your application
● Compare quality health plans side-by-side
● Find out if you qualify for financial help to lower your monthly premium
● Find out if you qualify for Medicaid or an affordability program
● Understand your benefits
● Understand health insurance terms
Remember you may be eligible to enroll in a Get Covered Illinois health plan outside of the usual Open Enrollment, or make changes to your existing coverage, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The SEP may require you to enroll within 60 days of a qualifying life event.
A qualifying life event is a life change, such as loss of Health Coverage, due to:
● Losing job-based coverage
● Losing Medicaid coverage
● Losing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors or Health Benefits For Immigrants Adult coverage
● A divorce or legal separation
● Turning 26 years old, no longer eligible for parents’ coverage
Other Qualifying Life Events include:
● Getting Married
● Having a baby or adopting a child
● Moving to a new ZIP code or county
● Becoming a US Citizen
● Leaving incarceration.
For more information on this Get Covered Illinois Navigator Event or assistance in enrolling in a Get Covered Illinois Healthcare Marketplace please call 309-852-5272.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments announce that Aug. 3-9 has been designated National Health Center Week – NHCW. This year’s NHCW theme is “We Are Healthcare.”
National Health Center Week is celebrated each year to increase awareness of America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers – CHCs. National Health Center Week is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and their First Choice Healthcare staff, board members, and supporters.
Community Health Centers such as their First Choice Healthcare locations serve as a beacon of strength, service, and care in their communities. In moments of pain and loss, they offer support and love. In moments of triumph, they offer hope and a vision for the future. This year’s National Health Center Week theme focuses on empowering communities by connecting them with the local health centers they can access and utilize.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments reminds local residents that in addition to the vast array of public health services offered by the Department; they also offer needed and vital clinical services through their First Choice Healthcare clinics in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon.
First Choice Healthcare offers a full range of clinic services which include: sick appointments; family planning; school/sport exams; chronic disease management; STD testing and treatment; work physicals; TB testing, lead screenings and immunizations. In addition, our Kewanee and Toulon locations offer “Walk-In” clinic services, we offer mental health services, and community health programs. What this means is, Henry and Stark County residents are able to access integrated primary medical and mental health services in one healthcare home.
For more information or to schedule an appointment at their First Choice Healthcare Clinics call Kewanee 309-852-5272; Colona 309-792-4011; and Toulon 309-852-3115.
The Henry and Stark County Health Department’s First Choice Healthcare Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Food Supplemental program staff reminds local residents that the WIC program promotes the health of local children and mothers, by providing free groceries to participants; and creating healthier families by encouraging healthy eating and lifestyles.
Heather Aldred, RN, Maternal and Child Health Services supervisor with the Health Department said, “Henry, Stark, Marshall and Putnam County residents have fully returned to only in-person “Face to Face” appointments and services delivery.”
They do, however, still offer an online application feature to the program. For those interested in taking advantage of all that WIC offers, the New Illinois WIC EBT Card is available to all WIC participants. This makes WIC Services even more easy for area families to use.
“All current WIC participants and households are now issued just one Illinois WIC EBT Card with all the food benefits on this one card; no more handling multiple checks for different members of your family.” said Aldred. The WIC process remains the same, benefits are reloaded on your card every three months after contacting and checking in with their WIC Staff.
Please note, the Health Department WIC staff have expanded WIC hours in order to be more convenient to working families and school children participating in the program. WIC benefits are available to eligible children up to the age of 5, pregnant women, infants, postpartum and breastfeeding women.
Aldred said, “We are so excited about this new WIC EBT Card, sometimes referred to as eWIC. Participants now have the ease of taking their shopping list to the store and then buying the food they need when they need them.”
The Health Department WIC and case management staff promotes healthy pregnancies, babies, children and families through their services. The WIC Supplemental Food Program offers supplemental foods and nutrition education to residents who meet certain nutrition and economic guidelines. In addition, clients may receive healthy food items such as milk, formula, eggs, and cereal; fruits, vegetables, juices, whole grain breads and tortillas.
For more information on the department’s WIC and case management services call the Health Department at 309-852-5272 Kewanee or 309-792-4011 Colona or visit their website to apply here.
For more information you can also visit www.fns.usda.gov/wic.
***This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
