Story by Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
CTA's Economic Benefits Trust is offering a free health information and wellness program to participants in CTA's voluntary life or disability programs.
The trust has contracted with CareWise Inc. to implement a wellness program to help members maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Participants receive a self-care reference book and a quarterly newsletter on current health topics. A website [http://cta.carewiseonline.com/] offers answers to health questions and concerns. The site can be searched for symptoms or conditions, as well as possible side effects of prescription drugs. Articles on featured health topics are archived in a searchable database.
In addition to these automatic benefits, members participating in either the voluntary life or disability plan can sign up for a well-baby program. BabyWise, which is designed to help expectant mothers have a healthy pregnancy, offers a 24-hour hotline to a team of obstetrical nurses who can answer questions and provide assistance.
Participants receive a set of books, including What To Expect When You're Expecting, What To Expect The First Year, The Expectant Father and a 12-month Great Beginnings calendar.
To qualify, enrollees must be in the first trimester of pregnancy. To enroll, call 1 (800) 219-1087. Participants will be called by an obstetrical nurse who will perform two risk assessments as the pregnancy progresses and follow up three months after the birth with postpartum counseling.
For more information on the CareWise and BabyWise programs, call CTA Risk Management/Member Benefits at (650) 552-5200. For information on the voluntary life or disability plans, call UNUM Provident at (800) 282-4049.