Winning Health | Gold Coast Health Plan | Issue 2 | Fall 2018

IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BECOME A QUITTER I f you smoke, find your calendar and circle November 15. That’s the date for this year’s Great American Smokeout–a day when people who smoke are encouraged to quit. The Smokeout has fallen on the third Thursday in November since 1976. That is when the California division of the American Cancer Society (ACS) convinced nearly 1 million smokers to quit for the day. The ACS took the event nationwide in 1977. Millions more have quit smoking over the years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34 percent of American adults smoked in 1978. Today that number is down to less than 17 percent. That’s a big drop. Still, smoking remains the No. 1 preventable cause of premature death and disease. You can quit too. No doubt, it’s hard to stop smoking. But there is support to help you quit. For example: ■  ■ Over-the-counter nicotine replacement gum, patches and other products. ■  ■ Medicine to help ease cravings. Talk to your doctor about what medicine may work for you. ■  ■ California Smokers’ Helpline: Call 1-800-NO-BUTTS ( 1-800-662-8887 ). E-cigarettes are harmful too. E-cigarettes have harmful chemicals. They produce an aerosol that is a mixture of chemicals and small particles that can harm the lungs and cause cancer, birth defects or other problems–just like cigarette smoke. Studies show that e-cigarettes do not help people quit smoking cigarettes. Instead, many people end up using both products. If you use e-cigarettes, get help with quitting. Having a support system can help improve the chances of quitting. Make this year the one that you finally say good riddance to smoking–forever. Learn more Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) can help you learn about: ■  ■ Diabetes. ■  ■ Healthy eating. ■  ■ High blood pressure. GCHP’s Health Education Department has free booklets on these topics and more. Learning more can keep you healthy. For more information, call Health Education at 1-805-437-5603/ TTY 1-888-310-7347 , Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call… Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) Member Services at 1-888-301-1228/ TTY 1-888-310-7347 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: ■  ■ To change your Primary Care Provider (PCP). ■  ■ To request a new GCHP ID card. ■  ■ For help with a bill from a medical provider. ■  ■ To check the status of an authorization. ■  ■ When you need help getting timely appointments. ■  ■ If you want to file a grievance. ■  ■ For interpreter and translation services. TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR PCP. Call the phone number on your GCHP ID card. ■  ■ Mental Health Assistance Beacon Health Options 1-855-765-9702/ TTY 1-800-735-2929 ■  ■ Pharmacy/Prescriptions OptumRx 1-855-297-2870/TTY 711 ■  ■ Vision Exam VSP 1-800-322-7195/ TTY 1-800-428-4833 ■  ■ Transportation Ventura Transit System (VTS) 1-855-628-7433/ TTY 1-800-855-7100 ■  ■ Dental Care Denti-Cal 1-800-322-6384/ TTY 1-800-735-2922 ■  ■ Medi-Cal Eligibility/ Change Your Address Human Services Agency (HSA) 1-888-472-4463/ TTY 1-800-735-2929 winning health 4 things to know The Great American Smokeout