Virtual Visits: With a virtual visit you can see and talk to a doctor online, any time. Did you know they are included in your health plan coverage AND at a reduced co-pay from a regular office visit? When you don’t feel well, or your child is sick, the last thing you want to do is leave the comfort of home to sit in a waiting room. With Virtual Visits, you don’t have to! A Virtual Visit lets you see and talk to a doctor from your mobile device or computer without an appointment, 24/7. Most visits take about 10-15 minutes and doctors can write a prescription, if needed, that you can pick up at your local pharmacy.

IPERS 1:1 Web Counseling: Save time and money by scheduling a 1:1 web counseling session with one of IPERS Retirement Officers. Give IPERS a call to book your appointment. They'll prepare a retirement estimate and mail it to your home address prior to your scheduled appointment.

IPERS Retirement Planning Sessions: Get detailed information about your retirement account. Learn more about possible retirement dates, benefit option payouts, and service purchase options. Individual appointments are available October 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th, 2017 Pre-Registration is needed to attend an individual appointment. To schedule an individual appointment contact IPERS at 1-800-622-3849. Appointment times will fill quickly. Please do not delay in calling to set up an appointment.

Employees have a source of charitable giving through Community Health Charities (CHC) and it is time again for our annual giving campaign! Community Health Charities is dedicated to regional health-based non-profits such as American Diabetes Association – Iowa Area, Epilepsy Foundation of North / Central Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska, and Vera French, just to name a few. Your donation can even be earmarked for a specific charity. Now is the time to elect any payroll deductions you may wish to make to Community Health Charities. The pledge drive will be through August 2nd . Employee payroll deductions from last year will end August 11th. (You must complete a new pledge to continue last year’s deduction.) CHC payroll deductions for this campaign will begin with the August 25th paycheck.

A Guide to Understanding Your EOB After you visit a provider, your health plan may send you an explanation of benefits (EOB). It gives you important details about what your plan covers and what you may owe.

How to turn negative thoughts into positive ones... In a recent article in the New York Times, author Jane E Brody offered tips on turning negative thoughts into positive ones. Here are some excerpts: …“well-being can be considered a life skill. If you practice, you can actually get better at it.” By learning and regularly practicing skills that promote positive emotions, you can become a happier and healthier person. Thus, there is hope for people should they choose to take steps to develop and reinforce positivity. In her newest book, “Love 2.0,” Barbara Fredrickson reports that “shared positivity — having two people caught up in the same emotion — may have even a greater impact on health than something positive experienced by oneself.” Consider watching a funny play or movie or TV show with a friend of similar tastes, or sharing good news, a joke or amusing incidents with others. Fredrickson also teaches “lovingkindness meditation” focused on directing good-hearted wishes to others. This can result in people “feeling more in tune with other people at the end of the day,” she said.

The individual income tax rate for Illinois withholding has been raised to 4.95% effective July 1, 2017. The new income tax rates are effective for income received on or after July 1, 2017.

The Scott County Board of Supervisors dedicated the new sidewalk in a ribbon cutting on October 17, 2017. The sidewalk project is complete.

Virtual Visits --Access to care online at any time. When you don't feel well, or your child is sick, the last thing you want to do is leave the comfort of your home to sit in a waiting room. Now, you don't have to. A virtual visit lets you see and talk to a doctor from your mobile device or computer without an appointment. Most visits take about 10-15 minutes and doctors can write a prescription, if needed, that you can pick up at your local pharmacy.