CIGNA suggests the 'To Do' list to stay healthy during this holiday season

Dec 19 2009

‘Tis the season for celebrating with family and friends -- and searching for those perfect gifts. CIGNA suggests adding another item to the top of the holiday “To Do” list: Be sure to take needed medications to stay healthy this holiday season and into the New Year. The best way to do this is to be sure to fill prescriptions before the distractions of the holidays take hold.

Here are a few tips to make the holidays easier for people who take medications:

• Everyone needs “easy and affordable” during the holidays: Who wants to spend extra money or wait in another retail line during the holiday season? A home delivery pharmacy can save time and money. They are designed especially for individuals who take prescription medications on a regular basis. Ninety-day supplies of medication can be delivered right to a person’s door. And, companies like CIGNA have programs to make the switch effortless. With one phone call all the work is done for you.
• Have the money to buy one more gift for someone special: Money often becomes an issue over the holidays. In order to save money, people taking a brand-name medication should talk with their doctor to see if a generic drug would work and be less expensive. Each generic prescription can save $200 a year, on average. For people taking several brand name medications that can add up to a lot of holiday gifts.
• Scratch off one more thing to remember: Studies show that people have difficulty following their medication regimen – and the added stress of the holidays doesn’t help. Some health plans have programs where people can receive text messages or email reminders to take medications and keep doctor appointments. If that’s not available, people can make their own medication chart which can be posted in a convenient place.
• Relax with your morning coffee: Another option is to set up a routine so that medications are taken at the same time everyday or with the same activity such as with your morning coffee.
• Feel organized and under control this holiday season: A good way to organize is to put pills into a weekly pill box. They should be kept in a place where they’ll be readily seen everyday. Many pharmacies offer these pill boxes free of charge.

A medicine cabinet isn't the only place where health hazards might be lurking during the holiday season. This time of the year often brings on feelings of anxiety, guilt and depression commonly known as the “holiday blues.” Even in good years people can feel overwhelmed, but with the economy still struggling and many families coping with financial setbacks, more people than usual might be affected this year. CIGNA now offers this Wellness Workbook and these tips as a way to help people cope during the holidays.

“Staying on needed medications is a key component to improving the health of people with chronic conditions. Not only does poor medication adherence negatively impact an individual’s health, it has been estimated to cost approximately $177 billion annually in total direct and indirect medical costs,” said Thom Stambaugh, chief pharmacy officer for CIGNA. “But more importantly, we want people to stay healthy this holiday season…and on into the New Year.”