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 Join us for a Wellness Webinar:
Healthy Relationships
Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Find out what constitutes a healthy relationship and the things you need to keep a relationship healthy. Please join Kristin Byers, Behavioral Health Specialist, to learn tools and skills to get relationships back on track.
Live sessions are limited to the first 2,000 attendees. All others can view the recording 6 hours after the live event.
Members that attend the live session or view the recording within 7 days of the original broadcast, will receive 1 HealthQuest Credit for attendance. Credits take 7-10 business days to be reflected in your HealthQuest Portal post completion.
No registration required! Simply follow the instructions on how to access this webinar directly on the HealthQuest Portal under Wellness Learning Events.
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Join us for an EAP Monthly Webinar:
Building Respectful Relationships
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 1:00 pm
In respectful relationships, people are more likely to engage in discussions, share thoughts, and collaborate with others. There can be increased creativity and improved problem-solving skills. When conflicts occur, respectful people are more likely to listen to each other’s perspectives, seek common ground, and find mutually beneficial solutions. This training can help anyone build these respectful relationships at work and at home.
Registration is required! After you register, and after the live event, you will receive an email within the next 24 hours so you can view the recording, if you miss the live session.
Members that attend the live session or view the recording within 7 days of the original broadcast, will receive 1 HealthQuest Credit for attendance. Credits take 3-5 business days after the vendor file is received, to be reflected in your HealthQuest Portal post completion.
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- The HealthQuest wellness program is in full swing! There are many great opportunities to earn your credits. Read health education module articles, watch on-demand training videos through our EAP, register with Rx Savings Solutions or watch our wellness webinars each month!
- Feeling under the weather? The HealthQuest Health Center or our virtual care platform, Anywhere, is there to help! Medical visits are at no cost for Plan A members and a $40 fee per visit for Plan C, J or N until your deductible is met. You can schedule your appointment with ease through the HealthQuest portal!
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February 5 - EAP Webinar: Building Respectful Relationships, Register Here
February 13 - Wellness Webinar: Healthy Relationships. Access the webinar directly in the HealthQuest Portal under Wellness Learning Events.
March 5 - EAP Webinar: The Psychology Behind Saving
Money and Other Good Financial Habits, Register Here
March 13 - Smart & Healthy Grocery Shopping. Access the webinar directly in the HealthQuest Portal under Wellness Learning Events.
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Should you need accommodations for any webinar, please email SEHPHealthQuest@ks.gov two (2) business days in advance.
 Tax Prep 2025
Filing a federal tax return can be a tedious and time-consuming task, so it’s never too early to start preparing. Keep in mind: The deadline for filing individual returns for the 2024 tax year is April 15, 2025. Here are some tips on filing:
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Get started now. Organize receipts, paycheck stubs, financial records, mortgage statements and other important documents, and try to estimate how much you will owe or be refunded. You want to schedule enough time to complete your return and avoid the filing deadline rush.
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Educate yourself. Learn about the latest tax laws so you can take advantage of as many deductions, exemptions and credits as possible. Visit the IRS website at irs.gov or call the IRS toll-free at 800.829.1040 for help. Consider hiring a CPA, financial planner or tax attorney for a complex return.
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Understand your payment options. There are alternatives if you cannot immediately pay the taxes you owe. Installment agreements can be applied for at irs.gov, and there are a number of options for charging the balance on a credit card. The IRS won’t tack on a fee for credit card payments, but the processing companies will charge a convenience fee.
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If you can’t file on time. You can submit IRS Form 4868: Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return and receive an automatic six-month extension to postpone your filing date. This pushes back the due date for the paperwork. It doesn’t give you more time to pay any taxes due, so you will owe interest on any amount not paid by the May 17 deadline, plus a late payment penalty if you have not paid at least 90 percent of your total tax by that date.
Your Employee Assistance Program has partnered with WorkingAdvantage to offer a discount on TurboTax tax preparation software. To get started, log on to GuidanceResources® Online, click on the Discounts icon and follow the instructions posted under Save on TurboTax. Or access WorkingAdvantage directly and log in or create a new account using access code 653935339.
EAP Information:
Call: 888-270-8897
Online: guidanceresources.com
App: GuidanceNow
Web ID: SOKEAP
* When will tax documentation become available?
You will only receive a 1099-SA if there were distributions made. The 1099-SA is needed for filing taxes and is typically available by the end of January. MetLife will issue any necessary tax forms in the member portal. You will receive a 5498-SA for the contributions made by the end of February. You will not need this one for filling taxes.
Beginning with the 2024 plan year, employers are no longer required to send printed 1095 forms to employees who have not specifically requested them. Employees wanting a printed Form 1095C will be required to individually request their form in MAP using a communication form request. Electronic 1095C will be available for download on January 31st 2025.
 by Valerie Porter, HealthQuest Health Coach
Monthly recipes are provided by Valerie Porter, RN, HealthQuest Health Coach. Health Coaching appointments are available to all benefits-eligible employees, and their SEHP-covered spouses, free of charge. To schedule an appointment with Valerie or another health coach, call (785) 783-4080.
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Strawberry Maca Smoothie |
Ingredients:
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1/2 cup frozen strawberries
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1/4 cup frozen raspberries
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1/2 cup frozen cauliflower florets
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4 Brazil nuts
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1 tablespoon chia seeds
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1 tablespoon maca powder
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2 teaspoons beet powder
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1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
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Juice of 1/2 lemon
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1 scoop of your favorite clean vanilla protein powder
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender with 1 cup water and blend for 30 seconds at high speed, or until smooth. Serve immediately. Enjoy!!
Recipe from Casey Means, MD
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Did you know that the health of your relationships can play a crucial role in the well-being of your heart? Fostering healthy relationships—whether with a partner, family, friends, or community—can contribute to better heart health.
Here are a few reasons how healthy relationships support heart health:
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Emotional Support Reduces Stress: Positive relationships provide a support system during times of stress. Whether it’s through active listening, offering comfort, or just being there for someone, emotional support helps reduce the body’s stress response. Chronic stress is a risk factor for heart disease, and those with strong social connections often report feeling more resilient in tough times.
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Communication Fosters Emotional Well-being: Open, honest, and respectful communication is a cornerstone of healthy relationships. When individuals feel understood and valued in their relationships, it promotes emotional well-being and can lower the negative impact of stress on the heart.
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Social Connections Boost Mental Health: Loneliness and social isolation are risk factors for both mental health and heart health. A lack of social connections can lead to depression, anxiety, and a sense of isolation, all of which increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. Building and maintaining positive relationships is crucial for mental health, which in turn supports heart health.
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Partners Influence Healthy Habits: A healthy romantic partnership can encourage healthier lifestyle choices, such as eating nutritious meals, exercising together, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking or excessive drinking. Partners who support each other’s health goals can significantly improve both physical and emotional well-being.
Heart health isn’t just about physical exercise and diet—it’s about emotional well-being, too. Building and maintaining healthy relationships can reduce stress, boost your mental health, and even inspire healthier lifestyle habits. So, take care of your heart by nurturing the relationships that matter most.
References:
Loving relationships aren’t just the stuff of candy hearts, they have significant influence on our physical health. | American Heart Association
Stress management Stress basics - Mayo Clinic
 Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is less of a diet plan with limiting restrictions and eliminations and more of a lifestyle of – you guessed it – Mediterranean countries and communities.
Its pillars are easy to follow, more inclusive, and thus more sustainable!
It emphasizes more plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, herbs, spices, and whole grains), dairy, eggs, seafood, and healthy oils like avocado oil and olive oil. It also encourages limiting red meat and ultra processed foods.
You don’t need to follow it ‘to a T’ for every meal but start with one meal a day or make yourself a snack plate with Mediterranean flavors, and you’ll be adding more plants, healthy fats (great for heart health), brain-boosting ingredients, and tons of flavor!
Bonus resources if you want to learn more, including the Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid, some recipes, and how to translate the Mediterranean Diet to other cuisines:
MediterraneanDietHandout.pdf
50 Favorite Mediterranean Diet Recipes - foodiecrush.com
How to translate the Mediterranean diet to any cuisine | | phillytrib.com
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Each person's path to well-being is unique and personal. Need an accessible alternative for an activity? To learn more email SEHPHealthQuest@ks.gov. |
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