October 2025
As cooler weather sets in, October is the perfect time to boost your immune system. Get your annual flu shot. Stay active with fall-friendly activities like walking or biking. And load up on seasonal produce. Pumpkins, squash and apples are packed with vitamins and fiber. A strong immune system now can help you stay healthy through the holiday season.
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Keep your mouth clean and healthy! Cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco and other forms of tobacco cause oral cancer, gum disease and other oral health problems. Be sure to keep your oral health in check by getting regular checkups. And ask your dentist about quitting tobacco. SoonerCare covers all FDA-approved medications to help you quit. These do not count against the six-prescription limit per month.
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Your time is valuable. Use the SoonerCare helpline callback feature to save time and not wait on hold. When you select the callback option, your call will be returned in the order it was received. Be sure any spam blocking is disabled on your phone. Also, note that the incoming call might display an out-of-state number.
During Dental Hygiene Month, don't forget to practice healthy tongue habits. Did you know regular tongue cleaning is just as important as brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash? Here are some tips:
- Use a tongue scraper. It helps remove bacteria, food debris and dead cells from the surface of the tongue.
- Bacteria on the tongue can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, infections or other health conditions.
- Tongue scraping can prevent a variety of health issues. These include osteoporosis, pneumonia, heart attacks, premature births, diabetes and male infertility.
Ask your dentist for a demonstration of the best practices of healthy tongue habits.
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Wondering what you need for each verification? View the Document Verification Guide for a list of example documents you may submit for verifications.
Revive your wellness goals this fall! Take advantage of SoonerCare's nutrition benefit. It can help with managing chronic conditions through weight loss and management. You don't need to wait for a New Year's resolution. October is the perfect time to start building healthier habits. You'll work with a registered dietitian. Plus, gain tools to better manage and improve your health. Learn more about Nutritional Services.
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Sometimes people are prescribed an opioid with a benzodiazepine. These medicines can cause problems when taken together. You may experience extreme sleepiness, confusion and forgetfulness. You could even stop breathing. These medicines can also be habit-forming. Once started, they may be hard to stop. Stay safer by taking the following steps.
Talk to Your Doctor:
- Ask them to shorten the time you take each of these medicines. Less than 1 month is best.
- Ask them to lower your doses. Stopping suddenly or “cold turkey” can be deadly.
- Ask about side effects, especially trouble breathing or dizziness. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines.
Be Careful:
- Avoid driving or doing anything that needs your full attention.
- Avoid alcohol. Using either of these medicines with alcohol is very dangerous. It could even be a deadly combination.
Questions? Call the Pharmacy Help Desk at 405-522-6205, option 4, or toll-free 800-522-0114, option 4.
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OHCA is sending surveys to some SoonerCare members. We are working to make your experience the best it can be. If you get a survey, please use the link or phone number provided to take the survey. The survey is available in English and Spanish. It only takes a few minutes to complete. Your help is appreciated.
Here are a few handy links and resources to bookmark:
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About OHCA
Please call the SoonerCare helpline at 800-987-7767 if you have questions about your coverage or benefits. For updates on new policies, health tips, helpful resources and more, follow OHCA on Facebook and X. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
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