Colon cancer: Don’t be a victim

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and here are some things you should know. Colon cancer is usually found in people age 50 or older, and the risk of getting it increases with age. If you are covered by private health insurance or Medicare, you can get colon [...]

Flex benefits plan ending for UTU-E members

UTU engineer members covered for employee and/or dependent health care under the Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan, and who may have elected to participate in the National Flexible Benefits Program, will no longer be able to participate in the program [...]

Insurance covers H1N1 vaccine

Vaccine for the highly contagious H1N1 virus (commonly called “swine flu”) is now being released to the public as supplies become available. The information below will help you decide if you should obtain the vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [...]

Health care insurance premiums to rise

For rail employees covered under the health and welfare provisions of the national railroad agreement, health care insurance cost contributions rise beginning Jan. 1, from the current $170.96 per month to $200 monthly, owing to increases in health care costs under the plan. T [...]

Medicare Part B premiums announced

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $110.50 in 2010. However, most Medicare beneficiaries will not see an increase in their monthly Part B premiums in 2010 because of a “hold-harmless” pro [...]

Narcotics & sedatives: Take with caution

By Norman K. Brown UTU medical consultant There is an old saying among physicians that patients will lie more often about their drug usage and their sex lives than about any other topics. So, please, just give me the facts. What drugs was Michael Jackson taking when he died? [...]