Have you Set Up Your Child's 2024 Doctor Check-up?
Children should see their doctor once a year starting when they are 3 years old until they are 21. These yearly check-ups are called “well child visits.” The doctor will check how your child is growing and developing. It’s a good time to ask any questions you have about your child’s health.
Here’s what to expect at a well child visit:
- Getting shots to prevent diseases
- Checking overall health
- Checking how your kid is growing and learning
- Talking about food and exercise
- Learning about staying safe
- Getting tips on how to talk to your child at different ages
You can learn more about these visits at www.healthychildren.org. This website is a helpful place for parents and is trusted by doctors who take care of children.
Family Planning Services
We provide confidential family planning services to all members. This includes minors. If you do not want to talk to your primary care doctor about family planning, call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-777-4376. We will help you choose an iCare family planning doctor who is different from your primary care doctor.
We encourage you to receive family planning services from an iCare doctor. That way we can better coordinate all your health care. Federal law allows members to choose their provider, including physicians and family planning clinics, for reproductive care and supplies. Therefore, you can also go to any family planning clinic that will accept your ForwardHealth card even if the clinic is not part of iCare.
Mom and Baby Program
The iCare for Mom and Baby program offers care management services to pregnant members who need support during pregnancy and postpartum. We will work together to identify your needs and goals for care. iCare case management services can assist with the following:
- Referrals to providers
- Referrals to community services
- Education on before and after delivery care with one of our nurses
- Care coordination with your providers
- Breastfeeding and newborn needs
- Other goals or needs you have related to your health and the health of your baby
Call us with questions about the program. We are here to offer support to you and your baby.
There is no cost to members to use this program. It is an optional program. You can choose not to participate. If you join the program, you can opt out at any time.
To find out if you are eligible for the iCare for Mom and Baby program, call iCare Customer Service at 1-800-777-4376 (TTY: 711). We will ask you a few questions about your pregnancy to determine your specific needs and eligibility.
Health Education
Independent Care Health Plan believes in more than just providing health care services. We also want to teach our members how to take care of themselves. We encourage exercise, if your doctor allows it. We also support healthy living through special health education classes. To learn more, contact iCare at 1-800-777-4376 (TTY: 711).
Flu Vaccine (Shot)
Influenza (flu) vaccines protect against the most common flu viruses of the season. Most vaccines are shots (given with a needle) in the arm but sometimes a nasal spray is an option.
Most everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each season. This is especially important for older adults and people with chronic conditions. There are several types of vaccine. Ask your provider or pharmacist the best vaccine for you.
The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. You may feel a little achy, have a low- grade fever, or soreness at the injection site. This is a normal reaction to the vaccine.
Flu vaccines do not always protect you from getting the flu, but they are the best protection from getting seriously ill from the flu. Flu causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year.
Flu vaccines are free with your health insurance. You can get a flu vaccine at your provider office or pharmacy. Need help finding a flu vaccine? Go to Vaccine Finder: https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/
More information, talk with your provider, pharmacy or go to: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/flushot.htm
You can also call iCare Customer Service for help at 1-800-777-4376 (TTY: 711).
Behavioral Health
Sometimes an inpatient hospital stay is a necessary step in getting help with a behavioral health challenge. Anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia and other mental illness are common conditions. These conditions can be difficult to manage alone and even harder if someone is also using alcohol or drugs to cope.
If you are admitted to a hospital because of a behavioral health condition, we will outreach to you. We will offer care management services, so you get the follow up care you need. We will also support you through your recovery. We can help with follow up appointments and rides. We can also connect you to education, community resources and other supports you need.
There is no cost to members to use this program. You can choose not to participate. We are here to help. If you would like more information, call us. To request this program, please call iCare Customer Service at 1-800-777-4376 (TTY: 711). Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Complex Chronic Conditions
Having a high quality of life while managing multiple chronic conditions is a huge challenge. Examples of chronic conditions are diabetes, COPD, hypertension and/or mental illnesses and /or substance use disorders.
If you have a chronic health condition, it requires juggling many different providers and treatments. You also need to know how those treatments work together. It can be hard to understand. Our case management teams are here to help.
Our case management teams will work with you to assess your needs. There are various levels of care management, and your team will help identify and place you in the level that is best for you. Your care team may help you establish health goals and overcome barriers to those goals. They can assist with provider referrals and care coordination. They can also assist with referrals to community resources.
There is no cost to members to use this program. It is an optional program. You can choose not to participate.If you join the program, you can opt out at any time. To find out more, please call iCare Customer Service at 1-800-777-4376. (TTY: 711). Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mammogram Program
iCare and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that female members 40 years of age and older have a mammogram each year. A mammogram is a great way to detect breast cancer early. Talk to your Care Coordinator or call Customer Service at 1-800-777-4376 (TTY: 711) to learn more.
HealthCheck
HealthCheck is a preventive health checkup program for members under the age of 21. The HealthCheck program covers complete health checkups. These checkups are very important for those under the age of 21. The doctor wants to see those under the age of 21 for regular checkups, not just when they are sick. The HealthCheck program three purposes:
- To find and treat health problems for those under the age of 21.
- To let you know about special health services for those under the age of 21
- To make those under the age of 21 eligible for some health care not otherwise covered.
The HealthCheck checkup includes:
- Health and developmental history
- Physical examination
- Vision screening
- Hearing screening
- Dental screening and a referral to a dentist beginning at 1 year old
- Immunizations(shots) appropriate for age
- Blood and urine lab tests (including blood lead level testing when appropriate for age)
To schedule a HealthCheck exam or for more information, call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-777-4376.
If you need a ride to or from a HealthCheck appointment, please call the Department of Health Services (DHS) non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) manager at 1-866-907-1493 (or TTY 1-800-855-2880) to schedule a ride.
Please note that benefits and services offered are subject to change.