QUEENS, NY (05/11/2011)(readMedia)-- Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan, encourages women to continue the celebration of Mother's Day by speaking with their doctors to schedule important health screenings. National Women's Health Week kicked-off across the country on Mother's Day, and is being observed from May 8-14.

Dr. Sanjiv Shah, Fidelis Care's Chief Medical Officer stated, "At Fidelis Care, women's health is always a priority. We encourage our members to consult with their doctors on the very serious issues of breast and cervical cancer, and to make sure that they receive their routine and critically important screenings. By catching these cancers early, they can be addressed with less invasive treatments while increasing survival rates."

Fidelis Care actively communicates with members to educate them on the importance of routine and preventive care and to encourage them to speak with their doctors about appropriate care and screenings based on their health status, risk factors, and age. We are pleased with the feedback we receive from our members, who write to us frequently to express gratitude for the proactive steps taken to protect their health, and for the very personal approach we take, treating them as part of the Fidelis Care family.

The American Cancer Society estimates nearly 208,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in 2010, and more than 40,000 women lost their lives to the disease last year. By performing monthly self-exams, women are more likely to discover lumps at a stage where they may be more easily diagnosed, and safely and effectively treated. All women over the age of 20 should conduct regular breast self-exams, and women over the age of 40 should receive a mammogram at least every two years. Risk factors vary by age and family history, and women should discuss with their doctors whether more frequent screenings are required.

In addition to breast cancer, women should be aware of the growing risk of cervical cancer. In 2010, more than 12,000 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed, with 4,200 women dying from the disease according to the National Cancer Institute.

It is important that women over the age of 21 obtain a Pap test to determine if they have abnormal cervical cells that could progress to cervical cancer if not identified early. As always, women should speak with their personal doctor to determine which screenings are needed and how frequently.

Fidelis Care strives to be partners in quality health care with both members and providers. Our website, www.fideliscare.org, contains a wealth of information under the "Members" section, including an archive of quarterly newsletters discussing health issues of importance to members. Fidelis Care is committed to serving the uninsured and medically underserved, and was founded on the principle that access to health care is a right, not a privilege.

Fidelis Care offers quality, affordable health insurance coverage through our Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid Managed Care programs, as well as a variety of benefit options for seniors through Fidelis Medicare Advantage, Dual Advantage, Medicaid Advantage Plus, and Fidelis Care at Home programs, available in certain counties. Members are covered for regular checkups, preventive care, routine screenings such as mammograms and Pap tests, hospital and emergency care, eye exams, dental care, and more.

With more than 700,000 members in 58 counties statewide, Fidelis Care is the largest government programs-based health insurance company in New York State. Members have access to a provider network of more than 43,000 health care professionals statewide. Regional offices are located in Albany, Syracuse, Amherst, and Rego Park (Queens), with satellite offices in Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Suffern.

For information on quality, affordable health insurance with Fidelis Care, please call 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org.

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Posted Wednesday May 11, 2011 at 12:44 pm by Fidelis Care
Last Updated Friday May 13, 2011 at 04:01 pm