Managing your asthma

Asthma is a common disease in both children and adults, but it can be controlled. Learn more about your asthma, including what triggers it, how medication can help, and how you can manage the condition and stay healthy. 

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  • Get regular eye exams to detect problems early. All WellSense plans offer routine eye exams.
  • If prescribed glasses, wear them frequently. Some WellSense plans offer discounts on eyeglasses. 
  • Wear sunglasses with UV protection.
  • Eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E.
  • Reduce screen time and take regular breaks while using computers or smartphones. Consider using blue-light blocking glasses for extended screen use.
  • Use proper lighting when reading or working.
  • Protect your eyes from injury by wearing protective eyewear during sports or hazardous activities.
  • For dry eyes, use artificial tear drops or try adding moisture to the air with a humidifier.
  • Avoid smoking, which can increase the risk of age-related eye diseases. If you need help to stop smoking, Massachusetts WellSense members can ask their doctor to refer them to QuitWorks and New Hampshire WellSense members can call QuitNow NH at 800-QUIT-NOW.
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Take your medicines as prescribed
  • Know exactly how and when to take your medications.
  • Take your meds on time. Use notes or a smartphone app.
  • Have your medication with a small meal or snack to avoid side effects.
  • You may need to take the medications for a long time.
  • Talk to your doctor before stopping medications.
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Fill your medications on time
  • Set up automatic refills or refill reminders at your pharmacy,
  • Consider using our mail order pharmacy to get a three month supply of medications mailed to your home. Contact Cornerstone Health Solutions at 844-319-7588 to get started.
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Monitor your blood sugar levels
  • Blood sugar testing shows how well your medications are working or how your food intake, exercise or illnesses are affecting your blood sugar levels.
  • Check blood sugar levels using a blood glucose meter. Follow your doctor’s advice on how often you need to check your blood sugar level. Keep a record of your levels to discuss with them.
  • If you take insulin, check your blood sugar before meals and snacks as well as before and after exercise.
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Know your target blood sugar range

The American Diabetes Association recommends the following target blood sugar levels:

  • Before meals: 80-130mg/dl
  • Two hours after meals: Less than 180mg/dl
These goals vary based on your age and personal health. Ask your doctor what your specific target goal should be.

Control your asthma triggers

If you're living with asthma, you may wheeze, cough, and have trouble breathing if you encounter cigarette smoke, strong scents, dust, or pets. In order to avoid irritating your airways, you and your family may have to make some changes in the way you live. Talk to your primary care doctor or nurse for advice to help you make these changes.

  • Don't smoke. Ask people not to smoke in your home or around you. If you smoke, you can get help to quit. If you live in Massachusetts, ask your doctor to refer you to QuitWorks. For New Hampshire residents, QuitNow NH can help at 800-QUIT-NOW.
  • Keep your home clean, especially your bedroom. Wash sheets and pillow covers weekly in hot water. Avoid sleeping with the windows open; air conditioning is better. Wash your hair before bed to avoid inhaling allergens as you sleep. Vacuum your carpet and mop your floors. Wear a mask when cleaning to avoid dust and chemicals.
  • Control moisture. Repair your roof leaks and use a bathroom fan to decrease moisture that can lead to mold.
  • Avoid strong scents. Don't use perfumes and scented products. Don't use aerosol sprays such as deodorants and hair sprays.

Controlling your asthma

If you're living with asthma, you may wheeze, cough, and have trouble breathing if you encounter cigarette smoke, strong scents, dust, or pets. In order to avoid irritating your airways, you and your family may have to make some changes in the way you live. 

  • Understand the difference between your controller and rescue medicines. Use your controller medicine as your doctor ordered, and get it refilled before you run out. Keep your rescue medicine refilled and close by.
  • Avoid your asthma triggers. Keep your home clean and free of dust and mold.
  • Always check the expiration date on your inhalers and talk to your pharmacist to learn how to tell if your inhaler is empty.
  • Know when and how to use your inhaler and nebulizer correctly.
  • Wash your hands and clean your clothes after contact with any pets or animals.
  • Don’t smoke! Call QuitWorks for help: 800-Quit-Now
    (800-784-8669) or 800-833-1477 (TTY/TDD). Don’t let anyone smoke around you, in your house or in your car.
  • Work with your doctor to develop an asthma action plan.

Use your asthma medications properly

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Take your medicines as prescribed

If you don’t take your medications as directed, your asthma may get worse over time.

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Fill your medications on time
  • Save time and money by refilling a 90-day supply of your maintenance inhalers at your local pharmacy or our mail order pharmacy, Cornerstone Health Solutions (844-319-7588).
  • Enroll in automatic refills at the pharmacy so your prescriptions
    will be refilled automatically when you need them.
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Talk to your provider if you
  • Need your rescue inhaler more than twice per week
  • Experience side effects from your medications
  • Cannot refill your medications as prescribed
  • Are having worse asthma symptoms
  • Feel like your asthma is not well controlled

Know how and when to use your inhalers

Maintenance inhalers
Examples: Advair, Flovent, Symbicort, Dulera, Qvar, Asmanex
  • Maintenance inhalers must be used every day, even when you do not have asthma symptoms.
  • Maintenance inhalers help prevent asthma attacks and symptoms
  • These inhalers are also called controller inhalers.
  • When you use them as directed, you should not need to use your rescue inhaler very often.
Rescue inhalers
Examples: Albuterol, Proair, Ventolin, Levalbuterol
  • You should only use your rescue inhaler as needed when you have asthma symptoms.
  • Rescue inhalers help you when you have symptoms of an asthma attack.
  • If you use your rescue inhaler too much, you can experience harmful side effects.
  • Using a rescue inhaler more that twice a week may mean your asthma is not controlled.
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Need help managing your asthma?

Get personalized help managing  your asthma from a nurse or social worker through our Care Management program.
Learn more or sign up

Additional asthma resources

WellSense vision benefits

All WellSense plans provide routine, preventive vision exams. Some offer eyeglasses (lenses and/or frames), contact lenses, and additional vision services. See your plan documents below for more details.

Plan Preventive Lenses/Frames/Contacts Vision services
Clarity
  • Preventive vision exams for children (every 12 months) and adults (every 24 months)
  • Cost-sharing = $0
  • For members ages 18 and under: one pair of conventional* lenses and frames, or one pair of contact lenses, per calendar year
  • Deductible and/or coinsurance may apply
  • Eye exams and treatment (to treat or diagnose a medical condition of the eye) are covered
  • Deductible and/or coinsurance may apply
MassHealth
  • Comprehensive eye exams for members under 21 (every 12 months) and for members 21 and over (once every 24 months)
  • Prescription and dispensing of ophthalmic materials, including eyeglasses and other visual aids, excluding contacts
  • Vision training
  • Ocular prosthesis
  • Contacts, when medically necessary, as a medical treatment for a medical condition such as keratoconus
  • Bandage lenses
Senior Care Options
  • One routine eye exam per year
  • Glaucoma screening (one per year for high risk members)
  • Screening for diabetic retinopathy (one per year for diabetic members)
  • One pair/set of eyeglasses (prescription lenses, frames, a combination of lenses and frames ) or contact lenses up to the allowed amount per calendar year is covered
  • $325 allowance per year towards the purchase of eyewear and upgrades through our vision care provider, VSP
  • Outpatient physician services for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the eye, including treatment for age-related macular degeneration
  • One pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses after each cataract surgery that includes insertion of an intraocular lens
New Hampshire Medicaid
  • Refraction eye exam to determine the need for eyeglasses (one per year)
  • One pair of eyeglasses per year
  • Transition lenses for members with ocular albinism
  • Contact lenses (for specific conditions only)
  • Trifocal lenses (for specific conditions only)
  • Eye care services by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or optician
  • Eye exams to diagnose and monitor medical conditions of the eye
  • Ocular prostheses, including artificial eyes and lenses
New Hampshire Medicare Advantage
  • Routine vision exam ($0 copay)
  • Medicare-covered eyewear: $0 copay
  • $150-$300 allowance every year toward the purchase of one pair of eyeglasses, contact lenses or hardware upgrades through our vision care provider, VSP
  • Medicare-covered vision services, including:
    • A yearly glaucoma screening and diabetic eye exam
    • Outpatient physician services for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the eye, including treatment for age-related macular degeneration
    • One pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses after each cataract surgery that includes insertion of an intraocular lens
  • Deductible and/or coinsurance may apply for all other Medicare-covered vision services

 

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Find an eye doctor

Our network includes experienced eye doctors who provide personalized care. Use our provider locator to find an eye doctor, ophthalmologist or optometrist in your plan’s optical network.