The GeekWire Gala is Back on Dec. 6

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GeekWire, the sponsoring association of ALLtech, is excited to bring its GeekWire Gala holiday party back to the Showbox Market on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

In addition to a festive party with dancing, cocktails and karaoke, the event also will recognize the region’s “Uncommon Thinkers,” groundbreaking innovators who are changing the way we work, live and play.

In terms of dress code, attendees have the rare license to don cocktail attire in Seattle — or wear whatever you want for that matter. Tuxedos? Sure. Geeky T-shirts? Yep. Even better, break out your fiercest winter fashions, competing for individual and team prizes.

The GeekWire Gala is a 21+ event taking place from 6-10 p.m. at the historic Showbox Market near Pike Place Market at 1426 First Ave.

Giving Thanks is Good for Your Health 

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Practicing gratitude around the holidays is a tradition for many families, but it turns out sticking with it throughout the year can have profound impacts on your overall health.  

Improve Your Mood with Gratitude

Some days it may feel impossible to think of even one thing that you’re grateful for, but in fact, these are the times when you can use a bit of gratitude the most. Studies have shown that offering thanks for things in life that are meaningful to you can decrease depression and anxiety, and if practiced regularly can even change the way your brain is wired. 

Turning on gratitude isn’t first nature for many of us, so start small with a daily affirmation – maybe something as simple as thinking about someone you’re grateful for, then gradually building on that by expressing your gratitude to the person.  

Now it’s contagious! Think about the last time a friend or even a stranger made your day by showing their appreciation for you. In the short term, it improves the mood of both parties, and in the long run practicing these acts of kindness will help gratitude become your brain’s go-to response. 

The Joy of Journaling

Another method that has been shown to improve both mental and physical health is keeping a gratitude journal. Some people prefer a bound journal to physically write in each day, but it can be just as meaningful to keep track digitally with your smart phone or computer. What’s important is to maintain a frequency that is realistic – it should feel enjoyable and cathartic, not like a chore. 

Maybe you prefer to jot down something about people or moments that you appreciated each day, or maybe it’s better for you to aim for once a week. Regardless of what you choose, the practice will help you focus more on the many positive experiences you have every day. 

Bring Thanks to the Workplace

Want to help foster a more positive environment in the workplace, too? Bring your gratitude to the office, especially if you are a manager or work in customer service.  

And don’t just say “Thank you” to be polite without really thinking about what you’re saying. Be present, and make a conscious effort to think about precisely what it is that you are thankful for. 

Thank YOU from ALLtech Benefits!

With that, the team at ALLtech Benefits would like to thank you for reading our monthly news and health tips and for being a part of the ALLtech community! Want to learn more about what’s new with ALLtech for 2024? Download our 2024 ALLtech Fact Sheet, or contact us by calling 206.602.3558 or filling out our request a quote form. 

Apps and Mobile Games to Help with Your Dental Fear

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From ALLtech dental provider Delta Dental of Washington

Fear of going to the dentist is more common than you may think. People of all ages have a fear of going to the dentist. The good news is that there are many tools available to help ease those fears before and during dental appointments.

In today’s world, smart devices like cell phones or tablets have essentially become an extension of the body for most people. Why not use these devices for our benefit? There are many mobile games available that can provide anxiety relief and calm nerves at the dentist’s office.

Here are a few mobile games that can ease anxiety:

  • Colorfy: If you find coloring or being creative relaxing, this is the app for you! There are many images to choose from and color on while waiting for your dental appointment to start.
  • AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game: If you find yourself fidgeting during appointments, this game is perfect for you! Simple games such as a digital bubble popper, fidget spinner, and brick smash can help distract your mind and ease anxiety.
  • Prune: This simple game is full of beautiful scenery, calming music, and the simple goal of growing and pruning a bonsai tree.
  • Jigsaw Puzzle: Another great option for those who need a simple distraction before and during dental appointments. Put together beautiful puzzles that vary in difficulty.

Learn about more games and solutions to conquering dental fear by reading the Delta Dental of Washington blog.

ALLtech Retains Top Fundraising Spot for Hike-a-Thon 2023!

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This year’s Hike-a-Thon was all about breaking records, with a whopping $244,755.78 raised to support trails during the annual fundraiser that ALLtech was proud to sponsor and participate in.

For the third year in a row, the ALLtech team was also proud to be awarded for raising the most money for a company team! ALLtech has been supporting the annual fundraiser for the Washington Trails Association (WTA) since 2019, helping raise more than $20,000 under the leadership of ALLtech Trustee Ken Myer.

“We believe — and the science supports — that getting outdoors in nature is good for the body and the mind,” says Myer, who was recognized earlier this year in WTA Magazine for his advocacy and passion for trails.

In addition to breaking fundraising records in 2023, Hike-a-Thon also celebrated its milestone 20th anniversary during the monthlong event in August. You can read more about this year’s Hike-a-Thon in the WTA post 15,000+ miles and $244,000+ raised: a recap of our biggest Hike-a-Thon yet, which offers the following highlights:

  • Hike-a-Thoners registered: 635
  • Teams registered: 127
  • Miles hiked: 15,596 miles — that’s more miles than Mount Rainier is tall!
  • Elevation gained: 2,590,237 feet
  • Dollars raised for trails: $244,755.78 — a new Hike-a-Thon record!

Why ALLtech Supports Hike-a-Thon and Washington Trails Association

At ALLtech, we believe that connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and we know that supporting Washington Trails Association will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

To learn more, please watch our below video: Trails for Everyone, Forever.

Find Balance with November Webinars from Wellspring EAP

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ALLtech is proud to partner with Wellspring EAP to provide members enrolled in medical coverage with three free visits with a counselor each year. But support from the locally based employee assistance program (EAP) also includes resources available 24/7 through its robust online platform at wellspringeap.org.

Each month, Wellspring EAP also offers webinars that highlight its diverse services. For November, please consider registering for the following webinars that are free and open to anyone. Recordings will be sent to those who register after the live webinar and will be available online:

  • The Financial Wellness Playbook
    November 3, noon to 1 p.m. (PT)

    This class shares the habits commonly practiced by people who have little financial stress in their lives: the coaching staff of my Secure Advantage® (MSA) – the financial benefit provided through Wellspring EAP, which has has conducted over a million financial consultations. Presented by Tiffany Willis, the goal of this class is for attendees to take pride in the processes they are practicing well and develop an action plan to address the habits they would like to improve.

  • How to Be the Calm in the Storm During Emotionally Escalated Conversations (for Managers, HR Partners)
    November 8, 11 a.m. to noon (PT)

    We’ve all had that moment when we realize it’s about to get uncomfortable; we know we are in or about to get into a difficult conversation – maybe even a conflict. Each one of us has default and/or predictable and patterned ways of being in those moments and beyond. In this webinar presented by Carol Bowser, JD, you’ll learn to recognize your individual stress response style and cues so you can create a strategy that works for you rather than falling into your default behavior. You’ll learn to manage yourself under pressure as well as hold space for others who are also under pressure. Carol will share some of the common pitfalls many of us experience when situations are intense, and we will explore tools that can help avoid or mitigate the pitfalls and/or the consequences. We will discuss strategies that help you remain neutral. Get ready to have tools, language, and a framework to help you more elegantly navigate important conversations.

  • Sleep Skills for Travel
    November 9, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (PT)

    Travel is coming back in a big way, so it’s time to refresh your travel sleep skills so you can have a fabulous trip. Shifting our body clock doesn’t happen automatically, and can cause symptoms including digestive upset, daytime fatigue along with night time sleepiness, and irritability. Adding skills to help shift your body clock to the new time zone can make all the difference. Come learn from Dr. Catherine Darley, ND, how to prepare in advance of your trip, and what to do when you arrive. We’ll talk about strategies from light and dark exposure, timing of melatonin supplements, mealtimes and more.

ALLtech Partner New Tech Northwest Returns to Bellevue November 8

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ALLtech partners with Washington state’s most innovative tech organizations to support members with access to health insurance and other employee benefits. With exclusive pricing and a broad range of plan designs and comprehensive benefits, these partnerships help startups and other growing tech companies compete by offering employee benefits that rival the big players.

We’re excited to support one of those partners, New Tech Northwest, with the relaunch of their New Tech Eastside Meetup on November 8 at the newly opened Venture Mechanics Coworking Studio in Bellevue. The inaugural event begins at 5 p.m. and will feature:

Representatives with ALLtech also will be available to answer your questions about employee benefits and more – just in time for open enrollment!

Learn more about the meetup on the New Tech Northwest Events page, which also highlights the New Tech Seattle Meetup the following day, November 9, at The Collective in South Lake Union, where you also will be able to find ALLtech representatives. We hope to see you at one of these fun and educational networking events!

Diabetes and your oral health

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From ALLtech dental provider Delta Dental of Washington

Did you know that diabetes can take a toll on the health of your smile? Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with diabetes, common dental problems such as gum inflammation could potentially be an early warning sign.

October is Diabetes Awareness Month. This month, prioritize your health by learning about other signs and possible symptoms of diabetes:

  • Tooth decay: Elevated glucose in our saliva supplies more food to the cavity-causing bacteria in dental plaque.
  • Gingivitis: Bacteria in plaque and tartar can cause swelling and bleeding along the gum line.
  • Periodontal Disease: This condition is characterized by a loss of bone that supports the teeth. Periodontitis can contribute to spikes in blood sugar that makes diabetes more difficult to control and, in turn, gum disease harder to fight.
  • Dry Mouth: A lack of lack of saliva in some cases, may result in difficulty swallowing, trouble speaking, a burning sensation, or a constant sore throat.
  • Thrush: This causes painful red or white patches in the mouth which are made worse by smoking or high levels of sugar in your saliva.

For more information and a short video describing oral health and diabetes check out the Delta Dental of Washington blog.

ALLtech Introduces New Tech Starter 4000 Plan for 2024

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ALLtech Benefits is proud to offer even more choices to startups for the 2024 plan year with the expansion of our Tech Starter medical insurance suite. We know the tech world is competitive and ever-changing. Health care is, too, and it can be a challenge to find a plan that offers the right combination of choice, coverage and cost.

Enter the Tech Starter suite, now offering three distinct choices with the addition of the Tech Starter 4000 plan for 2024, joining the Tech Starter 7000 and 8700 plans to round out these low-cost options that are designed specifically with Washington-based startups in mind. Coverage is offered with Regence* BlueShield, one of the broadest and most established networks in Washington state, with coverage for your out-of-state employees available through the worldwide Regence BlueCard network.

With a total of 22 unique medical plans to choose from, businesses with 2 to 200 employees will easily find a plan that suits their workplace and their budget. In addition to the Tech Starter Plans, ALLtech offers:

  • Premier Plans with $250 to $1,500 deductible options
  • Choice Plans with $500 to $3,000 deductible options
  • Balance Plans with $2,500 to $5,000 deductible options
  • HSA Plans with $1,600 to $6,000 deductible options

All plans include 24/7 access to virtual care through MDLIVE at $0 co-pay, which can be used to treat a range of non-emergency conditions including cold/flu, allergies and headaches. Available by phone, secure video or mobile app, the diverse virtual visits available through MDLIVE go beyond primary care to include such valuable services as psychiatry and counseling, dermatology, and substance use disorder.

More to Choose from with ALLtech 

Designed to meet the needs of both employers and their employees at growing Washington tech businesses, ALLtech’s comprehensive benefits also include:

  • Dental from Delta Dental of Washington, including 5 PPO plans with annual benefit maximums from $750 to $2,000
  • Vision from VSP Vision Care Inc., with three plans available including a voluntary plan, as well as access to Computer VisionCare
  • Life/AD&D from The Standard, featuring $20,000 of Basic Life & AD&D included with medical insurance
  • Employee assistance program from Wellspring EAP, featuring a three-visit plan included with medical insurance

To learn more about the diverse options available through ALLtech for the 2024 plan year, please download our 2024 ALLtech flyer.

*Asuris Northwest Health, a subsidiary of Regence BlueShield, services the Asotin, Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman counties.

Learn from Top Names in Artificial Intelligence at GeekWire Summit on Oct. 19

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Learn more about how artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming all aspects of society at the 12th annual GeekWire Summit on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at the former Seattle Cinerama Theater.

The event will explore how large language models, natural language processing, computer vision and other technologies are reshaping the world we live in, transforming everything from Hollywood to Wall Street to Silicon Valley.

The half-day summit will feature some of the top names in artificial intelligence through in-depth panels and fireside chats, as well as unique opportunities to connect and a surprise geeky movie screening, topped off with the Cinerama’s world-famous chocolate popcorn!

Click below to RSVP, and be sure to stop by the ALLtech booth to say hi!

In-Network Urgent Health Care at Home Now Available Through ALLtech

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ALLtech members enrolled in medical coverage now have access to same-day medical care in the comfort of your home through DispatchHealth. As an in-network provider, out-of-pocket costs are the same as an urgent care center visit and a fraction of an ER visit.

Care teams are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 365 days a year to treat complex medical issues that are commonly addressed in the emergency room, with access to IVs, EKGs, blood tests and more.

To learn more, download our DispatchHealth flyers for ALLtech members enrolled in Regence BlueShield or Asuris Northwest Health.