Helping you cope through the winter season

Blog Article | By Simplyhealth | 25 January 2023

In this article, we’ve put together some top tips to help you navigate through the winter season, like how to keep warm and look after yourself. We’ll also be putting the spotlight on the various benefits and services that are available to customers through our health plans, to help support their winter wellbeing.

Warming meals

The colder weather is the perfect time to experiment with wintery comfort foods. The NHS recommends trying to have at least one hot meal a day. Did you know? Eating regularly helps keep you warm¹, so why not start your day with a warm bowl of porridge, or tuck into a tasty soup or stew for dinner?

In addition to your regular mealtimes, vitamin D intake is another important factor to consider. Throughout autumn and winter (October to early March), it is recommended to take 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplement daily, as during this time we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D helps keep your bones, teeth and muscles healthy².

Setting winter habits

There are many simple steps that you can implement into your daily routine to help keep you warm around the home, wearing layers, closing doors in rooms that are not being used and closing curtains at night time, to name a few. There are also plenty of small home adjustments that you can make to help block out draughts, such as purchasing thermal liners for curtains and installing a keyhole cover or a letterbox brush. If you do take steps to help shield the cold, just be careful not to block any intended areas of ventilation, such as airbricks, extractor fans, wall vents or trickle vents.³

A woman stretching and smiling whilst waking up

Cosy sleeping

A new winter duvet can be a great investment to help you stay toasty in the night, however they can come with a hefty price tag. You could instead choose to opt for a lower-cost alternative, such as layering with a blanket to throw on top of your regular duvet, or placing a hot water bottle under your covers to help warm up your bed before you settle down. Just remember to remove it before you go to sleep and take extra care when handling.

Service your boiler regularly

The thought of a boiler service might seem off-putting in case there is a potential repair bill, but it is important to have your boiler checked regularly to ensure it is performing efficiently.

Check what you’re eligible for

Keeping up to date with the latest news on cost of living support can be unnerving and quite overwhelming. In your own time, it’s worth checking what help may be available to you. The Government website provides a useful breakdown of the various support on offer: www.helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk

A helping hand from Simplyhealth

Through our health plans, customers can access a range of benefits and services to support them through the winter season and these challenging financial times, including:

24/7 access to counsellors

For those who may be struggling to cope with financial pressures, the advice and counselling helpline also provides 24/7 access to counsellors who are on hand to listen and provide emotional support, confidentially.

24/7 financial advice

If you’re worried about what lies ahead financially, a 24/7 counselling and advice helpline is available to customers and their dependants aged over 16 who are covered on their plan, to provide practical advice on financial matters such as budgeting, income reductions and more. Customers can be directed to this helpline via the SimplyPlan app.

24/7
video GP

Access to a 24/7 video GP service, for customers and dependants covered on their plan, should they become unwell this winter (or any other time of the year). GPs are on hand to provide advice and reassurance via our SimplyPlan app. No need to venture out into the cold or to worry about paying for fuel or other travelling expenses to get to a GP appointment.

Discounts from SimplyRewards

Lifestyle discounts via our SimplyRewards platform to help make those pennies go further. This service is available through the SimplyPlan app.

Woman having online GP appointment on phone

Claim back prescription costs

If you have developed an illness and a prescription is required, many of our plans offer the option to claim back towards the costs of NHS and private prescriptions through the SimplyPlan app.

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