A day in the Life of a BCBSM ID card - Part Two: Eye Doctor Visit

Where is the Blues ID card traveling next? Watch part two of this four part series — Eye Doctor Visit.

In part two of this series, the Blues ID card stops at the eye doctor for an annual check- up. They say that eyes are the windows to the soul. But eyes are also the windows to health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. Your eye doctor is sometimes the first person to identify early warning signs of health issues, while treating and helping you manage eye disorders such as glaucoma and cataracts. Keeping up with regular eye examinations can help you maintain total body health.

The Blues ID card is always on the move providing access to discounts and special offers on everything from groceries to fitness gear, and access to quality medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage. Stay tuned for more Blues ID card adventures.

For information about Blue Vision visit bcbsm.com/bluevision.

Special thanks to the doctors and staff of the Gaylord Eye Care Center for participating in the filming of this video.

General Motors shows off new models during Ride & Drive event in Detroit

General Motors recently brought a fleet of new vehicles to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan headquarters in Detroit for a Ride & Drive promotional event with Blues employees.

Check out this video interview with Wendy Stachowicz of GM’s Vehicle Advocate Program, who talks about the company’s approach to involving its partners as brand ambassadors for new vehicles. 

Biggest Loser: Detroit Edition II contestants to be revealed Monday, Aug. 30

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is teaming up with WDIV-TV and The Parade Company to announce participants in The Biggest Loser: Detroit Edition II.

The six Biggest Loser: Detroit Edition II finalists will be revealed during the WDIV newscast on Monday, Aug. 30, beginning at 4 p.m. During the announcement, BCBSM President and CEO Daniel J. Loepp will be interviewed by Chuck Gaidica during the 5 p.m. newscast.

This year, 310 people entered the contest. That’s 100 more applicants than last year. The applicants were narrowed down to 60 who were called back for audition interviews. From there, the final six were chosen.

Health insurance 101: Rising costs spur changes in health plan designs

[Second in a series of blog posts to help you better understand health insurance and how recent changes affect you.We welcome your comments and questions]

 

As health care costs rise, the types of plans offered to employees are expanding. The following is a frequently asked question:

 

My employer provides me with health insurance but keeps asking me to chip in more money to cover costs. Why can’t I just get a PPO that covers everything without asking me for any contribution, like before?

BCBSM applauds senior advocates with Claude Pepper Award

Age didn’t stop anyone at the Wayne County Senior Fun Fest on June 26.  It was remarkable to see hundreds of seniors from across metro-Detroit gather for an afternoon filled with music, dancing and even bingo!   

           

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan honored two senior advocates and one organization for their commitment to seniors and outstanding volunteer service at the event.  The individuals were honored with Claude Pepper Awards for their professional or volunteer efforts that have made significant contributions to improving the lives of Michigan seniors.

           

The award recipients received a $1,000 check to give to the nonprofit organizations of their choice.  The honorees are:

BCBSM and Wayne State University working to keep young talent in Michigan

Businesses across the state are struggling to keep young talent in Michigan.  Cuts, layoffs and restructuring are the norm, leaving young graduates desperate to find new and creative ways to break into the workforce. With a struggling economy, especially in the Detroit area, many are choosing to leave the state in an effort to find entry-level work.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Wayne State University are taking the reins to end this “brain drain” phenomenon here in Michigan.

Wayne State University and BCBSM are both working to brand Detroit as a destination for young talent. David L. Williams, Dean of Wayne State’s School of Business Administration, emphasizes the importance of promoting the city of Detroit as a great place to work and live, and a place where young talent has opportunities to develop and eventually advance in the workplace.  This will increase their interest in choosing to stay in Michigan.

The Man Up! Campaign takes men’s health to another level

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that death rates of African American men have far exceeded those of their Caucasian counterparts. Taking into account the leading causes of mortality, African American death rates have sky-rocketed up to approximately 40 percent higher than that of Caucasians.

To address this issue, sponsoring partners 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit, Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan held a men’s health breakfast titled, “Man Up!: Championing the Health of African American Men to Create a Healthier Michigan,” on Monday, June 7, 2010 at Fellowship Chapel in Detroit. The program aimed to encourage African American men to take more initiative and ownership in their personal health and wellness.

Our commitment to a healthier future

The statistics are compelling.  A healthier future is not just about health care legislation, but about people being involved in taking better care of their own health. Dan Loepp, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, emphasizes to National Management Association members that without personal responsibility, lives will continue to be lost and costs will increase.

The Blues are leading the way to a healthier future by strengthening collaborations with health care providers, promoting patient safety and investing in partnerships that improve quality of care. We are reaching out to youth by supporting community and school programs that teach exercise and healthy eating. We are the leader in offering wellness-based heath care plans that help manage member costs by rewarding healthy behaviors.

Being accountable for our own health contributes to a healthier Michigan.

BCBSM Intern Yan Isayev wins Crain’s Intern of the Year

Four-year BCBSM intern, Yan Isayev serves as a prime example of what it means to “make every experience a learning one,” which is why he has been respectfully noted as  Crain’s Detroit Business 2010 Intern of the Year. With Isayev being well into his fourth internship with the Blues, he has exceeded far beyond the company’s expectations, considering the fact that Blue Cross doesn’t have a formal rotational internship program.

National Walk@Lunch Day® celebrates the power of walking

The Michigan Blues will participate in National Walk @ Lunch Day on April 30^th. This event, championed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, encourages people to take steps toward better health—even in the midst of a busy work day.

Thirty Blues plans across the U.S. will celebrate National Walk @ Lunch Day this year. Participants are invited to extend their lunch break and walk for 30 minutes. The truth is, walking away from work—for at least a few minutes—has the potential to re-energize employees and increase productivity. Walking also keeps the heart healthy, burns calories and increases energy levels.

The Blues have a long history of encouraging people to walk. With the formation of WalkingWorks, the Blues have spread the word that walking provides significant health benefits. This Walking Works web site encourages people to begin a walking regimen and offers the tools necessary to make it happen. People can log their steps online, purchase pedometers, find health tips, and more.

So, grab your co-workers, friends and/or family members and take a walk during lunch on April 30^th. And then, keep it going! Find the time to walk as much as possible. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

2009 National Walk@Lunch Day

Mid-Michigan communities get their walk on

One contest. Nine Mid-Michigan communities. Over 1000 participants. The goal? To stay active—even when Michigan’s winter weather makes us want to curl up on the couch.

This fitness contest is known as the Community Partners in Health Winter Warm-Up and it included a challenge for Mid-Michigan area mayors to get their communities walking and moving. All participating communities received grant money—courtesy of the Blues—to put toward a program that will bring the community to a healthier future.

This year, the contest ran from January 23^rd through March 27^th and within this time frame, the participants were encouraged to walk each Saturday at the Lansing mall. They used pedometers to count their steps and they logged their totals online using the free WalkingWorks tool. The community that logged the most steps online won first place.

Blues support Henry Ford’s push to drive economic development in Detroit

The embattled city of Detroit received good news this week with the announcement that Henry Ford Health System plans to invest $500 million in its New Center hospital campus.

The move is part of a nearly $1 billion proposal to establish a “Community Health Park” of retail, housing and medical office development immediately south of the hospital. The plan would create 250 high-paying jobs, Henry Ford officials say, but the project is also intended to lure other businesses, including medical device manufacturers and suppliers.

New Healthy Blue OutcomesSM Makes Health Care More Affordable

What if there was a plan that made health care more affordable for those who actually set and achieve healthy goals? Well now there is… 

We’re proud to announce the launch of Healthy Blue Outcomes, a groundbreaking outcome-based health care plan. Healthy Blue Outcomes is a new, innovative PPO that is part of the Blues’ Healthy Blue Choices^SM suite of products, services and resources designed to promote personal wellness and member accountability. Learn more at bcbsm.com/outcomes.

What national health care reform means for Michigan Blues members

Today’s signing of health care reform legislation by President Barack Obama has many Blues members asking what the changes mean for them. While Blue Cross Blue Shield health policy staff continues to review the impact of what happened today, here is information that may be of help to BCBSM members.

“Get Moving U.P.” revs up winter activity of 500 in Blue Cross and WELCUP’s challenge

They could have just hibernated like some Upper Peninsula critters. Instead, more than 500 U.P. folks took on or turned up their winter activities. Payoffs? Healthier lifestyles. More energy. Weight loss. All in a six-week winter fitness challenge. It’s another activity the Michigan Blues sponsors, with partners such as the Wellness Council of the U.P., to help lead all Michiganders to a healthier future.

Michigan Blues ‘prepared to contribute to a national solution for health reform, CEO Dan Loepp says

You may have heard Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s name come up in recent media stories about health insurers raising premiums for individual subscribers. The news accounts followed a report from the Obama administration that positioned the trend as a key target for health care reform efforts.

Ironically, we couldn’t agree more with the premise of that report – despite being unfairly lumped with the rest of the insurance industry.

In Wednesday’s Detroit News, Blues President and CEO Daniel J. Loepp writes that the Michigan Blues are already mirroring many of the practices that reform advocates want health insurers to adopt:

Patient-centered medical home: Funny name, great concept

With health care reform discussions continuing in our nation’s capital, it’s good to know that Blue Cross Blue Shield is actually doing something right now to fix our broken health care system.

One way we’re doing it is through our patient-centered medical home program, commonly called PCMH. This somewhat funny-sounding term may be unfamiliar to you, so here is some quick background.

Your health is your greatest asset

Good health lets you to live your life to the fullest. It also helps you keep your money in your own pocket.


Tobacco and obesity-related complications, along with chronic diseases, are largely preventable. Over time, they can cause major health problems and add to what you pay for your health care.

The Michigan Blues recognize these issues and want to help lead all Michiganders to a healthier future.

One way we’re doing that is by offering Healthy Blue Choices^SM, our innovative products and resources that focus on helping our members live healthier so they feel better and save money.

Our Healthy Blue Incentives PPO^SM, and Healthy Blue Living^SM, an HMO plan from Blue Care Network, offer incentives to help everyone stay on track. Our wellness program, BlueHealthConnection®, includes a health assessment, online health coaching programs, a nurse hotline, targeted outreach and the latest health tips.

When it comes down to it, the bottom line for each product is essentially the same: By committing to better health, both you and your employer save money.