This is the final post in a series telling the amazing stories of individuals who committed to adopting healthier lifestyles. Jodi Davis inspired Jon Stanton to change his life. Then Jon inspired Rose Borst and Eric Stanton to do the same. They have motivated each other and together they have begun a walking movement.
Motivated. Committed. Strong. Inspired. These words describe Eric Stanton, a man who lost more than 50 pounds with pure dedication and the support of his son.
Eric took his first step toward a healthier lifestyle after his son, Jon Stanton, lost more than 230 pounds by walking. After seeing the positive health effects of his son’s weight-loss, Eric was ready to take action to manage his own health.
He started his weight-loss journey by walking on a daily basis and changing his eating habits. Eric made a few simple changes and so far he has lost 50 pounds. He is proud be working toward his weight loss goal and taking control of his health.
Eric knows anything is possible and he’s stepping up to the challenge with his son and their friend Rose. Together they have achieved healthier lifestyles and you can do it too. Today’s a new beginning – the start of a new, healthier you. And who knows you might just inspire someone else to do the same.
So, who will you inspire? Join our walking movement. Your success story could change someone’s life.
If you would like to learn more about how walking can work for you, visit walkytalk.com
For Rose Borst, deciding to lose weight was an easy decision. After back surgery and double-knee replacement she decided that her weight was no longer going to slow her down. This is the third videoin a series telling the amazing stories of four individuals who decided that they were ready to lose weight and adopt healthier lifestyles.
At 352 pounds Rose Borst slipped and fell on a sheet of ice in her driveway. Her ankle was broken. But worst of all, she could not physically get herself up off the ground.
At that point, Rose knew that it was time for her to make a serious lifestyle change.
She started eating healthy and quickly noticed results when she stepped on the scale. She read Jodi and Jon’sblogs and discovered the health benefits of walking. After recovering from her surgeries she began to add walking to her daily regimen.
And to this date Rose has lost and kept off 130 pounds.
Rose is an everyday woman with an amazing story. She heard about Jodi and Jon and realized that if they could lose the weight, she could too. No fancy diet. No surgery. All it takes is that first step.
Now Jon’s father has become part of the “movement”. His story is the final video in the series…for now. Stay tuned to see the inspirational story of Eric Stanton.
Who will inspire you? Your success story could change someone’s life.
If you would like to share your inspirational story and find out more about how walking can work for you, visit www.walkytalk.com.
This is the second post in a series of four telling the amazing stories of individuals who committed to adopting healthier lifestyles. Jodi Davis inspired Jon Stanton to change his life. Then Jon inspired Rose Borst and Eric Stanton to do the same. They have kept each other motivated and together they have begun a walking movement.
Jon weighed 430 pounds in 2007.
At 31, Jon had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and symptoms of congestive heart failure. When his doctor diagnosed him with Type 2 diabetes, Jon made the commitment to completely change his lifestyle habits.
Around that time, Jon received his Living Healthy magazine from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Jodi Davis, walking and healthy habits advocate for the Blues, happened to be on the cover that issue. Jon began reading Jodi’s blog on WalkyTalk.com and corresponding with her regularly. They are now close friends and work together to inspire Michiganders with similar experiences to take the personal accountability to improve their health.
Jon has lost 230 pounds. He didn’t have surgery. He didn’t diet. He walks or bikes on a daily basis and changed the way he ate. Jon is on a mission to help create a healthier Michigan.
Jon and Jodi’s stories are inspiring because they’re achievable. They literally improved their health by taking one step at a time. If they can do it, you can do it!
So, who will you inspire? Join our walking movement. Your success story could change someone’s life.
National health reform turns six months old on Sept. 23, when a variety of new rules and regulations take effect. In this weeklong series, we highlight how benefits will change for consumers in the near term. You can also find videos, news alerts, RSS feeds and other information at our health reform website.
Health insurers will be required to cover a host of preventive services and immunizations with no cost sharing for members under a requirement of national health reform soon to take effect. Cost sharing is when health plans – or employers offering health plans – require members to cover some costs associated with their coverage, such as co-payments for doctors’ office visits or for medications.
September is here, and it’s a perfect month for getting back into the swing of a schedule, especially with kids going back to school. It’s also a great time to start a regular exercise regime and slip other healthy choices into our daily routines.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are sponsoring several fun community wellness initiatives to help Michiganders get moving and motivated to live healthier this month.
Join the movement (literally!) and participate in one of the events going on in local communities:
While Blue Cross is here to take care of you when you’re sick, we’re also here to help you stay healthy and fit all year round.
All of these events are focused on living well and promoting healthier life choices for everyone. Healthy eating and benefitting from physical activity - it’s all part of how we’re leading Michigan to a healthier future. Won’t you join us?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s walking and healthy habits advocate Jodi Davis wants you to start living a healthier life. Why? Because she did and you can, too. Jodi lost over 160 pounds and has kept it off for nearly 8 years. Her secret? Walking and eating right.
Jodi has been BCBSM’s walking advocate since 2007 – and she is still just as passionate about helping others start a walking regimen and stay away from unhealthy foods. Take a look at this excerpt from Jodi’s recent blog :
“I’m here to help you “step-by-step” along your weight-loss journey. I am that person who believes you can do this… that you WILL do this!”
You can read Jodi’s blog on WalkyTalk , where Jodi shares thoughts, stories, articles, photos and more. Check out the blog and leave Jodi a comment – she would love to hear from you!
Fourth in a series of blog posts featuring frequently asked questions about health care insurance.
Last week, we discussed the rise of consumer-directed health careamong insurance plans. Those plans sometimes involve provisions designed to encourage or even reward individuals who lead healthy lifestyles.
What incentives are insurance companies offering to members for pursuing healthy lifestyles?
An emerging subset of consumer-directed health plans involves wellness and care-management initiatives. These plans give members the opportunity to lower their premiums and copayments by taking steps to improve their overall health, such as quitting smoking or losing weight.
The Michigan Blues offer a variety of wellness-focused plans through the Healthy Blue ChoicesSM portfolio. Healthy Blue OutcomesSM, our newest product beginning July 1, rewards people who demonstrate tangible improvements in their health with more affordable health insurance coverage.
All of our Healthy Blue Choices programs ask members to complete online health assessments and meet certain health criteria. They encourage participants at risk for certain chronic conditions to speak with health coaches about their personal health issues, goals, treatment options and ways to improve their overall health.
Michigan is at the forefront of improving the way primary health care is delivered. The largest patient-centered medical home program in the nation is in our state, with 1,800 physicians in 500 practices now designated as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan patient-centered medical home.
The medical home is a primary care practice in which a health care team is completely focused on the goals and needs of each patient. Health problems are detected and treated earlier. The team coordinates patients’ care and guides them as they make their way through the health care system.
National health care leaders and policy makers are watching Michigan to see how the program is working, including it in national and state health reform discussions.
Another 3,200 primary care doctors across Michigan are working to implement patient-centered medical home capabilities into their practices, affecting almost 2 million residents.
A recent news release about patient-centered medical home posted on this site a few weeks ago discussed the preliminary data showing that PCMH-designated doctors are improving patient care.
You can find the new list of 1,800 PCMH doctors here.
Still Wondering What the Benefits of PCMH are for Patients?
Take a look at this slide presentation we put together to help individuals understand what’s in it for them.
Win by Losing, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s popular weight-loss competition for group customers, is ready to kick off another exciting round of friendly competition on August 30.
Last year, the Blues launched this creative weight-loss challenge as a way for group customers to motivate their employees to create a healthier workplace by shedding those unwanted pounds.
Since the Blues launched the first round of the competition in the fall of 2009, participants from across the state have discovered the benefits of achieving healthier lifestyles. Between two rounds of competition, Win by Losing contestants have lost a grand total of 5,532 pounds – more than two and a half tons of weight.
Registration for the next round of competition starts on August 23. In the meantime, check out this video of some of the winners from the last round of competition and find out how they became the top “losers.”
Visit bcbsm.com/yourhealth to learn more about the competition.
As more than a million people eagerly awaited the launch of thousands of fireworks above the DetroitRiver on Monday, June 21, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Local 4 and the Parade Company awaited a launch of a different kind.
During WDIV’s live broadcast of the Target Fireworks, BCBSM Senior Vice President of Group Sales & Corporate Marketing, Ken Dallafior spoke with on-air anchors Carmen Harlan and Devin Scillian about Blue Cross’ commitment to leading Michigan to a healthier future. And, how that commitment is a driver in Blue Cross’ support of the Biggest Loser: Detroit Edition II.
Ken Dallafior talks with Carmen Harlan and Devin Scillian during WDIV’s fireworks broadcast
Millions of Americans suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – many of them right here in Michigan. IBD includes Crohn’s disease and a related disease, ulcerative colitis.
Participants in the 2010 Take Steps Walk for Crohn’s & Colitis are walking together on the Detroit River Walk to build awareness – with the hope to one day find a cure for these painful and unpredictable digestive diseases.
All Blues employees, family and friends are invited to participate in the second annual UAW-BCBSM/BCN Joint Programs Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk to benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. The event will be held Saturday, June 26, beginning at 5 p.m. Registration is open now and through the day of the event.
Put your walking shoes on and join the fight against Crohn’s and colitis. Walkers will enjoy the beautiful Detroit RiverFront, while they work to build a healthier community.
To learn more about Crohn’s and colitis, visit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America website.
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.
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.
BlueHealthConnection is a collection of health management programs that give Blues members access to health education, support, and health and wellness resources to help them take charge of their health.
BlueHealthConnection offers several programs that are supported by licensed, registered nurse health coaches and case managers. These experienced professionals assist
members in their efforts to stay healthy, get healthier or manage illness. Available programs supported by registered nurse health coaches include:
The Michigan Blues will participate in National Walk @ Lunch Day on April 30th. 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 30th. And then, keep it going! Find the time to walk as much as possible. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
Beginning May 1, smoking won’t be allowed in most public places in Michigan. What does this mean for Michigan residents? The Dr. Ron Davis Smoke Free Air Law prohibits smoking in public places such as businesses, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, bowling alleys, concert halls, arenas, museums, mechanic shops, health facilities, nursing homes, education facilities and child care centers.
For non-smokers, it’s good news. It means enjoying dinner at a favorite restaurant or bowling with the family without being exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke. For smokers, the news may be a little irritating for those who enjoy smoking a cigarette while watching the big game at a bar or while spending an evening at a night club.
Whatever the case, non-smoker or smoker, everyone should agree that smoke-free air is cleaner air, and clean air is fundamental to good health. So, why not use this as an opportunity to stop smoking altogether? Easier said than done, right?
Kicking the habit is not easy but, a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan program called Quit the Nic can help.Quit the Nic matches Blues members with registered nurse health coaches to help them develop action plans to quit smoking.
Interested in Quit the Nic? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan members call
1-800-775-BLUE (2583). Blue Care Network members call 1-800-811-1764.
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 ChoicesSM suite of products, services and resources designed to promote personal wellness and member accountability. Learn more at bcbsm.com/outcomes.
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.
Most of us know how to live healthier lives, but it’s another story to actually discipline ourselves to do it. Many of the chronic health conditions affecting people -- and wreaking financial havoc on the health care system -- can be controlled by diet, exercise and healthier lifestyle habits. Sometimes, we just need some support and guidance to make it happen.
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