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Lowering the Risk of Opioid Misuse

BCBSIL Connect Team February 12, 2026

Opioids are helpful when taken the right way. When misused, they can lead to dependence. This can lead to overdose or even accidental death. In 2023, about 76% of all overdose deaths involved opioids. Opioid misuse and related deaths have been consi...
- 6416 Views
Time to Enroll in a Health Plan Again? Already?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 27, 2025

Many of us aren’t big fans of deadlines. We’re busy. Finding time to knock out one more thing on our to-do list can be a hassle. With some deadlines, a little procrastination may not really matter. That’s not the case when it comes ...
- 12768 Views
Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables for Better Health – and Mood

BCBSIL Connect Team May 7, 2025

We all know that eating fresh fruit and vegetables regularly is good for our physical health. It turns out eating plenty of them may also make us happier. A 2022 study found that people who ate a diet ric...
- 7043 Views
Digital Smarts: Basic Smartphone Terms Explained

BCBSIL Connect Team December 13, 2024

Smartphones are more than just phones. These modern-day marvels can carry out a whole range of functions besides phone calls. With a smartphone, you can surf the web, send and receive emails and texts, record video, take photos, watch movies and...
- 2622 Views
Smartphone Basics for Older Adults: Unlocking the Digital World

BCBSIL Connect Team December 12, 2024

If you’re new to smartphones, they can seem scary and confusing. But they don’t have to be. Read on for a simple guide to the basics of using a smartphone. What are smartphone apps? A smartphone is a mobile phone with many of the same fun...
- 3348 Views
Calendars Fill Quickly, Schedule Your Mammogram Early

BCBSIL Connect Team November 14, 2024

Do you book your doctors’ appointments in advance? A little planning now can help you keep up with important health checks that could save your life one day. Routine mammograms are one of those important checks. When breast cancer is fou...
- 20658 Views
Earn Rewards for Healthy Actions

BCBSIL Connect Team November 14, 2024

Blue Cross Medicare AdvantageSM members can earn up to $100 in gift cards for Healthy Actions.* Whether it’s scheduling your annual wellness visit or getting your flu shot, now you can earn rewards while taking care of your health. Here are Hea....
- 108398 Views
Diabetes and the Risk for Kidney Disease

BCBSIL Connect Team October 18, 2024

If you have diabetes , you may not know about an important measure to protect your kidneys. What do your kidneys have to do with diabetes? It turns out, people living with diabetes have a higher risk of kidney disease. More than 35 million adults...
- 5171 Views
Pneumonia: A Lung Infection Can Affect Heart Health

BCBSIL Connect Team September 20, 2024

Every year, nearly one million people in the United States end up in the hospital with pneumonia. Along with making breathing difficult, the infection places stress on the heart. The added stress raises the risk for heart attack, stroke and dying...
- 9867 Views
How In-Home Test Kits Fit Into Your Schedule

BCBSIL Connect Team September 18, 2024

There are things you love to do and things you have to do. Some health screenings fall into the latter. For example, you may not be eager to have a colonoscopy. You're not alone. There’s a way you can dial down the dread. W...
- 9941 Views
How to Prevent a Heart Attack

BCBSIL Connect Team August 30, 2024

The best way to survive a heart attack is to never have one. How can you prevent becoming one of the millions of Americans who suffer a heart attack? There is actually a lot you can do to protect your heart. Knowing the risks and symptoms of heart...
- 10610 Views
Take Care of Your Health After a Hospital Visit

BCBSIL Connect Team June 7, 2024

You’re glad to be back home after a hospital stay. Now it’s the time to make sure you stay on track to heal. You can take an active role in your recovery by staying on top of details. Have you reviewed your p...
- 10977 Views
Are You Caring For Your Colon?

BCBSIL Connect Team June 7, 2024

It’s not a topic most of us like to talk about — or even think about. Colon cancer screening isn't fun, but it's important for good reason. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Sc...
- 20605 Views
Stay on Top of Your Prescriptions

BCBSIL Connect Team April 10, 2024

It’s not always easy to take medications on time. Life sometimes gets in the way of best-laid plans. One day you look at your pillbox and realize you’re a few doses behind. Taking your medicine as prescribed&nbsp...
- 8614 Views
Six Ways to Start Small and Make Big Changes

BCBSIL Connect Team April 5, 2024

Want an easy, effective and safe way to get healthy? Think small. Small changes can actually lead to greater well-being over time. "Thinking small" works because it eases you into healthy new habits. Old habits don't simply go away. As someone ...
- 8629 Views