Connect Community - BCBSIL

Blogs: Make Your Health a Priority with Preventive Care

BCBSIL Connect Team

You owe it to yourself to take care of your health. One good place to start is by scheduling your yearly preventive health care exam. Preventive care is very important for people of all ages. Scheduling an annual preventive care visit will give you a...
- December 2, 2024
Blogs: End Your Energy Slump

BCBSIL Connect Team

Do you sometimes feel like the energy has just drained from your body? You’re not the only one feeling more tired, more often. Many people have lifestyles that lead to frequently feeling tired. There are simple steps you can take to have more e...
- December 2, 2024
Blogs: Winterize Your Exercise, Indoors and Out

BCBSIL Connect Team

Has old man winter blown away some of your exercise motivation? Even though it’s cold outside, your muscles still need to feel the burn. You can beat midwinter workout blahs by switching things up. Just 30 minutes of moderate activity most days...
- December 2, 2024
Blogs: Managing Diabetes? You Have a Partner Who Can Help

BCBSIL Connect Team

If you’re living with diabetes, think of your primary care provider (PCP) as your partner in taking charge of your health. You can work together to successfully manage your diabetes so you can stay healthier. It’s important to get the reg...
- December 2, 2024
Blogs: Keep Your Member ID Card Close

BCBSIL Connect Team

It might be a thin piece of plastic tucked in your wallet until you need it. Or it might be something you find in an app on your phone. Either way, your member ID card packs a wallop. What else holds everything you need to take care of your health? W...
- December 2, 2024
Blogs: Who Makes Decisions About My Health Care?

BCBSIL Connect Team

This article is intended for HMO members enrolled in an employer health insurance plan. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois provides coverage for your health care. But you and your doctor are in the best position to make decisions about treatment....
- December 2, 2024
Blogs: What Is Diabetes?

BCBSIL Connect Team

Diabetes is taking a serious toll on our nation. About 38 million Americans suffer from the life-threatening disease — and the numbers keep growing. With diabetes, the body can no longer make enough insulin or use the insulin it does make to c...
- November 26, 2024
Blogs: 5 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

BCBSIL Connect Team

While `tis the season to be jolly, for many of us the holiday season can also be a stressful time. With all the pressure to cook, gather and shop, it’s no wonder we feel overwhelmed during the holidays. The weight of stress can affect our heal...
- November 21, 2024
Blogs: Why Is It Important To Donate Platelets?

BCBSIL Connect Team

Blood platelet transfusions can save the lives of people with low platelet counts or malfunctioning platelets, says the American Red Cross. What Are Platelets? Platelets are tiny cells that flow through your blood. Their main job is to prevent and st...
- November 20, 2024
Blogs: Donating Blood: Common Myths Debunked

BCBSIL Connect Team

Blood donations save lives, and the need for blood has never been greater. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets, says the American Red Cross. More people, more illness, even more natural disasters around the world mean we n...
- November 20, 2024

Healthy Gut, Healthy Life?

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

You may have heard that your gut is your second brain. The saying gives a sense of how vital your digestive system is to the rest of your body. But what does it mean? A network of hundreds of millions of nerve cells called neurons line the gut, or...
- 17573 Views
Create a Routine for Better Sleep

BCBSIL Connect Team September 28, 2023

Most Americans have some type of trouble with sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 3 American adults say they’re not getting enough sleep every day. And millions of Americans have chronic sleep disorders....
- 7961 Views
Time to Enroll in a Health Plan Again? Already?

BCBSIL Connect Team September 10, 2023

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 ...
- 11279 Views
Why Kids Need Health Insurance

BCBSIL Connect Team September 9, 2023

Children are known for their endless curiosity, cute faces and their ability to come home covered in dirt. Being a trendy pre-teen or adventurous kindergartener comes with its share of coughs and colds, bumps and bruises and mystery rashes....
- 10170 Views
Healthy Eating: Avoid Portion Pitfalls

BCBSIL Connect Team September 7, 2023

Most people know they should eat nutritious foods to maintain a healthy weight and avoid serious health problems. Still, there may be a big part of healthy eating you’re not paying enough attention to — portion sizes. What you eat matters...
- 21109 Views
Find Out If a Low-Intensity Workout Is Right for You

BCBSIL Connect Team August 30, 2023

Many people learned how to get their exercise without classes or gym workouts during the pandemic. Some turned to low-intensity workouts, and they haven’t gone back. There are benefits to stepping away from the “no pain, no gain” ap...
- 6621 Views
Does When You Eat Make a Difference?

BCBSIL Connect Team August 29, 2023

When it comes to healthy eating, we know that what we eat matters. So does how much we eat. And research shows that when we eat is important, too. Many studies point to health improvements from making changes to when you eat. That’s because our....
- 12848 Views
3 Reasons Why Women Should Choose Blue

BCBSIL Connect Team August 21, 2023

Your health is important. You want to keep up your health and treat any sickness. So, you need a health plan to help you do it. Here’s three reasons so many women choose Blue. Reason No. 1 - Your Choice of Doctors No matter which Blue Cross and....
- 40499 Views
What Role Does Food Play in Your Life?

BCBSIL Connect Team August 20, 2023

It’s human nature. Once or twice a year we take stock and think, “You know, I really should take better care of myself.” It might be inspired by a recent health scare. It could be a wedding, reunion or other special event that spurs...
- 11922 Views
Should I Use an Insurance Agent to Buy a Health Plan?

BCBSIL Connect Team August 20, 2023

Buying a health plan can be complicated. There are so many plans. So many decisions. So many choices. That’s why it helps to have an expert on your side. That expert, called an insurance agent, broker or producer, plays a key role in helping pe....
- 10102 Views
Meet your Endocrinologist: Going to the "Diabetes Doctor"

BCBSIL Connect Team August 19, 2023

You just learned you have diabetes. Your primary care provider (PCP) wants you to track your blood sugar, start a workout program and come back for a follow-up visit. It’s a lot to take in. As part of your treatment plan, your PCP may refer yo.....
- 9168 Views
Understanding Sickle Cell Disease and Living Well

BCBSIL Connect Team August 18, 2023

Our family history and DNA play a large role in our health and well-being. Genetic changes and traits carried by parents often appear in their children —even when the parents don’t have any symptoms of a genetic condit...
- 4869 Views
Fulfilling the Wishes of Loved Ones at the End of Life

BCBSIL Connect Team August 17, 2023

Talking about the end of a life with friends and family members is often a hard conversation. Many of us don’t think we need to think over important final decisions when health is good. For a young, healthy person, these talks a...
- 4436 Views
How to $ave Money

BCBSIL Connect Team August 15, 2023

There are many ways you can help keep your health care costs down. Try these tips to find $avings on doctor visits, prescription medications, fitness trackers and more. We have resources to help you make the best decision for you. Our Provider F...
- 3267 Views
Wash the Rind to Leave Bacteria Behind

BCBSIL Connect Team August 15, 2023

The peak of summer brings ripe, tasty melons, like cantaloupe and watermelon, from the farm to your table. Watermelons are not only refreshing, they’re also a great source of the antioxidant lycopene. What’s so special about lycopene? Lyc...
- 9012 Views

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation,
a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

© Copyright 2025 Health Care Service Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Verint is an operating division of Verint Americas, Inc., an independent company that provides and hosts an online community platform for blogging and access to social media for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.

File is in portable document format (PDF). To view this file, you may need to install a PDF reader program. Most PDF readers are a free download. One option is Adobe^® Reader^® which has a built-in screen reader. Other Adobe accessibility tools and information can be downloaded at https://access.adobe.com.

You are leaving this website/app ("site"). This new site may be offered by a vendor or an independent third party. The site may also contain non-Medicare related information. Some sites may require you to agree to their terms of use and privacy policy.

Powered by Verint