• Blogs: Make Your Health a Priority with Preventive Care

    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...
  • Blogs: End Your Energy Slump

    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...
  • Blogs: Winterize Your Exercise, Indoors and Out

    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...
  • Blogs: Managing Diabetes? You Have a Partner Who Can Help

    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...
  • Blogs: Keep Your Member ID Card Close

    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...
  • Blogs: Who Makes Decisions About My Health Care?

    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....
  • Blogs: What Is Diabetes?

    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...
  • Blogs: 5 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

    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...
  • Blogs: Why Is It Important To Donate Platelets?

    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...
  • Blogs: Donating Blood: Common Myths Debunked

    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...
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    Living With Diabetes? Find Big Eats on a Small Grocery Budget

    Food choices are so important when diabetes is part of your day-to-day life. Here’s something to keep in mind: The best healthy meal plan for those living with diabetes isn’t very different from one for people without diabetes. Our bodies...
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    Postpartum Health

    The days and weeks after giving birth are often a happy time. They're also a period of adjustment and healing for mothers. While you bond with your baby, make time for a post-delivery checkup with your provider. Your doctor plays an important role...
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    How to Get the Most Out of Your Medicare Advantage Plan

    Welcome to Medicare Advantage . We’re glad you’re a Blue Cross Medicare Advantage member. Ready to make the most of your health care plan? Start with these steps: Plan your Annual Wellness Visit. With no copay and no cost to you...
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    Diabetes and the Risk for Kidney Disease

    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...
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    Don't Let the Seasonal Flu Get You

    Getting a flu shot can help you stay healthy. Flu season usually starts in October and peaks between December and February. As many have learned, it can linger through the spring. If you didn't get a flu shot before the start of the season, ask your...
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    Behavioral Health: Peeling Back the Onion

    It is an understatement to say humans are complex creatures. So many factors affect who we are. Genetics, upbringing, our environment, family dynamics, friendships, love and work relationships — and, yes, even our behaviors. They’re all t...
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    Ten un plan para controlar el asma

    Si tienes asma, puedes ayudar a controlarla. Colabora con el médico para crear un plan para combatir el asma . Asegúrate de estar haciendo todo lo posible para controlar este padecimiento. Si tienes medicamentos, tómalos co...
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    Cancer, Courage and Compassion: A Tale of Two Sisters

    When someone is diagnosed with an illness, it can turn their entire family upside down. Sometimes it’s a wake-up call. Sometimes it’s the catalyst that brings a family closer together. Tamara admits she and her three siblings weren’...
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    Cómo prevenir un ataque al corazón

    La mejor manera de sobrevivir un ataque al corazón es evitándolo. ¿Cómo se puede evitar ser uno de los millones de estadounidenses que sufren un ataque al corazón? En realidad, se puede hacer mucho para proteger el ...
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    Cómo apoyar a un ser querido con cáncer

    “Tengo cáncer”. Son dos palabras que nunca querrás escuchar de un amigo, un familiar o tu pareja. Enterarte de que un ser querido padece cáncer puede ser abrumador y generar miedo. Es probable que tengas muchas pregu...
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    Medicare Questions

    If you have questions about Medicare, you’re in good company. Medicare can be confusing. There are a lot of choices and a lot of rules surrounding the government health plan for U.S. citizens age 65 and older. Medicare also offers health covera....
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    Breast Cancer: Facing the Giant

    There are events in every person’s life that shape us in dramatic ways. For Loretta, marrying her high-school sweetheart, having two amazing sons, and the talent to play basketball are big ones. She also includes being diagnosed with CANCER. &l....
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    ¿Qué es el asma exactamente?

    En los Estados Unidos, más de 27 millones de personas padecen de asma. Casi 4.5 millones de ellas son niños menores de 18 años. ¿Por qué los niños son tan vulnerables? Al padecer asma, los pulmones y l...
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    Maximize Your Medicare

    Are you getting the most from your Medicare plan? It’s a good idea to spend time reviewing your coverage each year. Knowledge is power, right? Empower yourself by becoming familiar with need-to-know information that can help guide your Medicare....
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    Ghoulishly Good Tips for a Healthy and Safe Halloween

    The words healthy and Halloween don’t usually go together — for obvious reasons. Halloween is the one time of year when kids let loose and eat as much candy as they can get their hands on. Still, it's possible to give your kids a fun...
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