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Blogs: How Prior Authorization Helps

BCBSIL Connect Team

Prior Authorization helps make sure prescription medicines are being used safely, as intended and at the best cost. Only a handful of drugs need prior authorization, also called pre-approval. Those are often the ones that cost the most or the ones th...
- November 16, 2023
Blogs: In-Home Diabetes Care: Make the Most of Your Medication

BCBSIL Connect Team

Medication, diet and exercise play a big role in managing of your diabetes. So does working closely with your doctor and diabetes team. In fact, the number one thing you can do to manage your disease is talk openly and honestly with your care provide...
- November 14, 2023
Blogs: Lifestyle Changes and Diabetes

BCBSIL Connect Team

There’s a safe way to get a handle on your diabetes: Create an exercise and diet plan. With exercise, you can help your blood sugar stay in your target range. By making better food choices, you help manage your blood sugar levels and lower your...
- November 13, 2023
Blogs: How to Make New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

BCBSIL Connect Team

The start of a new year seems like the right time to set resolutions. We may even make lists of things we’d like to change. Our lists often include “eat healthy” and “exercise more.” Sometimes it's hard to follow t...
- November 13, 2023
Blogs: Mocktails Make for Safe Merriment

BCBSIL Connect Team

‘Tis the season to spread holiday cheer. That often means getting together with friends and family. Good food, refreshing drinks and time with your favorite people are all ingredients for a wonderful time, right? Just make sure you don’t ...
- November 8, 2023
Blogs: What Is the Premium Tax Credit for Health Insurance?

BCBSIL Connect Team

A premium tax credit is a form of financial assistance. It helps with the cost of buying health insurance. Before you enroll in a new plan, check to see if you qualify for a tax credit. Who is Eligible? Premium tax credits are for individuals and fam...
- November 7, 2023
Blogs: How to Sign Up for Health Insurance

BCBSIL Connect Team

Do you need health coverage, but don’t know where to start? Visit bcbsil.com to view and compare all our Family and Individual health plans, including the plans we offer on the Health Insurance Marketplace. In most cases, you can only sign up f...
- November 7, 2023
Blogs: Your Prescription Wasn’t Covered. Here’s What You and Your Doctor Can Do

BCBSIL Connect Team

You need a new drug and find your prescription isn’t covered. Or you’ve taken a drug in the past and find it’s no longer covered. Find out why meds may not be covered, and what you can do next. Health plans cover a wide range of med...
- November 6, 2023
Blogs: 10 Tips to Stay Fit During the Holidays

BCBSIL Connect Team

There's more than a month between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It’s a busy time of year, but you don’t have to let your health fall by the wayside. Yes, it's a time filled with holiday meals, office parties and possibly even tra...
- October 29, 2023
Blogs: Are You Dehydrated?

BCBSIL Connect Team

Your body doesn’t work well when it’s low on fluids. When it loses more water than it takes in, you may have dehydration, which can lead to some serious health problems. You might not know when you’re dehydrated. But it could be beh...
- October 26, 2023

How Does a Drug Become a Generic: Facts vs. Myths

BCBSIL Connect Team October 28, 2024

Taking a generic drug is not like buying a store-brand soap. With soap, you might notice a difference. It may smell different. You may need to use more than the brand-name product. That is not true with generic drugs. When companies make a bran...
- 18046 Views
Follow 4 Simple Steps to Put Your Family on a Healthy Path

BCBSIL Connect Team October 24, 2024

It’s never too early to teach kids about healthy habits. Setting good habits when they’re young puts them on the path toward a healthier life. Many children are not off to a good start. About 1 in 5 American children are obese, says the C...
- 11738 Views
More than Muscle: How Men Can Exercise Their Way to Better Health

BCBSIL Connect Team October 24, 2024

Men face some serious health risks. Heart disease and cancer account for nearly 40 percent of deaths among American men. Unintentional injuries like falls are also a common cause of death for men. Lung disease and stroke account for another 10 percen...
- 27451 Views
Consejos tenebrosamente buenos para tener un Halloween saludable y seguro

EquipoConnect October 23, 2024

Por lo general, las palabras “saludable” y “Halloween” no van juntas, por razones obvias. Halloween es la única época del año en que los niños se sienten libres de comer tantas golosinas como puedan...
- 379 Views
Bienestar social: ¿el ajetreo conduce a la soledad?

EquipoConnect October 23, 2024

A los estadounidenses les encanta estar ocupados. Por desgracia, hacer malabares para mantener el trabajo, la familia y las tareas domésticas implica que la persona promedio “trabaja” 60 horas o más por semana. No es de...
- 3584 Views
Social Well-Being: Is Your Busyness Leading to Loneliness?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 23, 2024

Americans love to be busy. Unfortunately, juggling our jobs, families and home chores means the average person “works” 60 or more hours each week. No wonder people just want to plop down on the sofa and binge watch their favorite TV show ...
- 5019 Views
What Can Your Heart Rate Tell You About Your Health?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 21, 2024

Your heart rate is always changing. It’s up when you’re walking. Down when you’re sitting still. But what can it tell you about your overall health? Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Your heart rate...
- 6418 Views
How Do I Buy an Individual Health Insurance Plan?

BCBSIL Connect Team October 21, 2024

There are two times when you can buy health insurance — during open enrollment and special enrollment. Open enrollment starts on Nov. 1 each year. Any other sign-up time falls under special enrollment . To buy health insurance during speci...
- 18141 Views
Living With Diabetes? Find Big Eats on a Small Grocery Budget

BCBSIL Connect Team October 21, 2024

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...
- 7195 Views
Postpartum Health

BCBSIL Connect Team October 19, 2024

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...
- 2895 Views
How to Get the Most Out of Your Medicare Advantage Plan

BCBSIL Connect Team October 18, 2024

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...
- 11684 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...
- 3363 Views
Don't Let the Seasonal Flu Get You

BCBSIL Connect Team October 16, 2024

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...
- 3532 Views
Behavioral Health: Peeling Back the Onion

BCBSIL Connect Team October 15, 2024

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...
- 20051 Views
Ten un plan para controlar el asma

EquipoConnect October 8, 2024

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...
- 2597 Views

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