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  • Lowering the Risk of Opioid Misuse

    Blogs: Lowering the Risk of Opioid Misuse

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    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...
    • February 12, 2026
  • Are Your Knees Telling You They Need Help?

    Blogs: Are Your Knees Telling You They Need Help?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    Millions of people deal with aching knees. It’s one of the most common health problems, and it affects people of all ages. Some hope the problem will just go away. And for a minor injury like a strain, time and rest may help. But some people ma...
    • February 12, 2026
  • Everything You Need to Know About Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts

    Blogs: Everything You Need to Know About Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    Along with acronyms for preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and health maintenance organizations (HMOs), add two more to your list. Both can help you pay doctor bills and save money. Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (...
    • February 11, 2026
  • Bipolar Disorder Explained

    Blogs: Bipolar Disorder Explained

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    About 6 million adults, teens and children have bipolar disorder (BD) in the U.S. It’s often diagnosed before the age of 25, and it is a lifelong condition. Not All BD Is the Same There are actually four types of BD. With bipola...
    • February 9, 2026
  • How to Find In-Network Providers

    Blogs: How to Find In-Network Providers

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    There’s a lot to think about when deciding where to get health care – cost, networks, location and more. Being informed does not have to be tricky. We have resources available to help you make the best decision for you. Your online m...
    • February 9, 2026
  • Population Health: Strategies that Benefit Our Members

    Blogs: Population Health: Strategies that Benefit Our Members

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    Population Health has been described as “the overall health of a group of people.” At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, we use different types of partnerships to improve the overall health and well-being of our members. We identify ...
    • February 9, 2026
  • What Is an HMO?

    Blogs: What Is an HMO?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    An HMO — or health maintenance organization — can help keep your costs lower and more predictable compared to other types of plans. With one medical group to coordinate your care, an HMO health plan is easy to use. An HMO health plan off...
    • February 9, 2026
  • Children’s Dental Health Month: Make Their Smiles Sparkle

    Blogs: Children’s Dental Health Month: Make Their Smiles Sparkle

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    Children’s Dental Health Month started as a small, one‑day event in 1941 and has grown into a nationwide effort to show families why oral health matters. After all, your mouth is important for many parts of life — eating, speaking, learni...
    • February 9, 2026
  • Know Where to Go When Minutes Count, or Anytime

    Blogs: Know Where to Go When Minutes Count, or Anytime

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    It’s important to know where to go when you need care. Sometimes the choice is clear. If you’re having signs of a heart attack or stroke, it’s best to go to an emergency room (ER). But what if you have a sore throat? Or an upset sto...
    • February 9, 2026
  • What Is an A1C Test, and Why Does It Matter?

    Blogs: What Is an A1C Test, and Why Does It Matter?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team
    If you have diabetes, you know you need to check your blood sugar regularly. But do you know you also need an A1C test? Blood glucose numbers only give a quick snapshot of blood sugar control at certain times of day. You may think your blood sugar is...
    • February 9, 2026
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  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/2158.Ikaria.jpg

    Try the Mediterranean Lifestyle for Healthy Living

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team August 12, 2024
    A warm golden sun. A shimmering blue sea. Meals filled with mouth-watering fresh fruits, earthy whole grains, beans and potatoes. Their distinctive flavors enhanced with local olive oil. Sounds pretty good, right? The people of Ikaria, Greece, enjoy...
    • 14973 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-08/BrandS_2D00_heart_2D00_disease.jpg

    ¿Qué es la enfermedad cardíaca?

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect August 7, 2024
    Las enfermedades cardíacas son la causa principal de muerte tanto para hombres y mujeres en Estados Unidos. Según los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, en inglés), uno de cada quatro estad...
    • 6205 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/BrandS_2D00_heart_2D00_disease.jpg

    What Is Heart Disease?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team August 7, 2024
    Heart disease is a leading killer of men and women in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals one in four Americans die of heart disease every year. With so much at stake, it’s smart to know the warning signs.....
    • 17180 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-08/bipolar_2D00_disorder_2D00_and_2D00_diabetes.jpg

    La conexión entre el trastorno bipolar y la diabetes

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect August 6, 2024
    Aproximadamente seis millones de adultos, adolescentes y niños padecen de trastorno bipolar (BD, en inglés). Este suele diagnosticarse antes de los 25 años y, una vez que se presenta, la enfermedad no desaparece. Aquellos que pa...
    • 4646 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-08/Doctor-Surgery.jpg

    Ayuda a potenciar el tratamiento contra el cáncer de mama con las terapias complementarias

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect August 5, 2024
    Las mujeres que padecen cáncer de mama tienen opciones para recibir tratamiento médico. Si luchas contra el cáncer de mama, tu médico creará un plan de tratamiento que puede incluir alguna intervención quir&...
    • 4143 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-08/cope-with-stressful-events.jpg

    Cómo encontrar maneras de lidiar con situaciones estresantes

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect August 5, 2024
    El estrés forma parte de la vida, desde cuestiones que no tienen mucha importancia hasta eventos traumáticos mayores. Ya que las respuestas biológicas del cuerpo ante el estrés pueden dañar tu salud mental y f&iacut...
    • 2815 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/asthma-what-is-it.jpg

    What Exactly Is Asthma?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team August 5, 2024
    In the United States, more than 27 million people have asthma. Nearly 4.5 million of them are children under the age of 18. Why are children so vulnerable? With asthma, the lungs and airways can easily become inflamed. They swell and narr...
    • 11486 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-08/4431.sport.jpg

    Cosas que debes saber sobre la conmoción cerebral en los niños y el deporte

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect August 5, 2024
    Todos sabemos que una conmoción cerebral puede ser grave, pero muchos desconocemos sus síntomas. ¿Sabes qué hacer si tu hijo sufre una conmoción cerebral? Los niños pequeños, los adolescentes y los ad...
    • 5167 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-08/tired-of-allergies.jpg

    ¿Cansado de tener alergias? Sigue estos pasos

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect August 1, 2024
    ¿Las alergias estacionales te están agobiando con estornudos, nariz que gotea, e irritación de ojos y garganta? Puede ser hora de escalar tu tratamiento. Combatir las alergias otoñales Las alergias estacionales siempre es...
    • 3126 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-12/4784.MedicationPrescriptions_5F00_143469949.jpg

    Los medicamentos genéricos comparados con los medicamentos de marca

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect July 31, 2024
    Entender la diferencia entre los medicamentos genéricos y los medicamentos de marca puede ayudarte a ahorrar en los costos de los medicamentos recetados. Información básica sobre los medicamentos genéricos Los medicamento...
    • 10762 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/uv-sunglass-protection.jpg

    Choose the Right Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team July 30, 2024
    Dark sunglasses are more than a stylish accessory. They protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage the retinas. Sun protection for your eyes may not be the first thing you think about before you head outdoors, but it’s just as....
    • 2434 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-08/teen-mental-health.jpg

    Tres maneras de apoyar la salud mental de tu hijo adolescente

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect July 30, 2024
    Los adolescentes enfrentan más desafíos que nunca. Sufren presión en la escuela, con los amigos y en las redes sociales. No es de extrañar que su salud mental pueda verse afectada. No tienes que esperar hasta que tu hijo a...
    • 3270 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/uv-safety.jpg

    What Is SPF and Which Sunscreen Should I Use?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team July 29, 2024
    Before heading out for a BBQ, a day at the beach, or afternoon by the pool, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. You’ve probably seen them displayed in your local store: sunscreens ...
    • 14375 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-12/breast_2D00_pump.jpg

    Los extractores de leche pueden ayudar a facilitar la lactancia materna

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect July 26, 2024
    Alimentar a un bebé recién nacido es una de las cosas más importantes que los padres deben hacer. La lactancia materna es una opción popular para muchos padres, y por muy buenas razones. La leche materna brinda la nutrici...
    • 3451 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/DoctorIpadPatient.jpg

    Six Questions to Ask Your Child’s Doctor About Asthma

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team July 26, 2024
    When your child has asthma, you and your doctor are part of a team that helps you care for your child. Before you can offer the right kind of care, you need to confirm that your child does, in fact, have asthma. Coughing, wheezing and shortness of...
    • 11843 Views
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