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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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    What You Need to Know about Your Weight Loss Options

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 24, 2025
    Being overweight or obese isn’t just about how you look. Carrying around extra weight is also bad for your health. Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, joint injury and other health issues can come with being overweight. Some 50% of Americans will ....
    • 600 Views
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    ¿Tienes cobertura para el 2026? Esto es lo que puedes esperar

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect November 21, 2025
    Al inscribirte en una cobertura médica de Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) para 2026, comienza una reacción en cadena.* Hemos trabajado arduamente durante varios meses preparando una experiencia personalizada. Informaci&...
    • 6894 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/diabetes_2D00_eyes_2D00_smile.jpg

    Beyond Blood Sugar: The Connection Between Diabetes and Your Eyes and Smile

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 18, 2025
    Diabetes can affect more than your blood sugar — it can also cause problems to your vision and oral health. Diabetes and Vision : Diabetes puts you more at risk for diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma and cataracts. These c...
    • 277 Views
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    Understanding Sickle Cell Disease and Living Well

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 14, 2025
    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...
    • 5272 Views
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    What Are Subsidies Based On?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 12, 2025
    Seeing your shopping total get lower at the cash register is a satisfying experience. From coupons to discount codes, many of us use what we can to manage our budget. The health care marketplace has a cost-reducing option too. The Affordable Care...
    • 1503 Views
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    Cinco maneras de vencer el estrés de las fiestas

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect November 10, 2025
    Si bien la temporada de fiestas es una época para estar alegre, también puede ser estresante para muchos de nosotros. Con toda la presión de cocinar, reunirse y salir de compras, no es de extrañar que nos sintamos abrumado...
    • 3660 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/stroke_2D00_signs.jpg

    Do You Know the Early Warning Signs of a Stroke?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 7, 2025
    Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the U.S. Knowing the earliest signs of a stroke can be a lifesaver. Every minute that a stroke continues, thousands of brain cells are dying. The faster you get the right medical care...
    • 81784 Views
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    Help Your Doctors Talk to Each Other About Your Care

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 7, 2025
    You and your primary care provider work together to make sure you are in the best health possible. It’s a two-way street. Your doctor uses training and know-how to guide you. But to give you the best guidance, your doctor needs you to share all....
    • 12917 Views
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    Guía de salud para adultos jóvenes: consejos para los 20 años y más

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect November 7, 2025
    La vida adulta es una etapa emocionante de la vida. Por lo general, la universidad, la carrera profesional y las relaciones románticas empiezan a tomar un lugar primordial. Pero también hay aspectos más rutinarios de la vida adul...
    • 1103 Views
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    Young Adult’s Health Guide: Tips for Your 20s and Beyond

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 7, 2025
    Being a young adult is an exciting time of life. College, career and romantic relationships often start taking center stage. But there are also more mundane aspects of adulting that are important to your well-being — like taking care of your he....
    • 62609 Views
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    ¿Necesitas ver a un especialista?

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect November 7, 2025
    Cuando no te sientes bien, puedes llamar a tu médico de cabecera (PCP en inglés). Con un poco de cuidado, tu doctor puede te pude ayudar a recuperarte en muy poco tiempo. ¿Pero qué pasa si tu problema de sa...
    • 2840 Views
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    Are You at Risk for Cirrhosis?

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 6, 2025
    Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows deaths from alcohol-related liver disease – like cirrhosis – have risen each year since 2006. Nearly all racial, ethnic and age groups have seen increases. The Cleveland Clini...
    • 9839 Views
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    From Headache to Heartache: NSAIDs Pose Heart Dangers

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team November 3, 2025
    Read the fine print the next time you pick up a bottle of ibuprofen or naproxen. You’ll see a warning about the risk for potentially deadly heart attacks and strokes. These drugs are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDs. The U.S.....
    • 4800 Views
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    ¿Qué es una cobertura médica con deducible alto y cómo funciona?

    EquipoConnect
    EquipoConnect October 30, 2025
    Al contratar un seguro médico todos queremos elegir la cobertura que mejor se ajuste a nuestras necesidades. Un tipo de cobertura que vale la pena considerar es la cobertura médica con deducible alto (HDHP, en inglés). A veces, t...
    • 379 Views
  • https://connect.bcbsil.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-00-02/adult_2D00_adhd.jpg

    Your Guide to Understanding Adult ADHD

    BCBSIL Connect Team
    BCBSIL Connect Team October 29, 2025
    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD or ADD, is often thought of as a condition experienced by children. But it is a lifelong condition that can be diagnosed in adults, too. In fact, trends show a rise in adult diagnoses in the last decade...
    • 16371 Views
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