Blue Cross helps Illinois continue to "experience wellness everywhere"

Chicago (December 9, 2008) – In March 2008, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois announced its new mission, "to promote the health and wellness of our members and our communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care." At that time, based on the new mission, the company unveiled several internal and external health and wellness initiatives for customers, employees, and communities throughout Illinois.

"Blue Cross is following through on its commitment to promote health and wellness in Illinois by leading, partnering, and investing in a variety of significant initiatives," Paul S. Boulis, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois president, said. "Blue Cross’ goal is to be a leader on health and wellness among employers, in Illinois communities, and as a health insurance provider."

Walking the walk

In March of this year, Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, rolled out a program designed to motivate employees to walk more during their workdays. So far, nearly 12,000 of the company’s nearly 17,000 employees have enrolled, and as of September, together walked a combined one million miles.

For several years, Blue Cross has participated in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, which raises money to fight heart disease and stroke. This year the walk was held on Friday, September 26. More than 800 Chicago area Blue Cross employees participated, raising more than $50,000. In addition, Blue Cross donated an additional $20,000 in line with the Blue Cross’ focus on health and wellness and in honor of the company having shattered previous records for fundraising and participation in the walk.

In addition, back on May 22, 2008, with 660 participants – more than any other company in the Chicago area – Blue Cross won the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, an annual series of 3.5-mile road footraces designed to promote fitness in the workplace. In honor of the event, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation made a donation to Bears Care, which supports youth education, youth athletics, medical research, and health awareness programs focusing on breast and ovarian cancer.

Promoting healthy behaviors

Blue Cross recently announced or has provided support for several health and wellness initiatives, including:

• Bike Chicago, from May through September, a citywide program that promotes bicycling in the city. Bike Chicago comprises more than 100 cycling events, including Bike the Drive, the Bike to Work Day Rally, neighborhood tours and bicycle maintenance workshops. Blue Cross also supported a bicycle safety clinic and giveaway at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield in August;
• Serving as presenting sponsor for the City of Chicago’s Mayor Daley's Holiday Sports Fest. Held annually at McCormick Place, the event provides 85,000 city kids structured activities and a place to play safely during the winter break from school;
• Serving as presenting sponsor for Marathon Kids in Chicago, a free six-month-long endurance-building program that incorporates running, walking, nutrition education, and schoolyard gardening projects for kindergarten through fifth graders and their families. By the end of the school year, participants will have walked or run 26 miles, the length of a marathon, and
• Releasing a request for proposals (RFP) in selected areas in the state calling for plans to address childhood obesity through education, nutrition, and physical activity programs. Grants will be made in December.

Helping people take stock of their health!

From November 2007 to February 2008, Blue Cross motivated more than 8,000 of its members to complete Health Risk Assessments (HRA) by promising to donate $5 to charity for each one completed. Participants voted and selected the American Cancer Society (ACS) from a list of several charities to and Blue Cross made a $42,000 donation in support of three ACS initiatives:

• The "Survivors' Tent" at the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk" in October;
• The ACS "Patient Navigation Services" program, which provides patients non-medical assistance and support, including transportation to get to treatments, support groups, and a host of other information; and
• Other health and wellness related education and awareness programs.

Through HRAs, Blue Cross members take stock of their health by answering questions about their lifestyle habits. Based on the results, members can opt to enroll in lifestyle management programs Blue Cross offers, as well as choose to receive health information relevant to their health status.

Cheering "5-4-3-2-1 Go" to your health!

Blue Cross sponsored the development of four ABC7 public service announcements featuring the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children’s (CLOCC) "5-4-3-2-1 Go!" message for kids and their parents on living healthy lives.

• 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
• 4 servings of water a day
• 3 servings of low-fat dairy a day
• 2 or less hours of screen time a day
• 1 or more hours of physical activity a day

The PSAs began airing on ABC7 in mid-September and will run through this month.

With more than 7 million members, Blue Cross (www.bcbsil.com) is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. Started in 1936, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and its communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is a division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), a Mutual Legal Reserve Company. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Back to the Newsroom