Blue Care Network reaches milestone: Enrolls 100,000 members for Healthy Blue Living

Blue Care Network of Michigan's innovative wellness product, Healthy Blue Living, which rewards individuals for committing to healthy lifestyles, reached the 100,000 member benchmark in less than three years.

"By reaching this major milestone, it is evident our group customers are eager to lower their health care costs and employ a healthier workforce," said Jeanne Carlson, BCN president and chief executive officer. "More employers and members are realizing the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, and the success of Healthy Blue Living is helping the Blues create a healthier Michigan."

BCN's Healthy Blue Living was first-to-market in Michigan with a product structure that encourages employees and their spouses to commit to healthy lifestyles with support from their primary care physicians and their HMO. Now, more than 800 businesses or groups have Healthy Blue Living. The groups range in size from small businesses with two employees to large companies.

Employers play a key role in encouraging their employees to adopt healthier lives. Healthy Blue Living encourages employers to offer a smoke-free work environment, to promote physical activity at work and to offer healthy food choices in vending machines and cafeterias.

In addition to improving health, Healthy Blue Living rewards its members with lower copayments and deductibles. To help them on their journey to wellness, members also have access to wellness and care management programs and services. These programs include smoking-cessation and some of the most advanced online behavior programs through BlueHealthConnection((R)). These programs include an interactive health assessment and 11 online digital health coaching programs that offer each member a unique and personalized experience. BCN also has experienced health coaches available to work individually with at-risk members to help them manage specific health issues.

"I have been a Healthy Blue Living member for a year now, and I love it," said member Dan Piepszowski. "It gives me the tools to better manage my own health and the health of my family. The better I manage my health, the less I pay for coverage. There is no better way to engage people and reward them for living a healthier lifestyle."