Childhood Vaccines: One of the Easiest Ways to Protect Your Kids

Childhood vaccines are safe and effective. IBX Medical Director Dr. Stephen Higgins discusses why it’s so important for kids to get all recommended vaccines.

A Mobile App that Keeps Up with Me and My Family — No Matter Where We Are

The IBX mobile app, which now features the care cost estimator, helps me manage my health care from the palm of my hand.

Urgent Care and Retail Clinics: What to Do When You Get Sick While Traveling

An unexpected trip to the ER can ruin your vacation. When you need immediate care and are traveling, an urgent care or retail clinic is a great option for health care.

Focused Athletics: Investing in Philadelphia’s Top Student Athletes

Friday, 24 January 2020 by Veronica Serrano

^{Jackson Duncan, (top center), with Focused Athletics alumni- (clockwise from L) AJ Issacs, Ray Thomas, Eric Taylor, Cheick Diawara, Casey Williams, and Charly Timite.} Jackson Duncan will never forget the day he was invited to work out with a group of student athletes in South Philly a few years ago. He was blown away by all the talent he saw in those kids....

Published in Community

CHIP: Coverage for Kids, Less Worry for Parents

Thursday, 23 January 2020 by Paula Sunshine

A mother and her young daughter smile while listening to a physician.

Parents have a seemingly endless number of things that they worry about. For many, it’s how to afford health insurance for their children. If you need health insurance for your child but aren’t sure how you’re going to pay for it, take a look at CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) coverage. CHIP is free, low-cost, or full-cost health coverage for uninsured children through age 19 whose parents meet eligibility requirements and live in Bucks,...

Published in Health Insurance, Member Resources

Getting Started with Your Independence Blue Cross Health Plan

Friday, 17 January 2020 by Paula Sunshine

A woman signs in at the doctor's reception desk, as her family waits.

Be sure to make the most of everything your Independence Blue Cross health plan has to offer by: Finding the care you need Getting personalized support Saving time and money Ready to get started? Here are some steps to help you start the year right. 1. Register for 24/7 access to your benefits information All the information you need is right at your fingertips....

Published in Health Insurance, Member Resources

Fact or Fiction: The Truth About Five Winter Wives’ Tales

Tuesday, 14 January 2020 by Veronica Serrano

As a full-time working mom, I am usually in a rush all the time, especially in the mornings. So it’s not uncommon for me to wash my hair and run out of the house while it’s still wet — even in the cold winter months. It’s a very defiant act considering that my mother scolded me my whole life for this (and still does)....

Published in Well-being, Wellness

Food vs. Food: Milk — To Dairy or Not to Dairy?

Friday, 10 January 2020 by Mary Eileen O'Connor

For years, if you wanted milk on your cereal or in your coffee, cow’s milk was your only option. But take a trip down the supermarket dairy aisle, and you’ll find a veritable herd of plant-based milk alternatives. There are options made from soybeans, nuts, rice, oats, and even peas! Udderly confused about whether to stick with traditional cow’s milk or switch to a plant-based milk alternative like soy or almond milk?...

Published in Well-being, Wellness

No Resolution Required: Tools for Better Health

Tuesday, 07 January 2020 by Susan Rossman

If you’ve already given up on your New Year’s resolutions, don’t stress about it — statistically, only eight percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals. Despite our best intentions, changing our lives for the better isn’t easy. But, there are resources that can help you be a healthier you. Have you considered your health plan?...

Published in Well-being, Wellness

Why It’s Important for Children to Get the HPV Vaccine

Monday, 06 January 2020 by Rebecca Finkel

a mother talks with her daughter outdoors

If you could vaccinate your child to prevent cancer, you would, right? That’s exactly what the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine offers. I spoke to Independence Medical Director and board-certified pediatrician Dr. Anna Baldino about the lifesaving HPV vaccine, which has the power to prevent nearly 40,000 cancers a year in the U.S. IBX: Why get the HPV vaccine for your child?...

Published in Well-being

Bring on the Nostalgia, Bring on the Joy

Wednesday, 11 December 2019 by Ashley Weyler

A hand holds a vintage photograph of a boy on a bicycle in front of a Christmas tree.

Not all traditions happen on purpose. Some happen by accident and some develop over time. When I was nine years old, my parents bought a stereo system, complete with a five-disc CD changer, just in time for Christmas. Two of the first albums they purchased were Johnny Mathis’ Merry Christmas and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas....

Published in Well-being

How to Protect Children From Lead Poisoning

Tuesday, 10 December 2019 by Mary Eileen O'Connor

We assume our homes are safe, but something you can’t see or smell may be hurting your child or grandchild. This hidden danger is lead, a toxic metal that can build up in the body over time and cause serious health problems. There are several ways children can be exposed to lead, including contaminated dust and soil around a home or day care center....

Published in Well-being

Staying Healthy on Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Monday, 09 December 2019 by Sarah Bishop

Someone getting hand sanitizer from a dispenser

December is a month of heavy travel for many people. Whether you’re heading south to someplace warmer, visiting the in-laws for a holiday celebration, or embarking on international travel, you may be spending time on public transportation, surrounded by crowds of people, or in public venues such as rest stops, train stations, or airports. Unfortunately, this travel also coincides with cold and flu season,...

Published in Well-being