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

A little girl blows her nose on the beach, as her mother comforts her.
It’s never fun to be sick, but it’s especially unpleasant when you’re on vacation. Getting sick not only ruins the fun and relaxation of vacation, it can also feel overwhelming to have to figure out where to go to get care. So, where do you start? It was a question I recently faced myself. My summer go-to destination is the Jersey shore,...
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Get #FearlessFit with Independence Blue Cross Member Discounts and Savings

A couple enjoys historic buildings from atop bicycles.
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like saving money, do you? As an Independence Blue Cross (Independence) member, save when you take advantage of free or discounted #FearlessFit activities throughout Philadelphia. Whether you want to go on a family outing, take a staycation in Philadelphia, or treat your sweetheart to date night without breaking the bank,...
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Transitions of Care: Helping Our Members Navigate Hospital Stays

Hospital Nurse With Digital Tablet Talks To Senior Patient
When you’re admitted to the hospital for an inpatient surgery or procedure, there’s a lot to manage. Depending on the reason for your hospital stay, there may be pre-admission paperwork, discharge instructions, medication management, follow-up appointments, side effects, physical therapy, home care services, and financial considerations.

Our Transitions of Care Program

That’s where the Independence Blue Cross transitions of care program can support you....
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Navigating Medicare Enrollment Periods

A woman takes notes while looking at her laptop computer which is sitting on a coffee table.
Original Medicare, the federal program that provides health insurance for Americans age 65 and older, pays for just 80 percent of most covered services. That leaves Medicare beneficiaries responsible for the remaining 20 percent of their bills. Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Supplement plans both help cover those remaining costs, but the two types of plans function differently....
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Three Common Medicare Enrollment Mistakes

Messy desk, with a calendar at the center
Transitioning to Medicare can be intimidating, whether you’re changing insurance plans for the first time in decades or a savvy shopper who peruses the Marketplace for coverage every November. The good news is that enrolling in Medicare is easier than you think. Watch out for these three common Medicare enrollment mistakes, and you’ll find that signing up for Medicare coverage can be smooth sailing....
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Estimate Health Care Costs BEFORE Your Appointment

Photo of a woman looking at a laptop computer in her kitchen
When you find out that you need a health service, such as an X-ray, lab work, or surgery, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? If it’s, “How much is THAT gonna cost me?” you’re not alone. It’s an important consideration that, until now, hasn’t always been easy to calculate. And the difference between providers can amount to hundreds of dollars....
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Helping Members Get on a Path to Wellness: A Day in the Life of an Independence Nurse Health Coach

Independence nurse Health Coach George Barrett
Independence Blue Cross (Independence) is recognizing nurses who carry on the proud tradition of providing compassionate care, comfort, and security to all of us. As part of the Celebrate Caring campaign, we’re highlighting some of our nurses and how they help enhance the health and well-being of our members and communities — beyond the beside — in their roles at Independence....
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Fighting Back Against Opioid Addiction

The current opioid epidemic in the United States is growing. Each day, thousands of people begin to misuse opioids and many of them will join the millions of Americans already suffering from addiction. In 2017, the number of opioid-related deaths exceeded 47,000 people — more than 130 deaths each day.1 Opioid addiction often starts because of prescription medication abuse,...
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How an Independence Blue Cross Health Coach Can Help You

Health Coach taking a call on a phone headset
I recently interviewed Lisa Lokuta, RN, BSN, a Health Coach in the Independence Blue Cross Case and Condition Management department to get some insight into health coaching. IBX: What is a Health Coach? Lisa: Independence Health Coaches are specially-trained, registered nurses with an average of 8 to 11 years of clinical service. Independence has more than 90 Health Coaches on staff to help our members navigate their health....
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Preventing Health Care Fraud: How to Stop Scammers

An older woman examines a card as she talks on the phone.
We’ve all gotten a phone call like this one: “Congratulations, you won an all-expenses-paid vacation! All we need is some information about you.” You may think you won’t be fooled by this type of too-good-to-be-true offer, but scammers have practice in the art of “phishing,” a technique used to trick you into sharing personal information. In the case of medical identity theft,...
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