Flu Season is Here: Why the Flu Shot is Your Best Defense

A young woman receives a vaccination from a physician
Photo: SELF x American Academy of Pediatrics Flu season is upon us. So from now until April, I’ll be washing my hands a lot, avoiding sick people, and stocking my medicine cabinet. It’s also why I made sure to get my flu shot back in September. I have asthma, so I know it’s especially important for me to get the flu shot,...
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Multidose Packaging: The Easy Way to Remember Your Medications and Save Time and Money

Pills next to a day-of-the-week medication organizer
Complicated dosing schedules, costly refills, and unwanted side effects are some of the unfortunate reasons many of us don’t take our prescriptions as prescribed by our doctors. For the average adult over 65, those reasons are multiplied by the increased number of medications they take each day.1 Fortunately, multidose packaging services can help....
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Score Big Points This Football Season with Tasty and Healthy Tailgating Snacks

Like many people, I eagerly anticipate the return of football season each September. Now that it’s here, I look forward to spirited Sunday afternoons spent watching and cheering on my home team, the Eagles, as they go on another championship run, and of course, snacking on some good ‘ole football food! As much as I am a fan of the sport,...
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Facing Your (Health) Fears

A close up of a masked dentist holding her tool
Do you feel faint at the sight of a needle? Do you avoid hospitals at all costs? Do you have traumatic memories of a dental visit? If you have a medical fear, you’re in good company. Searching for “medical fears and phobias” yields a huge list of fears about medical situations. Sometimes, a fear becomes more disruptive to your life....
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5 Easy Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer

A man speaks with a doctor
Prostate cancer is a disease that affects one in nine men. But the good news is it’s 99 percent treatable if detected early.1 Plus, the recommendations for reducing your risk of prostate cancer are good for your overall health, too. So they’re things you should be doing anyways!

Maximize Your Chances

Educate yourself....
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Live Well at Every Age: A Guide to Healthy Aging by Decade

In many cultures around the world, aging is viewed as a positive — a natural part of life that creates a diverse community with people of all ages. Older adults are respected and consulted for their knowledge and experience. They often serve in positions of honor in families, communities, and businesses. In the United States, however,...
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3 Tips for Becoming a Smart Medicare Shopper

An older couple looks at the computer
Shopping for a Medicare plan can leave you adrift in a sea of plan options, insurance terms, and eligibility rules. Before you lose hope and abandon ship, help is on the way! Here are three tips for becoming a smart Medicare shopper.

1. Know Your Plan Options

There are three health insurance solutions for Medicare beneficiaries....
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A Dangerous Duo: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

An older man having his blood pressure checked at the doctor's office.
Diabetes can affect you in many ways: it can commonly cause problems with your eyes, your kidneys, your nerves, and your blood vessels. Unfortunately, it also can have a major impact on your heart. People with diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels).

The Connection Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

One of the side effects of diabetes is that it can damage your blood vessels....
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A Summer of Learning: The Value of a Good Internship

Darren Laws volunteering at a Blue Crew event.
Darren Laws, volunteering with the Blue Crew. As a college student nearing graduation, I know the value of a good internship. That’s why I appreciate the time I’ve spent at Independence Blue Cross. It has helped me network, gain real professional experience, acquire new skills, and learn from others — all of which will help make me more marketable when I graduate....
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Feeling Burnt Out? 5 Simple Ways to Beat Burnout Syndrome

A young woman looking very stressed in an office
If you’ve ever seen the movie Office Space, you’re familiar with Ron Livingston’s comedic turn as Peter Gibbons, a burnt-out office worker who has stopped caring about his job. Although the movie is a comedy, it’s clear the subject matter struck a chord with viewers who recognize that burnout is a very real phenomenon....
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