The Power of Blue: Investing in America’s Health for America’s future
Think for a moment about all the factors that play a part in maintaining your health and wellness. Genetics, environment, the care you receive and the food you eat are just a few of the pieces that make up the puzzle to keeping you healthy. Now, imagine piecing together that puzzle for a whole city, or a whole state, or a whole country.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies have been committed to improving the health and wellness of the communities we call home for more than 80 years. And we know that commitment extends beyond providing healthcare coverage for our 100 million Members. It’s about creating healthier communities and investing in the future for every American.
Our responsibility as the Blue System is to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the neighborhoods where we live and work. That means providing funding for healthcare in underserved communities, working with physicians and hospitals to improve the system and empowering our children with the knowledge they need to live healthier lives. The challenges are unique across each community, but the Blue System has the power to make a difference – The Power of Blue.
The Power of Blue comes to life in the pages of our new report, Investing in America’s Health. This compilation of some of the finest Blue social initiatives, which can be found in its entirety here, offers a glimpse into the communities we serve and the challenges they face. It also paints a broad picture of our commitment to America’s health, from the $356 million collectively contributed to community initiatives by BCBS companies, to the more than 108,600 volunteer hours of Blue System employees across the country.
We’ll be featuring these initiatives throughout the year in our Investing in America’s Health blog series, but here’s a glimpse of what The Power of Blue encompasses:
Improving Healthcare Access – With a presence in every zip code, BCBS companies help Americans gain access to the care they need by supporting critical safety net and financial assistance programs – facilitating access to care for millions of families and individuals nationwide. BCBS companies support charitable health coverage programs and medical financial assistance initiatives as well as public programs including the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Improving Healthcare Quality and Safety – BCBS companies invest in programs and partnerships that specifically support the improvement of health care quality and safety. This includes medical research and health professional training programs to build a strong front-line team of future doctors, nurses and other health care providers.
Enabling Healthier Living – BCBS companies invest in programs that reach the foundation of our communities – schools, families, and individuals – to foster healthier lifestyles. The health and wellness of children and reversing the trend of childhood obesity is a specific focus.
Check back throughout the year to learn more about the Power of Blue and the meaningful work done by BCBS Companies in our Investing in America’s Health series.