Fighting Obesity by Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices Easier
BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) created the Healthy Lifestyle Choices program to encourage healthy weight management, nutrition and physical activity among its members. The program was developed in response to a 2003 BCBSNC survey that revealed 55 percent of BCBSNC's adult members were overweight or obese. The survey also pointed to startling perception gaps among members: Nearly one-third of overweight members believed their weight was "just right" and few seemed to understand the corresponding increase in health problems. The economic toll of these conditions is significant. In 2003 alone, a claims data analysis showed that overweight and obese members accounted for more than $83 million in excess costs.
Program Elements
- Participating members are eligible for four physician office visits for obesity follow-up, six medical nutrition therapy visits without co-pay or coinsurance and pharmacy coverage for approved weight loss drugs, when necessary.
- The company provides members with tailored obesity prevention and self-management program materials based on member risk factors and readiness to change.
- BCBSNC also launched Online Healthy Living Programs – online modules offering members access to a series of self-directed programs to help manage fitness, nutrition, weight loss and smoking cessation efforts.
- It also offers physician toolkits with patient materials and office support tools, including tear sheets for healthy weight and pre-diabetes patient education.
Program Results
- To date, 47 percent of program participants have lost weight, with an average weight loss of 9.5 pounds.
- Seventy percent of program participants reported better eating habits and 59 percent reported becoming more active. Seventy-six percent of enrolled members lowered their category of high blood pressure or pre-high blood pressure.
Contact
Dawn Porter, Program Innovation Manager, 919-765-2086, dawn.porter@bcbsnc.com
