Two New Blue Cross And Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP) Tools Help Boost Federal Employees' Efforts To Improve Their Health
May 13, 2009
WASHINGTON – Thousands of federal employees are increasing their health and wellness by participating in two new programs offered by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Government-wide Service Benefit Plan, or Federal Employee Program (FEP).
Earlier this year, FEP introduced WalkingWorks® and the Blue Health Assessmentsm tool to assist members in improving and monitoring their health status. To date, more than 35,000 federal employees and retirees nationwide have started a walking program as part of WalkingWorks and more than 5,000 members have registered for the online Blue Health Assessment tool.
Free pedometers and online walking logs are part of the WalkingWorks program which has fueled a walking revolution for FEP members in their efforts to take charge of and improve their health.
According to Pat Whitely of Charleston, South Carolina, an FEP member who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, she and a group of coworkers started a "Walking Club" and most days walk during their lunch for 30 minutes. "I track my miles using my WalkingWorks pedometer and the online tracking tool and I have reduced the time it takes me to walk one mile by 10 minutes," said Whitely. "It is motivating to see the miles add up and I have made new friends with my fellow walkers. I return to my desk refreshed and ready to finish the workday."
Jena Estes, vice president, Federal Employee Program, said, "Our members' health is a top priority. We are pleased to see people embrace and use these tools to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle. We look forward to hearing more success stories like Pat's as WalkingWorks is adopted by more of our members."
The customized online Blue Health Assessment tool allows members to create personalized health plans to meet their individual health goals. This personalized program provides ongoing support and allows members to set a baseline of their health status; track and monitor their health progress; and obtain exercise and stretching videos; relaxation and guided imagery pod casts; and health news.
Both programs are free of charge for members and are available on the FEP Web site at: http://www.fepblue.org/myblue/index.html.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Government-wide Service Benefit Plan, or FEP, has been part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program since its inception in 1960. FEP covers roughly 4.9 million federal employees, retirees and their families who receive their benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. BCBSA works with the Office of Personnel Management to administer the Service Benefit Plan on behalf of the 39 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program, please visit www.fepblue.org.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 100 million members - one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.
