What we learned from the Health of America Forum on millennial health

This is the millennial generation: a group of digital natives, 23- to 38-year-olds who came of age in a post-9/11 era. They are the world’s most numerous, educated and connected generation, and now make up the largest portion of the U.S. labor force, according to a recent report from Moody’s Analytics and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).
Recent Health of America reports identify that millennials are less healthy than the previous generation was at the same age. The projected consequences of their declining health, according to Moody’s Analytics, could affect not only their quality and length of life, but also the health of the country and its economy.
Following a nationwide tour of Blue Cross Blue Shield-hosted listening sessions to learn more about millennials’ health, Independence Blue Cross (Independence BC) and BCBSA cohosted the first-ever Health of America Forum: “Millennial Health: A Call to Action.”
Thought leaders, employers, healthcare providers, millennials and more converged in Philadelphia on Nov. 6 to discuss ways to improve the health of this unique generation, and they had a lot to say:
Kevin Mahoney of @PennMedicine shares the top 10 #health conditions impacting #millennials. He said suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-36 year olds. Let that sink in. #HoAForum19 pic.twitter.com/cRw9YRET8U
— Kristen Anderson (@kristensell) November 6, 2019
I love this panel, talking about what the workforce needs and how we need to change that experience to earn and maintain trust.
— Dana LeGrand (@DYLG) November 6, 2019
Probably the #1 takeaway for me, I must ask every day: Have I earned my employees today? #HoAForum19 pic.twitter.com/9Pzd98VJaY
Millennial panel is up. None of them have a primary care doc. (Same.) Biggest barrier — time. ⏰#HoAForum19 pic.twitter.com/kgeZNnF1jw
— Britni Zahodnick (@bzahodnick) November 6, 2019
Behavioral health and physical health are unsurprisingly intertwined, but financial health needs to be the third factor - especially related to how much stress it causes. #HoAForum19 pic.twitter.com/stgNTZazwI
— Allison Krumm (@adeceve) November 6, 2019
Read more about the Health of America Forum and the key takeaways from speakers like Lindsey Vonn, Cari Champion and more.
Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Learn more about how Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans are addressing the unique needs of the millennial population here.