Articles & News About Health

Study Results Show Medical Expenses Reduced with Preventive Health Program BCBSNC?s Healthy Lifestyle Choices Participants Impact Health Care Expenses

Chapel Hill, N.C. (Vocus) December 5, 2007 -- Results were just released from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina?s (BCBSNC) two-year study (2005-2006) of a preventive health program comparing participants? average medical costs before and after enrolling in the program.

Simple lifestyle changes added up to big savings ? $187 annually per participating member in BCBSNC?s Healthy Lifestyle Choices ? a program that offers tools and resources to help participants engage in regular exercise and nutritious eating. Savings over the two-year period totaled $437,729 for the 1,171 participants studied. Medical expenses were one-third less than the average medical trend. The implication: Living a healthier lifestyle can save money.

?The evidence speaks for itself. There?s money to be saved when people get serious about their health,? said Helen Darling, president of National Business Group on Health. ?Businesses should take note, that healthier behaviors not only result in healthier workers, but it?s one way to keep rising medical costs in check. Now that?s a result we can and should go after.?

In addition, participants significantly increased how many days they exercised each week and ate more fruits and vegetables. The results suggest that inactivity and obesity aren?t just personal risks people take, but are contributing to the rising cost of health care.

?Our job is to help people live healthier lives,? said Dr. Don Bradley, a family physician and chief medical officer at BCBSNC. ?We know it?s the right thing to do, and now economically, it looks like the smart thing to do. This isn?t just a quick fix. We?re looking for a true lifestyle change and that?s why we offer people the tools they need over the long-term to improve their health.?

According to a 2007 report by the Trust for America?s Health, North Carolina has the 17th highest rate of adult obesity and the fifth highest rate of overweight youths (ages 10-17) in the nation. In 2004, BCBSNC found that members who are overweight cost the company 18 percent more than normal weight members in medical claims and expenses, and obese members cost 32 percent more. Preventive health programs from BCBSNC are aiming to curb that trend.

?The program appealed to me because it was proactive,? said Ed Silberhorn, a BCBSNC member enrolled in the program. ?Why wait until something happens, when you can take charge and try to prevent issues??

Since joining the program, Silberhorn started walking a quarter mile a day, made healthy changes to his grocery list and cut back on his coffee intake. He also started doing sit-ups, push-ups and repetitions with 15-pound dumbbells each morning. His efforts impacted not only the bottom line, but his waist line. Silberhorn lost 12 pounds and has kept it off for more than a year. During his last physical, his doctor was satisfied with his progress and even recommended that he go off one of his prescription medications.

?I saw that as a real positive,? Silberhorn said. ?It was really reaffirming that my lifestyle changes had made a positive difference.?

The success of Healthy Lifestyle Choices has led BCBSNC to expand its healthy living offerings. The program is now part of BCBSNC?s Member Health Partnerships(SM), which gives members access to a wide variety of health and disease management resources. Participants receive a step counter, lifestyle diary and a stress management CD. They also have access to helpful online tools that guide them in making decisions about their fitness, stress levels and eating habits.

Recently added benefits include one-on-one health coaching, where members can talk to a registered nurse about losing weight, chronic conditions or other health issues. Most members who enroll also have access to six free nutritional visits.

Employers or individuals who have BCBSNC insurance may visit www.bcbsnc.com/whatsnew to enroll or learn more about the program (1).

About BCBSNC:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to nearly 3.6 million members, including approximately 825,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 74 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Access BCBSNC online at www.bcbsnc.com

1 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) provides the Member Health Partnerships program for your convenience and is not liable in any way for the services received. BCBSNC reserves the right to discontinue or changes the program at any time. Some employers have elected not to make the BCBSNC Member Health Partnerships program available to their employees. Check with your benefits administrator to determine your eligibility. Benefits available through the Member Health Partnerships program are subject to your current benefit plan and pre-existing waiting periods.

Related Links:

http://www.businessgrouphealth.org

http://www.bcbsnc.com/whatsnew

http://healthyamericans.org

Contact:

Valerie Egel, Kyle Marshall

BCBSNC Media Line: 919-765-3005

Online Newsroom:

www.bcbsnc.com/inside/newsroom.cfm

###

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

Vitamin Diet Patch Now Available for Health Food Stores from NAZCO Wholesale Herbal Supplement Dropshipper
Health food supplement diet patches are a blend of herbal nutrients, offering safe and effective weight loss diet application like a nicotine diet patch. The supplements diet patch allows the herbal formula on the diet patch to enter directly into the bloodstream, suppressing appetite between meals while providing weight loss, diabetes and chronic fatigue relief support and increased energy level on the go.

St. George Complimentary Alternative Health Care Offers Free Wellness Scans During Focus on Nutrition Month
The desire to get healthy and stay healthy is the primary reason more and more people are turning to natural health care, or complementary and alternative medicine, according to this St. George Hinkle practices alternative medicine utilizing personalized biofeedback using ZYTO technology, nutraceutical assessments, medical foods, bio-identical hormone evaluation, chelation, lifestyle changes, and body composition analysis.

Health Care Proxies, Advanced Health Care Directives, And Living Wills
Any competent adult has the right to accept and/or refuse any medical treatment. Nobody disputes that. Doctors are only allowed to tell patients the pros and cons of treatment, they can offer advice, they can not order a patient to accept treatment. Problems start when the adult can no longer communicate or is no longer considered mentally competent enough to make their own decisions. When this happens other people step in and try to decide what type of medical treatment the person would want for themselves.

Baby Health Care, Child Health Tips, Parenting Guide, Baby Strollers, Massage
Parenting Guide

World Health Care Congress Launches ReformPlans.com to Encourage and Focus Health Care Reform Discussion
The World Health Care Congress today announced the launch of ReformPlans.com (www.reformplans.com), an innovative and comprehensive web site that brings the real issues in health care reform to a broader audience.

Florida Health Insurance Highlights 2008 Presidential Health Care Plans
FloridaHealthInsuranceWeb.com, a health insurance consultant service, has published a non-partisan report of each of presidential candidates positions on healthcare. 'The upcoming elections will impact Florida's health care system' said consultant Morgan Moran in a phone interview, 'it's up to you as Florida residents to turn out January 29 and choose which candidate delivers the best insurance plan'.

Health Care and Health Insurance Costs Can Be Controlled Through Lifestyle Choices
As you probably know all to well, the cost of healthcare and health insurance premiums continue to increase at levels substantially above the general inflation rate. The reasons given for these extraordinary cost increases are numerous and include: technological advancements in the medical field, increased demand for medical services and prescription drugs, the aging of the population, cost shifting caused by the uninsured and governmental reimbursement rates, state and federal mandates, and costs associated with medical related lawsuits.

Health & Dental Care Costs Rising At Epidemic Proportions – Here's How To Protect Yourself & Family
Health care costs are now approaching 15% of our national economy and the economic repercussions have been felt by most American families as employers are unwilling to absorb the bulk of the health care cost burden.In 2004, employer health insurance premiums increased by 11.

Doctor-led Health Care Organization Offers Free Web site, Membership to Mental Health Counselors
The International Assoc. of Dental and Medical Disciplines has a health care plan that brings together all medical disciplines and calls for them to work together to provide the best possible whole-body care.

Men's Prostate Health Vitamins - Supplements, Diet and Exercise For Good Health
This article is about prostate health vitamins or supplements used in conjunction with proper diet and regular exercise to keep a man's urinary system and sexual functions healthy.

Diet for Disease Prevention and Senior Health Care
Maintaining a healthy diet throughout life can do more than just keep you slim and fit. Healthy eating is important to senior health care and can sometimes prevent diseases such as heart disease and cancer, as well as provide relief for diseases such as osteoporosis. Unfortunately, the importance of eating well is often pushed aside by our busy day to day lives. We continue to jeopardize our future health and get caught up in the cycle of fast food, large portions and sodium laden meals. A healthy diet doesnt have to be daunting on our schedules, or mean giving up all the food we love. A simple eating plan can actually make meals and snacks more efficient for both our time and our bodies.

Senior Health Care Insurance - Sourcing The Right Plan
As people reach their senior years the task of protecting assets and putting in place the appropriate legal, financial and health coverage can be quite confusing and somewhat daunting. As people reach their senior years the task of protecting assets and putting in place the appropriate legal, financial and health insurance coverage can be quite confusing and somewhat daunting. One of the most complicated matters that is required to be addressed is that of putting in place an appropriate senior health care insurance plan. As such it is vitally important to recognize that there are quite a number of options that should be considered when it comes to this specialized type of insurance. However, once the required information is obtained it make...

Health Care - If You Love Health Care
All about Health Care: Intended For Individuals

Natural Health Care and Holistic Dog Health
Holistic dog health care has emerged as a natural way for pet owners to ensure that their dogs are healthy, living long, happy lives well into old age. Perhaps the most important aspect for a dog's health would be a unique blend of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to make sure the joints, organs, and digestive systems make work in harmony as well with the skin and coat being healthy. A diet of meat, vegetables, and whole grains without any processed foods or unnecessary fillers is usually recommended when following the holistic approach to dog care.