Health Insurance Blog

First Lady Michelle Obama launched a program called Let’s Move!, which is a national public/private partnership to stop the epidemic of childhood obesity.  According to BCBSA News, The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association along with their 39 independent BCBS companies strongly support her initiative.

With the launch of this important program the First Lady is bringing together a large range of stakeholders and building a foundation for bringing down childhood obesity.  Approximately 1 out of every 3 children is overweight or obese and this statistic is just staggering and unacceptable.  This puts them at risk for complications such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer at much earlier ages and BCBS agrees it’s time to get serious about stopping this epidemic

Many BCBS companies, including BCBSAL, have programs designed to promote health and fight obesity.  Focusing in on children is crucial since the next generation is predicted to be the heaviest ever.  The First Lady and her initiative is a great step in the right direction.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama now offers health and dental coverage for children and young adults from birth to age 24.  According to their website, your child may be eligible if he or she is a resident of Alabama, is not eligible for Medicare, and they meet certain health underwriting guidelines.

This is a fantastic program offered through BCBSAL.  The plan covers doctor’s visits, emergency room visits, prescription drugs, lab tests, outpatient surgery, hospital costs, ambulance services, physical therapy, allergy testing, mental health treatment and many more.

Ages 0-14 can get health insurance quotes as low as $76/mos and ages 15-24 can pay as little as $80/mos.  You can easily add dental coverage as well for as low as $17/mos.  During a time where individual health insurance and family plans can be challenging to find at an affordable price, this is a program that will benefit many.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has a unique website with an important goal.  It’s called BeHealthy.com and it has a lot of valuable information on health topics, health news, and medications.  It’s available to all BCBSAL members and it’s easy to register online.

BCBSAL wants its members to be as healthy as they can be so they created the Be Healthy website as a resource for all to use.  The For Your Health Wellness Program is available on the site and gives consumers the tools they need to live a healthier lifestyle.  By using the resources available on BeHealthy, you can take control of your own health.

Health brochures are available and you can also access their outstanding walking program, called WalkingWorks.  This plan offers a walking program anyone can benefit from.  The young and old will find the For Your Health Program extremely useful.

BCBSAL also has information on Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplemental Insurance on their website.

BCBSAL has a unique walking program available to their members.  More information is available on their webiste.

The walking program offers the opportunity to make a committment to walk regularly and to keep a record of your success.  Research shows that a regular routine of walking briskly daily can help with weight loss, lowering cholesterol, strengthening your heart and reducing health problems down the road. 

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recommends 30 minutes of brisk walking five days a week.  It also is recommened to take approximately 10,000 steps daily to produce the best results.  The BCBSAL Walking Works Program online assists in these goals.  It outlines the importance of walking and offers all the tools you will need to make your walking program effective.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama has information about a great program on their website.  “Baby Yourself” is a unique prenatal wellness program which gives expectant mothers important information about infant care and health care during pregnancy.

On the BCBSAL website, it discusses the benefits of the program.  “Baby Yourself” offers all expectant mothers support and educational materials from a Blue Cross registered nurse.  The nurse is experienced in labor, delivery, and newborn care.  You will be assigned your own personal nurse who can be contacted with any questions or concerns.  Gifts and products are available to help support health habits as well as show the importance of understanding all the changes that come with being new parents. 

The program is available to all members and is free as part of their health insurance benefits through BCBSAL.  A video is available on their website entitled “Baby Yourself, A Prenatal Wellness Program” where you can learn more.  You can enroll either online or by telephone.  This is a great initiative by Blue Cross to help support often overwhelmed new mothers and their families.

There has been much much media coverage over the past year regarding rapidly increasing health insurance rates.  Rates have increased significantly this decade for sure, however there are still affordable health insurance plans that can be found.

Individual Blue is a low cost health insurance plan for Alabama residents offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL).  Individual is designed for children and young adults from birth through age 24.

• For children aged 0-14 (with the 750 plan) rates are as low as $69 per month.
• For young adults aged 15-24 with a similar plan rates are as low as $72 per month.

More information about Alabama health insurance.