One way to live your best life is by taking charge of your health. That’s true whether you have a chronic health condition, a sudden illness or if you need help sorting all of life’s challenges. We know feeling unwell doesn’t just happen Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., so why should health care? With these three online health and wellness programs, it doesn’t have to be. Take [...]

When Sharon’s* phone rang, she wasn’t expecting the voice she heard on the other end. Sharon, a 54-year-old Florida Blue member, was in the hospital with COVID-19, disconnected from friends and family, and experiencing social isolation and loneliness. Doctors and nurses were in and out of Sharon’s room, but that didn’t provide much in the way of companionship. One phone cal [...]

We all want to get back to the things we’ve missed since COVID-19 stormed into our lives last year. That could be just a shot or two away for you. The cost for the COVID-19 vaccine is $0 for most Florida Blue members.* And those who buy insurance on their own or get it through their job may receive a $10 reward** through Better You Strides for getting vaccinated this year [...]

For many Americans, stress and anxiety levels have grown exponentially since the onset of the global pandemic. No one is immune to these challenges, not even professional athletes. This week in particular has been a stressful one for [...]

What makes people healthy? Is it the food we eat, getting enough rest, medicine when we’re sick? Or does health require more—a network of loving relationships, knowing where your next meal is coming from, mental health care to navigate stress and sadness when life gives you its worst. Florida is filled with organizations that work towards keeping us healthy by tending to the social fabr [...]

When COVID-19 made its way to Florida last year, there were a lot of unknowns. The symptoms changed often in the early weeks and months after the virus arrived here in March 2020. It was unclear why some people were more susceptible to the virus than others. And there wouldn’t be a vaccine for another nine months. So much uncertainty naturally led to frustration, concern and eve [...]

When going to the pharmacy, you may only see the pharmacist as the person behind the counter who fills your prescription. But just as you build a relationship with your doctor, it’s important to do the same with your pharmacist. They are an integral part of your health care team and can offer guidance when it comes to your medications. Getting to know your pharmacist can vastly improve [...]

For two years, Gabrielle Jordan spent every weekend alone. She stayed home. She ordered food instead of going to the grocery store and she didn’t talk to a lot of people. Years after being diagnosed with a genetic condition called Best’s Vitelliform macular dystrophy, she could no longer see well enough to drive or cross the street by herself. She even felt anxious about walking with a [...]

Skye stood at a podium, recounting her life before and after she met Vicki Sokolik. The years before were heartbreaking, far beyond what any 17-year-old should have faced. Her mom abandoned her and her brother when Skye was 15. She started working when she turned 16, but never got any of the money because her father took it. He kicked Skye out of the house when she was 17 and she ended [...]

Think of a child health problem that looks too big to solve. Dr. Jeff Goldhagen is a person who heads into the middle of it. Teen depression and suicide. Foster kids who need a doctor or dentist. Kids in the juvenile justice system who are dealing with mental health issues and addiction. LGBTQIA+ teens looking for care. They’re all on Dr. Goldhagen’s patient roster. The Florida [...]