I’m going to share a secret with you. Well, let’s be real it isn’t a secret at all. I love tacos, and every Tuesday is a small holiday in our multicultural home. I am a Cuban American, and my husband is an amalgam of the places and cultures that shaped his youth--he's an Oregonian, Hawaiian-Vermonter. While we may not always agree on how to season beef or poultry, one thing we [...]

This is your mother’s flu shot. And your grandma’s. And your partner’s. And your preschooler’s. And your college student’s. The truth is, when you get the flu vaccine, you’re protecting everyone around you. Everyone you love, all your neighbors, even the bagger at the grocery checkout line. The CDC reports that last winter we lost 80,000 p [...]

In March 2018, President Trump signed a congressional budget deal that included changes to the timeline for closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap, also called the “donut hole.” You may have heard other health plans tell you the donut hole will completely close in 2019. That isn’t completely true. People with Medicare Part D who have high prescription drug expenses currently pa [...]

Now is the time to think about your health and prescription drug plan. Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP) is the open enrollment window every year for people with Medicare. Starting October 15 you will be able to change your Medicare plan if needed. But you’ll need the right information to make the best choice for you. Ignore the junk mail you’ll soon receive. Take the phone off th [...]

The Florida Blue Foundation is collaborating with five YMCA associations to expand the “Safety Around Water” awareness campaign in the Tampa Bay area. The program, which teaches two sets of skills that will reduce the risk of drowning and give participants confidence around water, will be taken out into the communities the Y serves in addition to continuing at more than 30 YMCA locations across [...]

It’s fall. That means there are signs and ads everywhere telling you it’s time to get your flu shot. Many who opt out of getting a flu shot usually say something like “I never get the flu. I don’t need it.” The problem with that is getting a flu shot really isn’t about you at all. When you get a flu shot you are actually protecting everyone around you — your grandchildren, your [...]

It’s time for those ghosts and goblins, pirates and princesses, zombies and clowns, witches and warlocks. Yes, it’s time for Halloween! Here are 17 spooky Halloween tips for your little ghosts and goblins, so you're sure to have a happy and successful Halloween! FIRST THINGS FIRST: Let’s start with preparing for Halloween festivities with a few healthy tips. [...]

If you feel lonely from time to time, you aren’t the only one who feels that way. The New York Times reported that loneliness is a growing health epidemic. How does a “feeling” become a physical health issue? According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, older adults who report being lonely or not having enough desired social interaction experience a decline in physic [...]

This summer much our state has grappled with toxic blue-green algae, red tides and the numerous hazards that come along with these imbalances in our marine environments. As a health care company we are deeply concerned about the effects these ecological issues have on the wellbeing of Floridians. After all so much of our lives here in Florida revolve around the water -- from fishing to [...]

When you think of health risks, smoking and being overweight probably top the list. But there’s a surprising hidden health threat that affects up to 30 percent of adults over 65 — loneliness. Research has shown that loneliness and social isolation can increase the levels of harmful stress hormones and inflammation in the body. This in turn can raise the risk of conditions like Type 2 di [...]