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Blue @ Work

Top-5 articles of 2020

Do any surprise you?

We’ve seen firsthand the world — quite literally — come to a standstill in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year has been filled with uncertainty, fear and confusion for everyone regardless of socioeconomic status.

Businesses temporarily closed their doors to accommodate state guidelines and recommendations, while other businesses closed their doors for good — not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel during this one-of-a-kind pandemic.

It’s been a wild year, and workloads aren’t getting any lighter. We know you have a lot on your plate and keeping up with the latest education, insights and trends surrounding health insurance benefits may not be at the top of your list.

Good news — we’ve got you covered.

Top articles for 2020

To make it easier on you, we’ve rounded up the top-five, most-read articles in 2020 so even the busiest of professionals, like you, don’t miss a thing.

The millennial employee population is expected to make up 75 percent of the workforce by 2025. With this generation being plagued by multiple health conditions, health care costs are expected to rise and productivity to decrease — all impacting your bottom line. Download our free e-book Opens in a new window to get ahead of it. Take advantage of extensive research, in-house data and subject matter experts to create sustainable, long-term changes in your workplace today.

  1. 5 ways to support growth and development in the workplace.

    Personal growth and development empowers your employees to produce better results and meet their goals throughout the year. By offering development opportunities in your workplace, you can expect to attract prospective employees, and keep your current employee population motivated, productive and confident. Psst, millennials will make up 75 percent of the workforce External Site by 2025 and 87 percent of millennials cited access to professional development or career growth External Site as an opportunity that's very important wherever they stay or go for work.

  2. The doctor will see you now — virtually.

    We’ve seen just how important access to virtual care (both medical and mental health) is during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, Wellmark saw a 3,000 percent increase Opens in a new window in virtual visit for behavioral health related use during the start of the pandemic in March. Convenience is the name of the game and Doctor on Demand® can give your employees the option to receive medical treatment via phone, tablet or desktop computer. These are benefits for every workplace to offer Doctor on Demand — especially for employees who have tight schedules, are juggling kids virtual learning and their 9-to-5, or live in areas where care isn't widely accessible. Wellmark members saw a 3,000 percent increase (more here.) Convenience is the name of the game and Doctor on Demand delivers.

  3. An employer’s quick guide to COVID-19 testing.

    If your employees are returning to work on-site, you’re in uncharted territory. It means accommodating schedules, staggering shifts, using spaces differently, deep cleaning workspaces more frequently, establishing policies for social distancing, and more. It’s enough to make your head spin. Along with direction on how to safely return to work, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is offering guidance on where your employees can go if they need COVID-19 testing, and what they can expect from their Wellmark coverage.

  4. Need to know: 4 tips to avoid pharmacy scams.

    According to the Pew Research Center External Site, almost 8 in 10 Americans are online shoppers. And, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that 1 in 4 have purchased prescriptions online External Site. Convenience is a factor, sure, but it’s also easier to find the best deals with a few clicks than physically traveling to different stores to compare prices. But, did you know — out of more than 35,000 online pharmacies, more than 95 percent are illegal and unsafe.

  5. Save money and live healthier with Blue365®.

    As a Wellmark member, your employees get personalized access to Blue365 — a free portal for deals and discounts on favorite health and wellness brands. It’s another way to keep your employees engaged in a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Never miss an article in 2021

As your company’s human resources, benefit administrator, or group decision-maker, you’re crunched for time with a lot on your plate. Sifting and sorting through various emails is likely last on your to-do list.

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Questions? Contact your authorized Wellmark account representative, or email us at blueatwork@wellmark.com Send Email.