BCN gives Dan Piepszowski practical ways to improve his health
Dan Piepszowski — a member since 2008
I enrolled in Healthy Blue LivingSM because I liked the idea that you could get a discount if you stay healthy. I liked the fact there were metrics to differentiate your health status.
Being rewarded if I stay healthy is important for me. I always wondered how you could reward healthy behavior. With Healthy Blue Living, it was very practical.
Your health is between you and your doctor. With Healthy Blue Living, it's also within your family. We've been conditioned to see health as an individual issue, but it's really not. I'm a father of five. My kids tease me about getting older. It's good to make your own health an issue of conversation, because at least you're talking about health in your family.
I think that Blue Care Network has been good at providing very practical ways to improve health.
With Healthy Blue Living, your health status becomes a more public issue in a good way. At the office, people ask you if you're a Healthy Blue Living member. There's more of a consciousness about maintaining good health.
My family has a history of high blood pressure. I needed to make some changes so I could meet the normal blood pressure criteria. Having to meet the criteria gave me a goal to keep my blood pressure at a healthy level.
The same was true with cholesterol. The Healthy Blue Living metrics adds a reminder and a goal you can set. Because if you don't set it, it affects you and your family.
I found the consultation with my primary care physician very helpful. He takes a holistic view of my health. My wife is very helpful with a healthy lifestyle and my kids are a constant reminder.
Since I've made changes, I have more energy to meet the challenges every day of family, work and involvement in the community. Also, having this energy helps me focus on one issue at a time. Being healthy involves mind, body and spirit. If your body doesn't feel good, it's hard to get your mind in gear. When you're conscious of your own health status, it's pretty powerful.
I think that Blue Care Network has been good at providing very practical ways to improve health. One of the challenges is getting beyond rhetoric. BCN meets people where they are and helps them make changes that fit their lifestyle. I'd love to see the Blues be even bolder and advocating for livable, walkable communities.
In a small way, as we take a step with our own health and coverage, we're sending a different message about health care and coverage. We all need to be mindful about our own health status. By putting yourself in a position to encourage others, you feel you're making a contribution.
page modified 09/23/2011