When life will get difficult, getting your wants met can really feel overwhelming. That’s the place social employees are available. They’re caring professionals who assist folks discover the assist they should keep wholesome and reside properly.
At Independence Blue Cross (IBX), we all know that good well being is about extra than simply physician visits and medical prescriptions. It’s additionally about issues like having meals on the desk, a secure place to reside, and a solution to get to and from appointments. IBX social employees assist our Medicare Benefit members overcome these kind of challenges.
Why social employees matter
Well being care isn’t at all times straightforward to navigate. There are varieties to fill out, appointments to make and maintain, and coverings to observe. For many individuals, these obligations might be overwhelming — particularly if they’re additionally anxious about paying their hire or discovering wholesome meals.
Social employees are right here to assist. They pay attention, perceive, and information folks via challenges that have an effect on their well being, their lives, and their households.
Social employees are educated to take a look at the entire image. They know that well being is linked to many elements of life. If somebody is battling housing or transportation, it may be onerous to give attention to medical care. IBX social employees assist take away these limitations so our members can get the care they want and revel in better high quality of life. In addition they help our members in overcoming hurdles they could face in accessing well being care.
Two methods IBX social employees will help
At IBX, there are two methods our Medicare Benefit members can join with our social employees:
1. Our members might ask to work with a social employee
Members can join with one in all our Registered Nurse Well being Coaches to request further assist. These Well being Coaches then join them with an IBX social employee, who works carefully with these members to unravel issues and make life simpler.
2. Our social employees might contact our members
That is the staff I’m proud to be a part of. We attain out to members who could also be dealing with challenges associated to social determinants of well being.
Typically a member’s main care physician asks us to assist. Different instances, IBX information reveals {that a} member would possibly want assist. We then name the member and supply assist with issues like:
- Meals safety — ensuring there’s sufficient wholesome meals at residence
- Housing — discovering inexpensive and steady residing preparations
- Transportation — attending to and from medical appointments
- Utilities — having the ability to pay for electrical energy and gasoline, residence heating oil, and water
- Security — having the ability to transfer via their lives with out worry
These companies could make a giant distinction. When our members’ fundamental wants are met, they will give attention to their well being and really feel extra in management.
How IBX social employees make connections
Our work begins with listening. Each member has a novel story. We ask questions, study their wants, after which join them to assets.
Having to decide on between paying for medication and paying for meals, warmth, and electrical energy might be extraordinarily worrying. There are lots of companies and assets that may assist. IBX social employees will help members entry:
We additionally educate our Medicare Benefit members about well being care advantages they could have already got, relying on their well being plan, reminiscent of quarterly allowances to pay for over-the-counter well being gadgets.
And we examine in with our members to ensure issues are going properly total. Our objective is to construct belief and supply assist each step of the best way.
Why this issues for everybody
When life feels onerous, IBX social employees make issues simpler so our Medicare Benefit members can give attention to their well being. That’s good for the members, their households, and the group. Working with IBX social employees can scale back the necessity for members to go to the emergency room or to be readmitted to the hospital after they’ve been discharged. It additionally helps ease members’ stress and enhance their total well-being.
At IBX, we consider in treating folks with kindness and respect. Well being care can really feel complicated, however nobody ought to must navigate it alone. IBX social employees are right here to information, assist, and take care of our members. Once we’re in a position to enhance somebody’s life, that makes all of it worthwhile.
If you happen to’re an IBX Medicare Benefit member and need assistance, attain out. Name our Member Assist Workforce on the cellphone quantity on the again of your member ID card and ask for a Well being Coach. They’ll join you to a social employee who can assist you.
Whether or not you join with an IBX social employee that approach, or we attain out to you, we’ll strive that can assist you entry the assets and companies it is advisable reside your healthiest life.
The IBX Care Card OTC allowance is offered quarterly (each three months) and doesn’t carry ahead to the subsequent quarter if it’s not used. You should use your IBX Care Card to buy OTC gadgets at a collaborating retailer. OTC gadgets bought from non-participating retailers is not going to be coated.
Independence Blue Cross provides PPO, HMO-POS, and HMO Medicare Benefit plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Independence Blue Cross PPO, HMO-POS, and HMO Medicare Benefit plans will depend on contract renewal.
Independence Blue Cross provides merchandise via its subsidiaries Independence Independence Assurance Firm, Hospital Indemnity Plan, Keystone Well being Plan East and QCC Insurance coverage Firm — impartial licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Protect Affiliation.
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Date final up to date: 2/6/2026