When life will get sophisticated, getting your wants met can really feel overwhelming. That’s the place social employees are available in. They’re caring professionals who assist individuals discover the help they should keep wholesome and stay effectively.
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 stay, and a approach to get to and from appointments. IBX social employees assist our Medicare Benefit members overcome some of these challenges.
Why social employees matter
Well being care isn’t at all times straightforward to navigate. There are kinds to fill out, appointments to make and hold, and coverings to observe. For many individuals, these obligations could be overwhelming — particularly if they’re additionally apprehensive about paying their hire or discovering wholesome meals.
Social employees are right here to assist. They pay attention, perceive, and information individuals by way of challenges that have an effect on their well being, their lives, and their households.
Social employees are skilled to take a look at the entire image. They know that well being is linked to many components of life. If somebody is combating housing or transportation, it may be onerous to deal with medical care. IBX social employees assist take away these limitations so our members can get the care they want and luxuriate in higher high quality of life. In addition they help our members in overcoming hurdles they might 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 could ask to work with a social employee
Members can join with one in all our Registered Nurse Well being Coaches to request additional help. These Well being Coaches then join them with an IBX social employee, who works intently with these members to resolve issues and make life simpler.
2. Our social employees could contact our members
That is the group I’m proud to be a part of. We attain out to members who could also be going through challenges associated to social determinants of well being.
Typically a member’s major care physician asks us to assist. Different occasions, IBX information exhibits {that a} member may want help. We then name the member and supply help with issues like:
- Meals safety — ensuring there’s sufficient wholesome meals at residence
- Housing — discovering reasonably priced and secure residing preparations
- Transportation — attending to and from medical appointments
- Utilities — having the ability to pay for electrical energy and fuel, residence heating oil, and water
- Security — having the ability to transfer by way of their lives with out worry
These companies could make a giant distinction. When our members’ primary wants are met, they’ll deal with their well being and really feel extra in management.
How IBX social employees make connections
Our work begins with listening. Each member has a singular story. We ask questions, find out about their wants, after which join them to assets.
Having to decide on between paying for medication and paying for meals, warmth, and electrical energy could be extraordinarily hectic. There are quite a lot 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 might have already got, relying on their well being plan, reminiscent of quarterly allowances to pay for over-the-counter well being gadgets.
And we verify in with our members to ensure issues are going effectively general. Our aim is to construct belief and supply help 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 deal with 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 general well-being.
At IBX, we imagine in treating individuals with kindness and respect. Well being care can really feel complicated, however nobody ought to need to navigate it alone. IBX social employees are right here to information, help, and take care of our members. After we’re capable of enhance somebody’s life, that makes all of it worthwhile.
Should you’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 help you.
Whether or not you join with an IBX social employee that method, or we attain out to you, we’ll attempt that will help you entry the assets and companies you want to stay 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 isn’t used. You could 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 affords 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 depends upon contract renewal.
Independence Blue Cross affords merchandise by way of its subsidiaries Independence Independence Assurance Firm, Hospital Indemnity Plan, Keystone Well being Plan East and QCC Insurance coverage Firm — unbiased licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Defend Affiliation.
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Date final up to date: 2/6/2026
