Blue Shield of California Offers Blue Zones Challenge App to Members

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Insurance companies are using modern methods to promote healthy lifestyles. Blue Shield of California announced that it is providing its members with access to the Blue Zones Challenge app, which is designed to promote sustainable and holistic lifestyle habits based on the habits of people living in certain blue-zones across the globe.¹

The regions included in the blue-zones were determined by Dan Buettner, the founder of Blue Zones. He states that the people living in these regions have some of the longest life spans for humans on the planet.

In a press release, Blue Shield of California’s senior director of lifestyle medicine Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi said, “With the Blue Zones Challenge app, members can not only build sustainable habits relating to healthy eating and natural movement, but also build personal connections and community. We are in the midst of a nationwide loneliness crisis, which impacts both the mind and the body, so we are thrilled to provide a solution that emphasizes healthy living, including community building."

In the same press release, Blue Zones CEO Ben Leedle said, “The Blue Zones Challenge app is evidence-based and science backed. By working with Blue Shield of California to offer the app to members at no additional cost, we can help Californians build community and live happier, healthier, and less stressed lives through simple changes to their lifestyle and diet habits."

This is the latest addition to Blue Shield of California’s offerings that works to directly provide healthy lifestyle support to its members. Earlier in July, the insurance provider celebrated the fifth anniversary of Wellvolution, a digital platform that provides holistic lifestyle tips and practices for members.²

In a press release issued at the time, Ebrahimi said, “We launched Wellvolution in 2019 to help our members prevent, treat and even reverse chronic diseases with lifestyle medicine at no additional cost. Since then, the platform has expanded and will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of Californians. Lifestyle medicine, paired with personalized health coaching and digital tools and technologies, can transform lives. The improved health outcomes and the positive feedback from our members inspires us each year to meet members where they are so they can live great—even healthier—lives."

"Over the past five years, we have worked closely with Blue Shield of California to guide members to personalized digital health solutions addressing an expanding array of chronic conditions," said John Santelli, interim CEO at Solera Health, added in the same press release. "We pride ourselves on curating a comprehensive, high-quality network, and look forward to continuing our work with Blue Shield to improve the lives of Californians by preventing and improving a range of health conditions."

Source

1. Blue Shield of California First Health Plan to Offer Innovative Blue Zones Challenge App to Members. Blue Shield of California. July 31, 2024. Accessed August 1, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-shield-of-california-first-health-plan-to-offer-innovative-blue-zones-challenge-app-to-members-302210603.html
2. Blue Shield of California Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Wellvolution, Award-Winning Digital Health Platform, Adds New Weight and Diabetes Management Programs. Blue Shield of California. July 9, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-shield-of-california-celebrates-5th-anniversary-of-wellvolution-award-winning-digital-health-platform-adds-new-weight-and-diabetes-management-programs-302191685.html