How a Health Benefits Company is Also Benefiting Health

BY NICK MORIELLO

THE HEALTH BENEFITS BUSINESS is pretty straightforward despite it being part of a more complex system. At Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, we work closely with our brokers, provider partners, State officials and other stakeholders, to meet the health coverage needs of Delaware employers of all sizes and individuals and their families. But beyond day-to-day efforts as a company, our commitment to the community has become a significant part of what we consider to be business as usual.

As we aim to deliver quality products that support a policyholder’s health, we also invest in programs, projects and organizations that help improve health for all. Whether it’s through grants that provide transportation to doctors’ appointments; or by collaborating with other businesses to guide economic development and build the health care workforce; or by participating in health and wellness events and statewide health initiatives, we want to help solve challenges outside the scope of our website ‘About Us’ section.

Representatives from Delaware Technical Community College and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and BluePrints for the Community commemorated Highmark’s $1 million commitment at a check presentation last fall.

In 2021 we sponsored over 100 nonprofit partner events to show our support of not just health-related causes, but of the work all Delaware’s nonprofits are doing to better the community. We awarded over $6 million in BluePrints for the Community grants and over $2 million in other partner investments. Additionally, our team members organized several volunteer efforts and continued our United Way corporate campaign tradition. They also invest their own time and resources to dozens of organizations. And we move quickly to address unexpected health crises, such as providing COVID-19 relief—from business-based solutions to grant funding to PPE donations—and assisting those impacted by events such as Hurricane Ida.

There is much work still to be done but together with business and community partners, we can make real change.

Our company has also made significant contributions to support health care workforce development, recruitment, and retention. While we have long been involved with such efforts, 2021 presented several noteworthy opportunities. They included a $1 million commitment to health care training in partnership with Delaware Technical Community College, $1.5 million for Bayhealth’s new General Medical Education residency program, as well as $1 million to support the State of Delaware’s Student Loan Repayment program.

Team members from Highmark Health Options coordinated a basic needs drive and volunteer event to help families affected by Hurricane Ida.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware recently released an impact report through the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF), detailing over a decade of community partnerships and investments from 2008 to 2020 through our BluePrints for the Community grant fund. Established in 2007, BluePrints for the Community granted more than $16 million through 2020 and has committed over $22 million to date. More than 200 community-based partners and nonprofits have received funding to address social determinants of health, reduce health disparities in minority communities, increase access to health care for the uninsured and underserved, recruit and train health care professionals, and support early childhood and youth development and wellness.

There is much work still to be done but together with business and community partners, we can make real change. It is a privilege to serve our customers and communities and we will continue to make investments and leverage partnerships in 2022 to improve the health and well-being of Delawareans.

Nick Moriello is president of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware.