Spread Cheer, Not Germs: Blue Cross Shares Tips to Avoid Seasonal Illnesses

BATON ROUGE – The winter months are when people gather in large groups for the holidays and spend more time indoors. Unfortunately, that means it’s easier for germs to spread. Seasonal illnesses like flu, the common cold and stomach viruses peak during this time of year.

To lower your risk of getting sick and making others sick, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana encourages everyone to practice effective germ control: 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if washing is not an option.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Do not eat or drink after others – keep food and beverages separate.
• Cook food properly and serve it with utensils instead of picking it up with bare hands.
• Frequently clean and disinfect common areas, such as desks, bathrooms and counters.
• If you do become sick, be considerate of others and stay home from work or school until you are not contagious.

If you’re struck by symptoms and can’t get to the doctor’s office, remember that Blue Cross customers can have online visits 24/7, 365 with BlueCare. This telehealth services lets you see U.S.-trained, board-certified doctors from the comfort of home using a computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone or any device with internet and a camera.

BlueCare costs less than ER or urgent care and is effective to treat mild illnesses like colds, flu symptoms, pink eye or stomach bugs. You will pay up front at the time of your BlueCare visit – depending on your plan type and benefits, you may get a refund later.

Go to www.BlueCareLA.com or get the BlueCare app for Android and Apple devices and create your account to click when you’re sick.

Blue Cross Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vindell Washington and members of the Care Management team have filmed a series of Holiday Health videos to offer everyone tips for staying well into the New Year. Check out the videos, and visit www.bcbsla.com/Stronger for information on how to connect with a Blue Cross health coach. 

Blue Cross will offer holiday health tips and information all season long via its social media channels. Go to the Blue Cross social hub at www.bcbsla.com/Social to follow Blue Cross on social media.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. We invest both time and money in the communities we serve, supporting the health and wellbeing of Louisianians through more than 200 charitable organizations.

With our subsidiaries, HMO Louisiana and Southern National Life, we provide group and individual health insurance plans, life and disability insurance, group voluntary products and administrative services to one out of four Louisiana residents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana also provides Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans and is a partner in offering the Healthy Blue Medicaid Managed care plan. Louisiana is the only state where we operate, with offices in every major region to serve our customers.

Founded in New Orleans in 1934, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is a tax-paying non-profit health insurer. We are a private mutual company, owned by our policyholders, with an independent Louisiana Board of Directors and no shareholders. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

To learn more, visit our website at www.bcbsla.com.