Florida Blue

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and joyful Thanksgiving from your friends at Florida Blue! May this special day be filled with love, laughter, and all your favorite traditions.

Giving back to our community is at the heart of everything we do at Florida Blue. Recently, our team partnered with the Orlando Magic to distribute 400 Thanksgiving meals to families at the Eatonville Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida. We also provided boxes of essential food items, courtesy of United Against Poverty Inc., for the families to take home. A huge thank you to Orlando Magic Player Jase Richardson and Head Coach Jamahl Mosley for their help in making this event a success! Our partnership with the Magic goes beyond just this event - for every blocked shot they make this season, we donate 10 meals to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. To date, we've donated over 26,000 meals to families in need.

Recently, our team had the opportunity to partner with the Miami HEAT for a special presenting sponsor night event. We brought the excitement to the West Ramp with our Mobile Event Vehicle, Hoops 4 Blue, and interactive games like the Grocery Cart Inflatable and Claw Machine. And, one lucky winner took home an autographed Miami HEAT team signed basketball through our sweepstakes. After the game, 130 of our members enjoyed a special post-game experience on the East Plaza, complete with a meet-and-greet with Davion Mitchell. Thanks to the HEAT for an unforgettable night.

Florida Blue Medicare was proud to partner with the Orlando Magic, USO, and Wendell Carter Jr.'s foundation to host a special Veterans event at our GuideWell Innovation Center in Lake Nona. We celebrated the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes with a Thanksgiving-style dinner, entertainment, and special recognition. We're grateful for partners like Wendell Carter Jr. who share our commitment to supporting our brave military community.

Our West Florida team spent Veterans Day serving our community and supporting the mission of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic. The SPFC supports health improvement by providing nutritious food for those who need it and increases access to healthcare and housing. They offer basic health and wellness services with volunteer and staff health care providers including physicians and registered nurses. Our team members bonded, packaged food donations, and prepared them for distribution for those who needed it most. "Service is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth," and we continue serving with our local partners to improve family health outcomes.

With the cost of living on the rise, many people are making trade-offs and cutting back on non-essential expenses. Choosing health insurance on the Individual Marketplace can be a costly investment, especially with enhanced premium tax credits (also called subsidies) set to expire at the end of the year, causing monthly costs to increase across the state. Purchasing health insurance can feel overwhelming but creating a budget that includes insurance can help provide peace of mind and financial stability. For millions of people, it’s a key part of a secure and healthy life. That’s why we continue to advocate for the enhanced tax credit extension, which helps so many hard-working families afford quality health insurance. In the midst of the current confusion and change, remember this: Even if the government allows the enhanced premium tax credits to expire, and if there is less of this financial help in 2026, these tax credits won’t go away entirely. Depending on things like income and where you live, some individuals may still qualify for a subsidy that covers 100% of their monthly premium. Every situation is unique, and this year especially, it’s important to know all the available options. The best step is to connect with a licensed health insurance agent for one-on-one guidance. At Florida Blue, there’s no charge for this expert support. Learn more about this year’s government changes at https://lnkd.in/eufYkZfg.

The holiday season can be a challenging time for professionals. Between work demands and social obligations, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and lonely. In the video below, Naakesh A. Dewan, M.D. CPE, DLFAPA, FASAM, vice president of behavioral health, shares his insights on how to identify and overcome loneliness, while maintaining mental health during the holidays. Ready to prioritize your well-being? Find additional resources and tips on our BlueAnswers page: https://bit.ly/4ggnpYy

GuideWell President & CEO Brian D. Pieninck visited the South Florida region in mid-October to get a firsthand look at the work Florida Blue is doing in our local communities. In addition to meeting with colleagues at an employee town hall, Brian met with some key community partners from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties to see the work we are doing to help our communities achieve better health. The team met with YMCA of South Florida, Baptist Health, Holy Cross Health, Urban League of Broward County, Hispanic Unity of Florida, Inc. (HUF), Camillus House, The Allapattah Collaborative, CDC, The Broward Partnership, FoundCare, Inc. in Palm Beach, Inter Miami CF, and the Florida Panthers.

This past weekend, we partnered with the Orlando Magic to make a slam dunk for our community! We highlighted our "Block Out Hunger" initiative, which has donated over 26,000 meals to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida since its inception to address local food security issues in the community. We also were pleased to recognize Central Florida Business Brokerage Inc as our “Local Business Champion” of the Game, which highlights and supports local businesses making a positive impact in Central Florida.

Happy Veterans Day! We honor the brave men and women who have served our country with distinction. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.