Health / Tips & tools

7 Ways to Stay Healthy for $0

Granddaughter and grandmother

This checklist can help you stay healthy—for $0—with your BCBSRI Medicare Advantage plan.

1. See your PCP for an annual well visit.
$0 when you see an in-network provider

During this appointment, your primary care provider (PCP) will give you a physical exam, ask about your health since your last visit, and review your medications. If you’ve been experiencing any health issues—including depression or anxiety—write down your symptoms before your visit as well as any questions you have. Be sure to tell your PCP if you’ve fallen since your last visit and also ask how to reduce your risk of falls.

2. Ask your PCP about preventive screenings.
Often $0 when you see an in-network provider

Many types of cancer are "silent," meaning you'll have no symptoms until the disease has advanced and is harder to treat. These screenings can find diseases in earlier, more treatable stages and, in some cases, even help prevent them.

• Breast cancer (ages 50-74)
• Colon cancer (ages 45+)

3. Get help with ongoing health conditions.
$0 for help from a BCBSRI Care Manager

If diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems are not under control, they can lead to complications and even hospital stays. Talk to your PCP about how to best manage your health. You can also contact a BCBSRI Care Manager at 1-844-563-0892 or care@bcbsri.org for help achieving your health goals.

If you have diabetes, pay only $20 for a 30-day supply or $50 for a 90-day supply. Copays will not increase, even through the coverage gap. Coverage is available on preferred insulins currently within our formulary.

4. Find help for mental health issues.
$0 for phone/video visits with in-network psychologists and for therapy/psychiatry visits through Doctors Online1

Treatment can make a tremendous difference for issues such as depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder. For help finding a provider and other non-emergency issues, call the BCBSRI Behavioral Health Line at 1-800-274-2958. You can also download the BCBSRI Drs. Online app on the App Store or Google Play2 or visit drs-online.com.

5. Exercise for 30 minutes most days of the week.
$0 for Silver&Fit®3 national gym membership and a home fitness kit

Regular exercise lowers your risk for depression, heart disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, and much more. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends spending two days each week on strength training, which can help with balance.

Your national $0 Silver&Fit membership offers a number of different ways to help you stay active:

  • Your choice of 16,500 fitness centers across the country. The 50+ local fitness centers include most of the YMCA and Anytime Fitness locations in Rhode Island. 
  • A home fitness kit. Select your favorite from kits focused on strength training, Pilates, yoga, swimming, and more.  
  • Video or phone sessions with a health coach. Your trained coach can help you work toward your health goals.
  • 8,000+ digital workout videos. You can even answer a few questions to get suggested videos and a personal exercise plan.

To learn more, visit silverandfit.com or call 1-888-797-8059 (TTY/TDD: 711). And don't forget about the free fitness classes available at Your Blue Store locations across the state. Sign up for a class.4

6. Visit your dentist for a cleaning.
$0 if you have coverage through your BCBSRI Medicare Advantage plan or a Blue Cross Dental plan

If your teeth aren’t cleaned regularly, plaque and tartar can build up and lead to cavities, gum disease, or tooth loss. Gum disease may also make other problems, such as diabetes and heart disease, worse. To find a dentist, please log in to myBCBSRI.com. If you don’t have a dental plan, call 1-800-505-2583 (TTY:711). 

7. Have routine vision and hearing exams.
$0 copay at in-network providers

All of our plans feature $0 routine office visits and annual hearing exams (online or in-person). Most of our plans also include two new hearing aids annually, available starting at $0 with a broad choice from top brands.5

On top of your $0 routine annual vision care coverage, you’ll receive $200 or more6 for contacts, lenses, and frames. Since we’ve partnered with EyeMed7 to offer your hardware benefit, you’ll receive additional savings when buying from an EyeMed provider. You’ll get immediate access to your benefit—no need to wait for reimbursement.

 

1In the case of an emergency, you should always call 911. Doctors Online is not intended to replace these services and should not be used in those circumstances. Doctors Online is a telemedicine service provided by American Well®, an independent company that administers Doctors Online on behalf of BCBSRI.
2Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.
3The Silver&Fit program is provided by American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). Silver&Fit is a trademark of ASH and used with permission herein. The people in this piece are not Silver&Fit members. Participating facilities and fitness chains may vary by location and are subject to change.
4Not all exercises are suitable for everyone, and any exercise program could result in injury. Always consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program, especially if you have any chronic or recurring condition, and/or if you are pregnant, nursing, or elderly.
5For BlueCHiP for Medicare Core (HMO), hearing aids start at $200.
6BlueCHiP for Medicare Value vision hardware allowance: $200; HealthMate for Medicare (PPO) vision hardware allowance: $300.
7EyeMed Vision Care is an independent company, contracted by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island to provide vision hardware benefit management services.