Looking Ahead to 2021

As 2020 comes to an end, I am reminded of how this year taught us all so much about resilience and what really matters: family, friends and the need to reimagine health care. Blue Shield of California announced our Health Reimagined initiative earlier this year, an ambitious effort to transform our healthcare system. As we look toward 2021, we must continue to put people at the center and design better ways for people to receive care. I joined Blue Shield more than two years ago because I share this passion and believe that human interaction in health care is here to stay despite the pandemic.  

As professionals, we learned this year more about our work styles, adjusting to working outside the office and finding new ways to connect with our teams and employees virtually. As parents during this pandemic we also faced the challenges of adjusting to virtual learning and navigating a work-life balance. The need for virtual health care, mental health support and prioritizing health and well-being have never been more important.   

While we reflect on what 2020 has taught us, there is a lot we can already start thinking about for next year. Here are just a few of the things our members can look forward to in the new year: 

• Blue Shield of California and Accolade will be offering national, self-funded employers headquartered in California a proven personalized member engagement experience. This collaboration provides employees and their family members with a seamless, integrated service that combines technology and human expertise to live healthier, happier and more productive lives. The Blue Shield and Accolade offering is available for a January 2021 plan effective date. I spoke with Accolade CEO Rajeev Singh in a recent Healthy Dose of Dialogue podcast.
• Blue Shield has invested in Brightline, a Palo Alto-based startup that aims to provide measurable results in the field of youth mental health. The company secured a $20 million round of venture capital funding. Blue Shield is planning to pilot Brightline with some customers in our self-insured market starting in 2021. 
• Blue Shield has teamed up with AAA Northern California to expand select Medicare Supplement Plan Benefits to also support older drivers’ mobility, independence and reduce risks on the road. 
• Blue Shield is bringing innovative benefits for Medicare Advantage Members to help improve their health and well-being. Offerings include telehealth, acupuncture, chiropractic care and expansion of services in Northern California and Central Coast. 

What have you learned in 2020? What are you looking forward to in 2021? 

Don Antonucci serves as Senior Vice President of Growth for Blue Shield of California. He has more than two decades of experience in the health care industry and is the host of “Healthy Dose of Dialogue” podcast available on Apple iTunes or Spotify. The monthly podcast invites healthcare leaders to share fresh perspectives and engage in healthy dialogue about marketplace trends and industry insights impacting health care today.