Anthem launches campaign with track and field
star Allyson Felix to raise awareness about what’s driving our
health
As a result of the pandemic, the public has spent more time than
ever thinking about their health and the health of their
communities. However, new data from Anthem, Inc., suggests that
many aren’t fully connecting the dots on what makes us healthy. In
fact, nearly half of Americans (46%) are unaware of the importance
of social drivers of health (SDoH) – external factors like
nutritious food, safe housing, and reliable transportation – that
play a key role in determining health outcomes. But the current
attention on health provides an opportunity to expand our
understanding of whole health, and ultimately improve the health
and vitality of people across the nation.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005347/en/
Our health is determined by more than
what happens in the doctor’s office. Explore the infographic to see
how the lives and health of everyday Americans can be affected by
social drivers like housing, transportation, and food insecurity.
(Graphic: Anthem, Inc. )
To do this, Anthem conducted a nationally representative survey
of 5,000 U.S. adults. The results, outlined in Driving Our Health:
A study exploring health perceptions in America, provide a baseline
for how Americans think about whole health at this unique moment in
time and how different factors and experiences can shape health
outcomes. Anthem is proud to share the study findings in
partnership with health advocate and history-making track and field
athlete Allyson Felix.
“As an athlete, I’m constantly thinking about how to be and stay
healthy. But more importantly, as a Black woman and a mother who
experienced serious complications during the birth of my daughter,
healthcare disparities are never far from my mind,” said Allyson
Felix. “Issues like racial disparities in maternal health are
thankfully gaining more attention, but even things we don’t think
of as being related to health, such as transportation and air
quality, can have a direct impact on our well-being. That’s why I
am excited to partner with Anthem to share these important survey
findings and spark dialogue about the need for addressing all the
factors that shape health. By recognizing that behavioral, social,
and physical drivers all work together to determine our whole
health, we can improve the health of all communities in
America.”
With Allyson’s help, Anthem is calling on individuals to learn
more about whole health and its drivers – starting with exploring
the Driving Our Health study and sharing what they learn with
others. Anthem has been focused on the social drivers of health for
over 75 years in an effort to improve the lives and communities we
serve and be a trusted partner. Along with the Anthem Foundation
and through other enterprise initiatives, Anthem has and continues
to create and support programs that focus on health equity,
creating connections, improving outcomes, and removing barriers to
care.
Other highlights from the study include:
- The pandemic increased consumers’ consciousness of physical
and mental health. Eight in 10 Gen Z’ers agree the pandemic has
made them more conscious of their whole health, with about half
reporting strong agreement (49% vs. 41% Baby Boomers).
- SDoH consequences are prevalent and disproportionately
affect certain groups, including people of color. Among people
of color, two-thirds believe their local community is facing health
issues related to social drivers. This is significantly higher than
the percentage of White Americans who report these issues in their
local community.
- Respondents believe that action is needed to address these
disparities, but no one entity is responsible for solving these
issues alone. Americans believe healthcare, government, community,
non-profit, and other entities have a responsibility to address
SDoH and health disparities collectively.
“We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to be and
stay healthy. This starts by taking a broader view of health. At
Anthem, we are committed to looking at the many factors that
contribute to individual health and partnering in the smartest ways
to improve it,” said Anthem Chief Health Officer, Shantanu Agrawal,
M.D. “Allyson Felix is one of the world’s greatest athletes and
most passionate advocates for health equity. We're proud to partner
with her to deepen Americans’ understanding of whole health and
what drives it.”
That’s why Anthem is utilizing these findings to elevate the
national conversation around whole health and its drivers with the
ultimate goal of improving health in communities across the
country. Making a difference at the community level is critical,
because health is increasingly determined by the zip code we live
in, rather than the doctors we see. That means communities play a
vital role in sustaining health.
“This work builds on promising opportunities to improve
consumers’ health more holistically, looking at social, behavioral,
and physical drivers of health, and providing awareness to better
understand what consumers need most to support their health,” said
Agrawal.
“Because health happens at the community level and social
drivers affect every single one of us, we’re asking you to engage
in this conversation and learn more about the social drivers of
your own health.”
To hear more from Dr. Agrawal, and for more information about
the study findings and what shapes whole health, visit the What’s
Driving Our Health microsite and Driving Our Health Instagram.
Survey and Claims Methodology
The Driving Our Health study was conducted among a nationally
representative sample of 5,000 U.S. adults above the age of 18.
Participant data was collected via a 25-minute, online survey. The
margin of error for the national sample is +/-1.4 percentage points
at the 95% confidence level. The sample is nationally
representative according to the U.S. Census on overall age, gender,
region, urban/rural, and ethnicity/race.
An additional 500+ adults within each of the Anthem Blue
Cross/Blue Cross Blue Shield states (California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada,
New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin) were also
surveyed.
The study also incorporates data from third-party sources, such
as the CDC and EPA, to compare consumer perceptions uncovered by
the survey to a measured reality.
About Anthem, Inc.
Anthem is a leading health benefits company dedicated to
improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler.
Through its affiliated companies, Anthem serves more than 117
million people, including more than 45 million within its family of
health plans. We aim to be the most innovative, valuable and
inclusive partner. For more information, please visit
www.antheminc.com or follow @AnthemInc on Twitter.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211102005347/en/
Michelle Vanstory Michelle.Vanstory@anthem.com
Leslie Porras leslie.porras@anthem.com
Anthem (NYSE:ANTM)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024
Anthem (NYSE:ANTM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024