Pat Geraghty

Looking back, it’s been a challenging year. None of us could have imagined how much the COVID-19 pandemic would change every aspect of our daily lives.

Through it all, it’s been inspiring to see the compassion, resilience and determination demonstrated across every corner of our communities. We’ve all come together to be there for each other when we needed each other the most.

We continue to see a steady increase in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations across the country. So far, more than 44 million people have received at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

Among the first phase of people receiving the vaccination are frontline health care workers. While supplies are still very limited – even to this population – many of our own GuideWell Health team members have gotten their first shot.

After persistent efforts with the Department of Health, Diagnostic Clinic Medical Group – or DCMG – was able to secure a supply of 60 vials of the vaccine. Those were quickly spoken for by members of the DCMG team, eager to get vaccinated.

I’m heartened to see our GuideWell family leading the way as we work together to end the spread of COVID-19. It’s an important step for these team members as they prepare to play a critical role in distributing vaccinations within their communities.

Our country is starting to see some positive signs in the fight against COVID-19. There has been a consistent drop in new cases over the past three weeks across the United States. So far, 26 and a half million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That means more Americans have been vaccinated than have tested positive for the virus since the first case was reported in January 2020.

But the pandemic continues to cause hardships in communities large and small across our country. Businesses are being forced to lay off employees or even close their doors all together. That’s added thousands of people each month to the growing list of those without health insurance.

We all witnessed the extraordinary and disturbing events that took place Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

I shared with my team this week that although our country is deeply divided, the things that unite us are always stronger than our differences. At GuideWell and Florida Blue, one of our Corporate Values is respect. We’ve leaned heavily on that value lately, and we must continue to do so.

Wednesday’s events remind us how important it is to remain committed to listening to each other, respecting each other and finding common ground. Violence has no place in our political process, and I remain hopeful that we will be able to accomplish a peaceful and orderly transition of power.

I am heartened to see that, in the end, the system worked. Leaders came together for the common good.

Health care is an ever-changing industry that thrives on innovation. And that innovation leads to healthier children, healthier families and healthier communities. I’m proud that GuideWell continues to be an innovative leader, dedicated to finding new ways to provide quality health care that remains affordable.

To do this, we’re collaborating with companies that are leaders in their fields to ensure our members receive high-quality care that is both innovative and affordable.

This year has brought many challenges to our industry. But for GuideWell, 2020 is so much more than a story of tribulations. It’s a story of how we’ve overcome adversity in powerful and meaningful ways.

You may recall last December, we highlighted our enterprise’s 10 big wins for 2019. I find it only fitting to carry on this tradition this year by highlighting how we’re staying true to our mission through an unprecedented year.

This is what reimagining the future of health care looks like. And through efforts like these, we will continue driving health care costs down and increasing access for more individuals and families.

In no particular order, here are 10 accomplishments through adversity from 2020:

Full Transcript: Pat Geraghty Thanksgiving 2020 Video Message Thanksgiving is a special time of year, and even more so now in a world that’s dramatically changed because of COVID-19. This is the perfect time to take stock in what we’re grateful for: Family, friends, neighbors and everyone else who brings something special to our lives.

I am thankful for all of those things and more, including the incredible GuideWell team. In a year where COVID-19 changed so much for our business, you quickly pivoted to make sure our members got the care they needed and learned how to stay healthy during the pandemic.

There’s no more important time to have affordable quality health care coverage than in the midst of a crisis like COVID-19. We kept that in mind as our team prepared for the annual Open Enrollment Period for 2021.

Our members’ needs have changed from even just a year ago. That’s why we expanded myBlue, our most affordable plan, to 36 counties. We made sure our premiums are even more affordable in 2021. We increased the amount members can earn in rewards incentives. And virtual health will play a more prominent role than ever – so we’ve got members covered there, too.

The drug manufacturer Pfizer has announced that early data indicates its coronavirus vaccine is more than 90% effective. They’re seeking emergency use authorization, which could make the vaccine available to some before the end of the year. And the FDA has issued emergency authorization for an Eli Lilly antibody therapy to treat mild to moderate cases.

That said, there has never been a more important time to make sure we’re doing everything possible to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy. It’s up to us to continue our important work to keep our communities safe – from encouraging healthy habits to helping prevent the flu.

Leveraging Teladoc Health’s existing partnership, GuideWell members will have access to Livongo’s end-to-end virtual care experience for diabetes

GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (GuideWell), the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming health care, announced a strategic agreement today with Livongo (Nasdaq: LVGO) the leading Applied Health Signals company empowering people with chronic conditions to live better and healthier lives.

Florida Blue, a GuideWell subsidiary and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan of Florida, will provide access to Livongo for Diabetes to select members.