Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has a longstanding and steadfast commitment to supporting associates with ties to the military, including those who are on active duty, serve in the National Guard or Reserves or have family members who serve. In 2016, Blue Cross became the state’s first health plan to be designated as a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company by the Minnesota National Guard for its efforts to hire military veterans.

Additionally, Blue Cross has recently been named one of 30 national finalists among more than 1,700 nominations for The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award – the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for support of employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve – by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). ESGR also presented Blue Cross with the Above and Beyond Award in August 2023 and the Extraordinary Employer Support Award in November 2022 for sustained excellence and in providing benefits and support to employees who serve and their family members.

Many of the accomplishments that lead to these honorable recognitions are from efforts given by Blue Cross’s 13 Associate Resource Groups (ARGs). One of the ARGs – Allies of the Military – showed up for an associate when she and her family needed support the most.

Diane Hodge works as a principal client advisor at Blue Cross. In October 2023, Diane lost her brother-in-law Lee, a veteran of the Vietnam War, to Parkinson’s Disease. Diane and her sister found themselves at a loss when attempting to navigate the survivor benefits process through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including funeral cost assistance.

“We didn’t receive the forms until a few weeks after we initially asked,” said Diane. “We were looking at them and filling out what we could, but there were many that we weren’t sure what to do with, how to properly complete, or if they were even necessary to complete. It was overwhelming.”

Diane was able to take time off work to help her sister. Keeping in contact with her manager, Diane mentioned how she and her family were having a difficult time figuring out next steps. Her manager recommended the Allies of the Military ARG as a possible resource – particularly Christina Ricke, the ARG’s chairperson.

“I reached out to Christina and told her what was happening, and she immediately said, ‘I’ll get back to you today with some information.’ Before the end of the day, she was able to provide us with names and phone numbers. On that same day, I called and made an appointment with a VA service officer,” Diane recalled.

The VA service officer educated the sisters about which forms were necessary and which were not and navigated them through the process to ensure they were completing the most up-to-date and valid formats of each.

“It was such a relief to work with Christina and get this off my sister’s mind so that she could deal with other things and mourn,” said Diane. “She and her husband were married for 56 years. Having people who support military families, whether it’s a new military family or one that’s been around for 56 years, really helps.”

The Allies of the Military ARG has been supporting military families for years under Christina’s leadership. A military spouse herself, Christina supports military families at a personal level regularly.

“I knew right away that I wanted to do everything I could to help her get connected to someone that could help. I was so happy to hear that the county service veteran officer was able to guide her through the survivor benefits process and that he even identified some additional benefits she was eligible for,” said Christina.

In addition to personally supporting coworkers, the Allies of the Military ARG holds events throughout the year to celebrate military-connected associates and volunteers regularly at the Hastings Veterans Home. They also provide regular feedback on Blue Cross benefit packages for military associates.

“Looking ahead, being recognized as a finalist for the Freedom Award is such an honor,” said Christina. “We do a lot to support our military-connected associates during times of activation and training to ensure they know that they are valued.”

The Freedom Award is evaluated on how a company supports the service member and their family, recognizing Guard and Reserve associates, benefit and compensation policies for when an associate is away on military duties, and recruiting and hiring practices of members with the Guard and Reserve.

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Learn more about ESGR here.