Minnesota continues to make headlines as one of the healthiest states in the country. At the same time, we are also home to some of the worst health inequities. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota believes it is imperative to address these health inequities— for the sake of all Minnesota communities and businesses alike.

Advancing health equity will require strong commitments and collaboration from all sectors. Blue Cross hopes to increase awareness and inspire action among leaders through its new campaign, "Health Equity: Make it Your Business."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota believes that all people, regardless of race, income, ZIP code or other factors, should have opportunities to live the healthiest lives possible. We want to help organizations across Minnesota see the health inequities that exist in our state and address them through their workplaces and policies.

Understanding health equity

We know that many things impact people’s health. In fact, only 10 percent of health is influenced by clinical care and another 10 percent by genetics.

The rest is a result of environment— health behaviors and things like income, community connections, housing, quality education and food security. These factors determine the health of a community, along with the health inequities it faces.

This campaign features several animated videos that provide information on these different factors, along with a unique perspective on:

• The difference between equity and equality
• How your health is impacted by race, income, gender identity and where you live, be it urban or rural
• What health inequities cost Minnesota, in terms of lives and dollars lost

  

  

The role of businesses

Health inequities touch every part of the state, including Minnesota businesses. The fact is, demographics continue to shift and Minnesota businesses are already seeing a shortage of workers – a trend that is projected to continue.

If health inequities are not addressed, Minnesota will continue to lose $2.26 billion a year because of decreased employment and productivity. These inequities will also impact one in every four people of our state’s population. Can we sustain our economic vitality if one-fourth of our population is unwell?

Resources and next steps

There are several ways that business and healthcare leaders can #StartSeeingInequity, including:

• Reviewing workplace culture and environment. For instance, do policies allow for time off for diverse religious practices? Is the environment welcoming for women, people of color and indigenous people, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities and older employees?
• Ensuring organizational policies are equitable. Organizations can consider updating policies to explicitly and affirmatively demonstrate their commitment to embedding equity into business practices.
• Looking at those around the decision-making table and considering if all voices are being represented. Diversity in people and ideas encourages a culture of success and better business performance.

For more information, visit BlueCrossMN.com/HealthEquity