Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Employees Plan to 'Step Out' to Support National Walk @ Lunch Day(R)

Blues employees across the state will walk during lunch time on April 30

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Apr 20, 2010, 10:40 ET

DETROIT, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Warmer weather is here and there is no healthier way to celebrate spring than to get outside and walk. At lunch time on Friday, April 30, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network employees across the state will be lacing up their sneakers to support the fourth annual National Walk @ Lunch Day.

Activities to support walking are being hosted by 30 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans across the country to encourage people to take the first step toward adopting an active, healthier lifestyle.

"National Walk @ Lunch Day is a perfect opportunity for individuals to get active and turn a working lunch into a walking lunch," said Ken Dallafior, BCBSM senior vice president of Group Sales and Corporate Marketing. "Walking every day for 30 minutes can help people not just lose weight but also reduce stress. A healthier workplace can have positive effects such as increased productivity and employee morale."

National Walk @ Lunch Day is part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's WalkingWorks® program that was developed to help Americans live healthier lives and reduce unnecessary medical costs due to physical inactivity. WalkingWorks was developed in partnership with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the cost to treat illness and chronic disease caused by inactive lifestyles is nearly $1,000 annually for every family in America. Completing 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk, at least five times a week, has significant health benefits, lowering the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, hypertension or type 2 diabetes, and improving the health of muscles, bones and joints.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to nearly 4.5 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. The company offers a broad variety of plans including: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred®, Community Blue(SM) and Healthy Blue Incentives(SM) PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy Blue Living(SM); Flexible Blue(SM) plans compatible with health savings accounts; Medicare Advantage; Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlue(SM) products in the under-age-65 individual market. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan