Aleena Saleem and Maura Dianno served as 2024 summer interns for the Health Equity team at Independence Blue Cross (IBX).

Health equity is a strong interest and passion for both of us. Through our volunteer work, research at school, and life experiences, we’ve learned how important it is for people to have access to care that acknowledges them as individuals and takes their unique experiences into account. It starts with listening to community members and supporting them.

Through our internship at IBX, we’ve had the opportunity to work with the Health Equity team and assist with planning the 2024 Independence Blue Cross Health Equity Summit and supporting the Regional Coalition to Eliminate Race-Based Medicine. We’ve also learned how the team engages members through the Health Equity Advocacy Council (HEAC).

The HEAC is a volunteer group of IBX health plan members. These members meet with the IBX Health Equity team four times a year to have honest discussions about how to achieve more equitable health outcomes within historically marginalized communities. These discussions generate valuable insights that help IBX tackle inequities affecting the communities it serves.

We asked eight HEAC members about their experiences and feelings about the HEAC. Their responses reflect their commitment to helping IBX identify health challenges in their communities and work toward solutions, and we are grateful for their valuable input.

Why Health Equity Matters to Me

Health equity can be very personal. The members we talked to shared how their perspectives and life experiences influenced their unique voices on the HEAC.

Tiffany Reed: “I am a three-year breast cancer survivor and a breast cancer advocate; my motivation comes from that place. I’ve seen the inequities that a lot of young women are experiencing in dealing with their breast cancer diagnoses. I want to help IBX do things to support them.”

Janetha Williams: “I’ve been an acute care nurse for 20 years. When I think of the violence that plagues my community, it’s very clear to me that something has got to change.”

Ramune Bartuskaite: “My parents, grandparents, and I are Lithuanian immigrants who moved here before we could speak English. The language barrier has made it hard for my family to get equitable health care. By striving for health equity, we are fostering a society where everyone can experience the benefits of a healthy, empowered life.”

Why the HEAC Gives Me Hope

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the health disparities we hear about. The HEAC members we interviewed all share optimism that change is possible when community members have a safe space for open dialogue about root causes and solutions.

Jerome Hill: “It seems like the IBX Health Equity team really takes our feedback into account. At each new meeting, they’ve considered the input we gave them the time before. It’s a pleasant surprise.”

Tiki Chavers: “I’m encouraged by the fact that IBX even took this up as a concern, as part of their mantle, and that there’s a whole division that deals with health equity.”

Gary: “This effort is pioneering. Without good health, everything else is not that meaningful. We influence each other, we need each other, it’s a win-win for all of us to be healthy.”

Imani Badie: “They give me so much to think about when it comes to health in general. I feel that my voice matters and has an impact on helping to achieve equity for all members.”

Ramune Bartuskaite: “The HEAC demonstrates that large organizations are committed to the health and well-being of our communities and are willing to address some of the health inequities we face.”

Why More People Should Join

Barriers to equitable health care are experienced differently by everyone. The HEAC members we talked to agreed that more valuable, relevant insights are possible when more people’s experiences, perspectives, and ideas are considered.

Janetha Williams: “This is a place where your voice is heard, and you can help make our health care system — which we all don’t like — a little bit better.”

Jerome Hill: “What this team is attempting is massive, but they have a plan and determination. It feels good knowing we are one component of the actual work being done to bridge those gaps.”

Tiki Chavers: “Having more members makes a difference in trying to address the needs. And the larger the voice, the more diversity we have, the better it is.”

L. Dutton: “People have a variety of different perspectives when it comes to health care, and all these perspectives need to be contributed when you’re trying to close the gap.”

Helping to Guide Change

“The HEAC is a place where voices are heard and you can help the system change.” — Janetha Williams

When we started our internship, health equity was personal for us. We’ve learned that it’s very personal for the eight HEAC members we interviewed, too. They were excited and optimistic about the Council’s mission. Their positivity was inspiring and spoke to their commitment to improving health outcomes for all. The HEAC’s work is invaluable to the IBX Health Equity team because they need the voices of our community members to help guide this kind of change.

We’d like to thank the members we interviewed, the IBX Health Equity team, and the other IBX associates who’ve helped us capture the importance of the HEAC’s mission and the passions of its members.

If you’re an IBX member and interested in joining the HEAC, please fill out this contact form.