May 14, 2025
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) announced the launch of “Better Together,” a public awareness campaign to highlight the health impacts of loneliness and empower people to build stronger, more meaningful connections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define loneliness as a feeling of being disconnected from others due to a lack of meaningful or close relationships or a sense of belonging. The impacts of loneliness can be far-reaching, and everyone is susceptible. According to a 2023 advisory by the U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness not only significantly impacts both individual and societal health but increases the risk of premature death, heart disease, stroke, depression, and dementia.
The Better Together campaign helps people learn more about the effects of loneliness and gives them resources to build connections for themselves and others. It offers social media content, articles, fact sheets, videos, and more, with much of the content featured on the campaign’s comprehensive website. On the website, there is also a directory of nonprofit organizations across the Philadelphia five-county region that offer programs and opportunities to help people make social connections.
In a recent survey conducted by IBX of southeastern Pennsylvania residents of all ages, just over one-third of respondents said they sometimes or always felt a lack of companionship or social connection in the past six months. Additionally, nearly half of those who felt a lack of companionship, social connection, or a sense of exclusion said their feelings of loneliness have negatively impacted their health.
“Loneliness is a silent epidemic that affects people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Dr. Richard Snyder, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Independence Blue Cross. “Through the Better Together campaign, we want to help individuals and communities understand the profound health impacts of loneliness while offering tangible resources to help people feel more connected. We know that when people feel socially connected, they are healthier, happier, and more resilient.”
The Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory reveals alarming statistics about the impact of loneliness:
• Poor social relationships, social isolation, and loneliness increase the risk of heart disease by 29% and stroke by 32%.
• Adults who experience chronic loneliness are more than twice as likely to develop depression.
• The health risks of loneliness are comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
• Among older adults, loneliness increases the risk of developing dementia by 50%, leading to an estimated $6.7 billion in excess Medicare spending annually.
The report notes that loneliness affects people of all ages. It also impacts those with poor health, disabilities, financial insecurity, and individuals who live alone or are single parents are disproportionately impacted. While the highest rates of social isolation are found among older adults, young adults are almost twice as likely to report feeling lonely than those over 65. Further, it states that the benefits of social connection extend beyond health, to quality of life, education, employment, and economic outcomes.
For more information about the Better Together campaign, visit ibx.com/bettertogether.
