Member

Login to your account, make a payment, see benefits and more.

Members

Manage Your Plan

Helpful Tools

Wellcare By Fidelis Care

Members
Providers

Login to your account, download forms, view auth grids and more.

Providers

Provider Resources

About Our Plans

Helpful Tools

Providers
Shop For a Plan

See plan benefits, coverage areas, get a quote and more.

Shop for a Plan

Our Plans

Helpful Tools

Wellcare By Fidelis Care

Shop for a Plan
AAA
HomeAbout usHealth EquityHealth Equity Alt

Health Equity

At Fidelis Care, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to live a healthy life. It’s our mission to ensure New Yorkers have access to high-quality healthcare, so they can get the care they need when they need it.

But many other factors contribute to an individual’s health and wellness beyond access to healthcare. Socioeconomic conditions can influence health risks and outcomes. Poverty, food insecurity, housing instability, education, employment, access to transportation and other circumstances contribute to health disparities among underserved and vulnerable populations.

Fidelis Care is committed to removing those barriers to health to improve access, quality, and affordability. It is an ongoing process that requires working together with our members, providers, and community-based organizations to support fair and just opportunities to equal access to healthcare.

Learn more about our different approaches to improve health equity:


Key partnerships

Wellness commitment to Buffalo Urban League

To nurture social entrepreneurship, facilitate wellness, and strengthen organizations focused on Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Buffalo’s East Side, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation donated $1.1 million to the Buffalo Urban League (BUL) to help establish its new headquarters and develop a Wellness and Entrepreneurial Center.

In addition, Fidelis Care partners with BUL through community programs and at events held in the city focused on health, family support and stabilization services, foster care, adoption, education, job training, employment, scholarships, and more.

Buffalo-Urban-League

Mental health alliance with The Jed Foundation

As part of our behavioral health efforts, Fidelis Care and the Centene Foundation awarded $1.1 million to The Jed Foundation (JED) to protect the mental health of New York State’s youth.

Through the funding, JED will expand its current services, providing at least five youth-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) with consultation or strategic planning services, including expert guidance, educational workshops, and training programs, equipping young people with life skills and connecting them to mental healthcare when they are in distress.

Fidelis-JED-Social


More Health Equity News


What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
12/4/2024 • Posted by Fidelis Care in Health and Wellness, Mental Health



Have you felt unusually sad or depressed recently? If so, you may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that usually starts in the late fall or early winter. Factors like shorter days, less sunlight, and changes in biological or bodily rhythms may lead to SAD. Millions of Americans are estimated to have SAD. Women are four times more likely than men to be diagnosed with SAD.

Know the symptoms of SAD

People with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms that are similar to depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a person may be diagnosed with SAD if they experience symptoms of major depression that occur seasonally for at least two consecutive years. Common symptoms of SAD include:

  • Sadness
  • Loss of interest in activities
  • Tiredness and/or low energy
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Changes in appetite or eating habits
  • Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
  • Social withdrawal

How is SAD different from depression?

The main difference is about timing. People with SAD may notice symptoms beginning during the change of seasons. They also might notice that symptoms begin and end at about the same time every year. This pattern might point to SAD rather than depression.

Can SAD be treated?

SAD is treatable. Treatment options include antidepressant medications and/or psychotherapy. Other ways you can relieve SAD symptoms are:

  • Be social. Spending too much time alone can worsen feelings of depression.
  • Get outside when you can! Spend time outdoors and get some sun, even on overcast days.
  • Practice mindfulness, meditation, and/or relaxation techniques.
  • Put away your screens. Limit or avoid time spent on social media.
  • Do things that make you feel better. Participate in a fun activity or hobby.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
  • Avoid alcohol and drugs.

Feeling better takes time. Expect your mood to get better slowly. Take things day by day. If symptoms get worse, interfere with daily life, or become overwhelming, contact your provider. You may also get support from a mental health professional.

Call 911 if you need help right away.

Sources

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=SAD%20is%20more%20than%20just,40%20percent%20of%20the%20year.

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2022/11/30/as-winter-approaches-seasonal-depression-may-set-in-for-millions

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/seasonal-affective-disorder

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2019/seasonal-affective-disorder/#:~:text=If%20you%20suffer%20from%20these,diagnosed%20with%20it%20than%20men.