When Cassandra arrived in Washington for her retirement, she was glad to be away from the cold weather of Alaska and be closer to family. Unfortunately, moving to a new state didn’t solve her persistent knee pain that began years ago.
Before her move, Cassandra worked in Alaska’s construction industry. One day, she received great news – she was getting a job promotion! However, her new role brought on more physical involvement in the workplace, especially leading to more walking during the day. Over the years, she developed lingering knee pain.
Extreme pressure to meet tight deadlines didn’t allow Cassandra to prioritize her health. The continuous wear grew to the point where she began limping. She knew a change needed to happen as her mood was greatly affected and she felt uncomfortably vulnerable in the workplace. “When it gets cold, my knee hurts, and in Alaska, it’s very cold” she said.
As September 2017 came around, Cassandra decided to focus on her health and retire. She packed up and moved to Washington. Once settled, she considered working again but had difficulty finding employment. She visited a few free clinics for general health checkups, but the treatment offered wasn’t enough to treat her knee pain. After attending an appointment for assistance from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), she was given guidance on how to apply for Apple Health (Medicaid). Cassandra said she felt the care and love that the DSHS representative provided as she taught her how to apply.
Cassandra called Washington Healthplanfinder to complete her online application. She was met with very inviting and supportive staff to assist her. She was happy knowing she didn’t have to wait for her approval or be transferred to another agent. Confident and knowing she called the right place, Cassandra said “It felt like I was healing from the first call… and they were very knowledgeable and efficient.”
Now approved for Apple Health, “I got to go to routine doctor appointments… they checked for everything… and I didn’t have a copay… got my prescriptions with no problem and was never cut off my health coverage.” she said. Cassandra felt comfortable with the doctors she spoke with about other aspects of her health.
She eventually was approved to receive a knee replacement. After surgery, including a 3 day stay at the hospital, and physical therapy, she felt like she was finally living again and could enjoy retirement. She is now able to maintain her health overall.
When asked about what she would say to someone who is on the fence about enrolling in Apple Health coverage, she shared, “Applying for health coverage is the first and only thing you should do.”
Find out if Apple Health coverage is for you. Visit Washington Healthplanfinder to apply for coverage or visit the Apple Health eligibility webpage to see if you are eligible.