Before Apple Health (Medicaid), Bella didn’t view herself as someone who would get sick and need to worry about health insurance. After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she felt insecure about her plan for health treatment without insurance. Qualifying for Apple Health coverage gave her confidence in her future cancer treatment options.
Those diagnosed with breast cancer have two major barriers to accessing treatment: lack of financial resources and access to quality medical providers. Apple Health provides full health care coverage and assistance in locating a health care provider at no cost. All essential health services are covered with no premiums, copays, deductibles, or out of pocket costs when using a provider in your network. Covered benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Doctor appointments
- Emergency care
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health services
- Substance use treatment services
- Prescriptions
- Laboratory services
Being on Apple Health coverage helped Bella feel more secure knowing she could be approved for the extensive care she needed with a flexible range of providers to build her treatment plan. “There’s medication…treatments, new providers – you guys are on top of it and easy to work with during stressful times,” said Bella. Apple Health has covered her medical needs without causing issues or stress.
Bella now feels like she has control of her well-being knowing that Apple Health will cover unexpected medical costs during her routine treatment. The reminders sent by Apple Health and her managed care plan through email, mail, and text messages helped her to manage her coverage and keep using services even when life got busy.
When asked what she would tell other people who are thinking about applying for coverage, Bella shared that people should “Just go for it, what’s the worst that can happen? There’s not a ton of obstacles."
If you know of someone who needs free or low-cost health coverage, please direct them to apply for or renew Apple Health coverage online at wahealthplanfinder.org or call Washington Healthplanfinder at 1-855-923-4633.