When Susan looks back at her journal from last spring, she barely recognizes the person who wrote it.
She says, “I was extremely depressed. I don’t even know how I made it through.”
At the time, everything seemed to be happening at once. Her mother’s dementia was progressing, a close friend was in crisis, and her husband injured his back, leaving Susan to manage his care and a growing list of responsibilities.
And through it all, she was working a job that was taking a toll on her, both physically and emotionally.
“I couldn’t be the person I needed to be,” she states, “because I was working a job that made me so sad.”
The job also required her to sit for long stretches each day, something her body wasn’t tolerating well. “My hip became more and more painful every day,” she shares.
Still, Susan stayed for one reason: health insurance. Leaving didn’t feel possible without it, until she realized she had another option.
After exploring her eligibility, Susan enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid). Knowing she could still access care gave her the confidence to make a difficult decision.
“That was the clincher,” she says, “I could leave the job that was making me so sad and still have health care.”
Making space to heal
What followed were seven months that changed Susan’s life. With the pressure lifted, she was able to focus on the people around her and address her own health.
Apple Health coverage allowed her to begin working on her hip pain, something she hadn’t been able to prioritize before. “I was able to actually see a physical therapist. It gave me the space to figure out what I needed,” she says. “That’s a really scary thing, to make a leap like that without knowing you’ll still be able to see a doctor.”
That care, combined with a major change in her daily routine, made a difference. No longer tied to a job that required her to sit all day, Susan was able to adjust her lifestyle and listen to what her body needed.
She adds, “Apple Health allowed me to get the treatment I needed.
A message for others
For Susan, having health coverage meant more than access to care. It meant being able to step away from a situation that was harming her health, seek treatment, and make changes that improved her quality of life.
“Health insurance is a wonderful thing,” she says. “It was there when I needed it, and that made all the difference.”
For those considering Apple Health, her advice is simple: explore your options and find a plan that works for your needs. For Susan, it made it possible to heal, physically and emotionally, and move forward with a healthier, more balanced life.
Don’t delay care; you may be eligible for free or low-cost Apple Health coverage. Apply year-round at wahealthplanfinder.org.