The checkup that changed everything

When Denise lost her job last year, she lost her health coverage along with it. She was 52 years old, self-employed for the first time, and unsure what her options were. For almost four months, she went without insurance at all. She skipped her annual physical. She put off a nagging cough she figured was nothing.

A friend told her about marketplace coverage and helped her get enrolled. Denise picked a plan she could afford, but she still was not sure what it actually covered or how to use it.

That uncertainty is what led her to call WellSense.

She spoke with a Member Service team member named Priya, who walked her through her plan in plain terms. Priya explained that Denise had access to a yearly wellness visit and several preventive screenings at no cost to her. Denise had not realized any of that was included.

"I thought I would have to pay out of pocket just to see a doctor," Denise said. "Nobody had explained it to me that way before."

Priya helped Denise find a primary care doctor taking new patients and scheduled her first appointment in years. During that visit, her doctor took the cough seriously and ordered further testing. It turned out to be early-stage bronchitis, easily treatable once caught. Her doctor also flagged Denise's blood pressure as something to watch and set up a plan to monitor it going forward.

Priya stayed in touch over the following months, making sure she understood her follow-up schedule. When Denise had questions about a bill she did not recognize, Priya helped her sort it out with the provider's office directly.

Denise says having someone to call makes all the difference. She no longer feels like she is guessing when it comes to her own health care.

Today, her blood pressure is under control, and her cough is long gone. She has kept every follow-up appointment on her calendar, something she admits she would not have done a year ago.

Denise's story is a reminder that having coverage is only the first step. Knowing how to use it is what makes the difference.

Names and locations have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.