CHW Success Stories

A Community Health Worker (CHW) with the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County (CHC) received a referral from the Kansas Assistance Network website from "Ricardo" (a pseudonym) who was seeking health insurance due to a cancer diagnosis. After speaking with the family, the CHW determined that he would qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to recent loss in coverage. They set up an appointment to complete the application for the SEP and, once it was granted, the family talked more to their doctors to determine what kind of treatment was needed, and made sure the plan would cover it. 

After ensuring the doctors, medications and cancer treatments would be all covered by the plan, Ricardo was able to choose a plan within his price range with a relatively low out-of-pocket maximum, saving the most money possible. The CHW made sure the payment process went well and that he had his insurance cards before his first appointment by providing a temporary card, as well as ordering cards to be sent to his address from the insurance company. The family was very happy with the process and felt comfortable knowing how their insurance works.

This article is part of our ongoing series, CHW Success Stories, which highlights the work of community health workers throughout the MARC region.