WA Cares Provides Lupus Support When Private Insurance Won’t

Anthony’s Story:

I was a normal 19 year old going to college. I was playing basketball with friends, enjoying life as a healthy young man. But all of a sudden, I started experiencing extreme fatigue, inflammation, and pain in my joints. I was diagnosed with Lupus, a condition so severe I had to be treated with cytotoxin chemotherapy.

The thought of losing my savings to qualify for Medicaid was devastating.

Plus there were worries in the back of my mind. How would I cook for myself or even walk to the bathroom when my ankles and other joints become too painful to move? The thought of losing my savings to qualify for Medicaid devastated me. I often wondered how I would be able to get enough Lupus support when I needed it.

Thankfully, I’m still working and living completely independently. But my condition is unpredictable. Some days I’m 100 percent. Other days the joint inflammation in my foot is so bad I can’t even walk my dog or go to work. Some days the pain in my hands is so severe I can’t hold a pot or cook for myself. I’ve been experiencing these flare-ups off and on for the past 20 years, and I know it’s going to get worse as time goes on.

1 in 5 people have a preexisting condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, or Lupus, like me. [source]

I’ve looked into the options for getting long-term care insurance to cover the costs when I need a caregiver to come help me out at home. Even if I could afford the expensive premiums, private long-term care insurance would deny me because of my pre-existing condition. I’m not the only one who needs Lupus support.

I’ve always been employed, but I had no idea how I would be able to pay for Lupus support. Health insurance only covers immediate medical care from a doctor. It does not cover occasional or ongoing longer term home care – like help with meals, dressing, getting around. And I don’t want to spend all my savings down to qualify for Medicaid care.

WA Cares will pay for what I need.

Good thing all working Washingtonians now have WA Cares. WA Cares will provide me with Lupus support, and pay for a home care aide, medical equipment or even home modifications like a ramp. WA Cares pays up to $36,500, and that amount goes up with inflation.

We all pay a little now just while we are working, and we’ll be able to tap into our WA Cares Funds when we need help.

Knowing I’ll be able to stay in my own home, even when my condition gets really bad, and get the Lupus support I need, gives me so much relief. Help is on the way for those of us with pre-existing conditions thanks to WA Cares.

Video Transcript

“I read the fine print. long-term care insurance won’t cover my pre-existing condition. But WA Cares will. WA Cares covers all working Washingtonians, even people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.

If I can’t cook or care for myself due to my Lupus, WA Cares will pay someone to help me out at home. We all pay a little so everyone gets WA Cares when we need it.”