When Ashley, a 39-year-old mom of two teenagers in Boise, first spoke with Gabby, her Premera Blue Cross case manager, she said something that many of us have probably said before:
“I’m fine. Everything’s okay.”
But something in Ashley’s voice made Gabby gently follow-up.
“That’s great to hear — can you tell me what’s been going well?”
That one simple question opened the door to a much deeper story.
Ashley had been living with a long list of complex, chronic conditions — anxiety, bipolar disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), and obesity. Every day, she pushed through fatigue, joint pain, and neuropathy just to get through work and take care of her family. The medications she relied on for MS caused weight gain, which in turn made her pain worse. That fed her anxiety and made daily life feel heavier than it already was.
Ashley shared that she didn’t have a primary care doctor to help coordinate her care. She didn’t feel heard or understood by her providers. And she had started to believe that maybe this was just how life was going to be.
Gabby saw things differently.
Premera’s care management makes a difference
As part of Premera’s care management outreach, Gabby worked closely with Ashley to understand not just her health conditions, but her goals, the challenges she was facing, and what truly mattered to her. Gabby helped Ashley find a new primary care provider who would listen and support her whole health. She connected Ashley with a therapist who specialized in her conditions and offered education, encouragement, and follow-ups after appointments.
Gabby also introduced her to Premera’s digital care management app to help Ashley track her progress, manage symptoms, and set realistic goals, like feeling better in her body, sleeping through the night, and getting back to the activities she loved.
Little by little, things began to shift.
Ashley started stretching in the mornings. Then came yoga. Soon, she was going to the gym before work and even getting outdoors with her kids again. She lost 30 pounds, and more importantly, the weight loss helped reduce her pain, improve her mobility, and give her a sense of confidence she hadn’t felt in years.
She began painting again. Gardening. Drawing. Living.
Ashley was also able to stop taking sleep and anxiety medications — thanks to new coping tools like mindfulness, better care coordination, and support from her new mental health provider. She now works full days without needing to push through overwhelming fatigue or pain.
“I finally feel like myself again,” she told Gabby.
Whole-person care, when you need it
Ashley’s story is a powerful reminder that the right care, at the right time, can change everything — especially when it comes with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and follow-through.
At Premera, we know healthcare is deeply personal. That’s why our care managers meet members where they are, and walk alongside them as partners, advocates, and cheerleaders for every step of the journey.
Ashley didn’t just get medical support. She got her life back.
And that’s what being in your corner really means.
Want to learn more about how Premera Care Management supports members with chronic conditions?
Visit Premera.com or sign in to your member account through our mobile app to find out what programs may be available for you.
