Pavilion at Queens Rehabilitation & Nursing
Gwendolyn Williams credits her Greater New York Benefit Fund health coverage with helping her manage two chronic conditions while maintaining a full-time schedule.
As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at the Pavilion at Queens Rehabilitation & Nursing, Gwendolyn Williams has administered daily medications to her residents with chronic conditions for the past 18 years. About 10 years ago, Gwendolyn began taking her own daily medications when she was diagnosed with a thyroid condition and high blood pressure. “I went to my doctor for an annual checkup, which I never miss because of my benefits with the Greater New York Benefit Fund, and he gave me the news soon after,” she said. “To be honest, I was a little bit afraid and didn’t know what it all meant at first.”
Fortunately, Gwendolyn said, her doctor eased her fears, telling her that with medication and some changes in diet and exercise, she could continue to lead a full life. “I wasn’t totally surprised when I got the diagnosis,” she said. “I had been feeling tired and just not myself for a few months.”
To help keep her two conditions under control, Gwendolyn has made an effort to adopt healthier habits. She joined a health club near her home in Brooklyn and gets there about three times a week, she said. She also eats a healthier diet, with more lean meats, less fried food and lots of water. And while she still needs to take two pills a day to manage her conditions, she is no longer afraid. “I know that I have the best care, between my primary doctor and my thyroid specialist, who I see twice a year,” she said. “It’s incredibly reassuring.”
“To me, my benefits mean I never have to skip an appointment, I never skip my medications and I always get the care I need. It doesn’t get better than that.”
As a Greater New York member, Gwendolyn has a modest co-payment when she sees her thyroid specialist and no longer has a co-payment for prescription drugs—which, she said, gives her great peace of mind. “To me, my benefits mean I never have to skip an appointment, I never skip my medications and I always get the care I need,” Gwendolyn said. “It doesn’t get better than that.”
What Do Your Benefits Mean to You?
You count on your health benefits to support you in your efforts to stay healthy, whether it’s by getting regular checkups, keeping a chronic condition under control or just improving your lifestyle in general. But has there ever been a time when your health coverage literally saved your life or the life of a loved one? If so, we’d like to hear from you. To share your story with your fellow members in an upcoming issue of For Your Benefit, please contact the Funds at [email protected].
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