At 39, Ashley’s life looked full from the outside—two teenagers at home, a job she enjoyed, and the quiet pride of raising a family in Boise, Idaho. But behind the scenes, Ashley was carrying more than most could imagine.
She lived with multiple chronic conditions—anxiety, bipolar disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), and obesity. Each diagnosis came with its own set of symptoms, medications, and frustrations. Over time, they layered into a silent storm of chronic fatigue, neuropathy, pain, sleep struggles, and a growing sense that no one really understood what she was going through.
When Gabby, a Premera Blue Cross case manager, first reached out to Ashley, she heard a familiar line: “Everything’s fine.”
But Gabby didn’t stop there.
She met Ashley with warmth, not pressure. She asked, “That’s wonderful. What’s been going well?” And in that safe space, Ashley opened up. Slowly, the picture became clear: Ashley didn’t trust her providers. She had no primary care doctor coordinating her care. Her anxiety wasn’t being treated. She was gaining weight from medications meant to help her MS, which only intensified her pain and made it harder to stay active. That, in turn, increased her anxiety, making full workdays feel impossible.
Together, they started to rebuild. Gabby helped Ashley find a compassionate, in-network primary care provider who would listen and help coordinate her care holistically. She connected Ashley with a therapist specializing in her conditions. She shared tools, resources, and education that put Ashley back in control of her health, step by step.
Gabby continued to check in after appointments, coach Ashley on advocating for herself, and encouraged her when progress felt slow. She also introduced Ashley to Premera’s digital care management app to track weight loss, manage anxiety, and build confidence.
And then, change began to bloom.
Over the next seven months, Ashley started moving again. First stretching. Then yoga. Then gym workouts before work, strength training, and even joining her family for outdoor activities again. The weight began to come off—30 pounds and counting. The pain in her hands from rheumatoid arthritis lessened. The neuropathy became more manageable.
And beyond the physical? Ashley found her spark again.
She returned to the things she loved: painting, gardening, drawing. She no longer needed sleep medication. Her anxiety became manageable, so much so that she stopped taking anxiety medication for the first time in years. She was sleeping better. Working full days without pain. Laughing with her kids. Living her life.
Her experience reflects Premera’s approach to care, which goes beyond diagnoses and treatment plans. The focus is on supporting the whole person, especially those who feel overwhelmed, unheard, or unsure where to turn. By meeting members with empathy, encouragement, and the right resources, Premera helps people move forward and feel like themselves again.
