A little over a year later, I’m sitting in a staff meeting and HR informed us they were changing our insurance policy.
To be honest, the FIRST thing that came to mind was “How much is this going to cost me each paycheck?”.
My job is pretty fair when it comes to our insurance. They pay 90 percent and we cover the remainder.
As the insurance person was presenting, I was thinking of what I was going to do over the weekend, how much documentation I could be doing right now if she wasn’t rambling, etc.
My body was present but my thoughts and attention were somewhere else, other than this meeting.
The insurance rep is talking about copays, out of pocket expense, Tier 1 vs Tier 2 networks benefits.
It all sounded like algebraic equations to me.
I have the insurance paper sitting on my lap THE ENTIRE TIME.
I still wasn’t paying attention. I’m sure I was scrolling instagram or laughing at something in the work group text.
Come on now. Don’t act like you listen to everything that goes on in the staff meetings.
LOL Anyway…….
Something inside of me (Hello Holy Spirit) said “ Just read over the benefits”.
I’m like…..okkkkkaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy
I started skimming the benefits and I saw that my insurance was now covering bariatric surgery.
I’m like Nah…
Let me paint this picture for you right quick.
The insurance paper is sitting on my lap THE ENTIRE TIME.
THE.
ENTIRE.
TIME.
I have it on side A (the side indicating that Baraitric Benefits are now being accepted).
I flipped the paper over from side A to side B. From side B back to side A. From side A to side B.
I did this 3 times.
T-H-R-E-E.
Pushed the paper away for a second, then went to look back at it.
NOW WHY I DID THIS I DON’T KNOW!
I'm laughing as I write this.
You’re probably thinking (just like myself) “Chyna why you flip the paper over. Did you think the wording was going to change or something?”
I read it again and then Digested the information.
OH. BABY.…… I WAS LISTENING NOW!!!
Forget IG and the Group Text.
Sis had MY FULL ATTENTION. UHKAY!
I SAT STRAIGHT UP, FULLY ENGAGED AND EVERYTHING.
And you know what’s crazy. Just as I saw that Bariatric Benefits were accepted the insurance representative started to speak about Bariatric Surgery etc.
I remember saying “Thank you God”.
There was an ugly cry inside of me WAITING to be released
W-A-I-T-I-N-G
You know that ugly lip quivering cry.
Whew.
I remember walking out the staff meeting and the lady from HR smiled at me and I smiled back at her.
We locked eyes.
We didn’t speak any words to each other but there was an energy communicated in our smiles.
It brought me back to our conversation the year prior, where I was speaking to her about how important this surgery can be for people, etc.
It was one of those “I SEE YOU. I HEARD YOUR HEART” kind of vibes.
I don’t know what happened behind the scenes. Now that’s between THEM AND GOD.
I’m just glad I spoke my heart because I tend to be quiet.
Soooo…...
We left the staff meeting and I hurried back to my cubicle so I could call my momma.
WOW!
Honey, before she could even say Hello, I screamed “Ma, my insurance covers Bariatric surgery!”.
She replied “WHAT!!!
And then she said “So what are we going to do”?
I could feel her excitement over the phone.
When she said “We” it just touched my heart in a different way.
Okay, back to the story! LOL
I responded “I don’t even know, I’m just glad I have options now!”
We were both TRULY excited.
You would think that I would get on the phone right away with New Jersey Bariatric Center and start making an appointment, right?
Nah.
I celebrated by eating.
SIGH.
Something I did very often.
I’m glad I never got on the phone.