A heart attack, a second family, a life saved

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[MUSIC]

[Nadine W.]

The doctor comes in after my surgery, and he said, "You know, you're not supposed to be here."

The man upstairs was just not ready for me yet.

[SCREEN TEXT] Nadine W., Member since 2015, Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS)

He's got something else for you to do.

[MUSIC]

[SCREEN TEXT] The heart of Coharie

[SCREEN TEXT] Greg J., Coharie Tribal Administrator

It doesn't take long to be around Nadine for her to get to your heart. All of her life, she's been a caretaker.

[Nadine W.]

I'm a go-getter. I just love helping people, cooking, serving people.

We need some costumes, can you make them for me? If you need me, I'm there. I really think they know that I'm puttin' my heart into it

[MUSIC]

[SCREEN TEXT] Though she never expected it, Ms. Nadine had a heart attack.

[Nadine W.]

I woke up about a quarter after 11 that night, and I was having problems breathing and I felt pressure in my chest.

I'm having a heart attack. I can't believe this, And then I thought about, "Oh, my God, I'm on a fixed income. How can I pay all of this hospital bill I'm going to have?"

But whenever I got my statement from Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I couldn't believe it.

[SCREEN TEXT] Ms. Nadine's heart attack happened in 2015 while she was on Blue Cross NC's Medicare Advantage HMO Standard plan (no longer available), and was responsible for paying $1,910. She is now on our Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS).

[Nadine W.]

It has come in and just about wiped out the whole bill. Blue cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina was like a second family to me.

I have had insurance companies to try to get me to change, but no way. I can't leave my family.

God had something else for me to do. For me to come back and help my people.

And I thank God I have been able to do it.

Sometime I get a little weak, but I take a lick and keep on ticking.

[MUSIC]

[SCREEN TEXT] Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina