How Bryce found comfort amid health uncertainty

At 27, Bryce knows more about managing his heart health than many people may think about their heart in a lifetime. At just two months old, he was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. Growing up, he learned to pay attention to what his heart was telling him.

In his early 20s, Bryce began noticing something new. Simple things, like climbing stairs, suddenly left him exhausted. His specialists ran tests and implanted a defibrillator to help manage irregular rhythms.

At age 24, everything changed. “I went into cardiac arrest at work,” Bryce said. “I dropped to the ground and woke up 15 or 20 seconds later. It was horrifying, but I’m blessed to still be here.”

Shortly after recovering, Bryce learned something surprising at the pharmacy.  The insurance coverage he had through his employer had been canceled without his knowledge.

“They told me my medication would be $800. I just stood there thinking, ‘I can’t do that.’ I didn’t have that kind of money.”

He describes that moment as one of his lowest points. He was switching jobs, trying to keep his health stable and suddenly unable to afford the medication he relied on. His parents encouraged him to look at UnitedHealthcare Individual & Family ACA Marketplace plans.

With help from an agent, Bryce reviewed his medications, compared insurance plan tiers and enrolled in a plan that supported his needs.

Shortly after a recent hospital visit, Bryce received a call from the UnitedHealthcare team. They checked in and helped him schedule follow-up appointments.

“It surprised me,” he said. “I didn’t expect that kind of support. They made me feel cared about.”

Bryce is the main provider for his household. He has a young son who also has his heart condition. He feels a responsibility to stay healthy and stay working.

“Family is everything to me,” he said. “If I’m not working, we’re not paying rent. Having the right insurance plan helps me stay on top of what I need, so I can take care of them.”

He also thinks about the future, including the possibility of needing a heart transplant one day. It’s something he worries about, but he tries to take things day by day

For someone living with a condition he can’t fully control, Bryce says having reliable health insurance coverage gives him reassurance. “When you can't have control of your health condition, you should at least have control of your health insurance,” he said. “Having the right plan with UnitedHealthcare put me back in control.”

He understands the benefits coverage, the provider network and what costs to expect, and there are no cost surprises.

“I’m just grateful,” he said. “For my family, for my life and for having a plan that helps me take care of both.”