Posts by Jennifer Kean
Meet Emily Bernstein, BCPA, CHW
When healthcare gets complicated, most people do not need more paperwork. They need someone who can explain what is happening, what their options are, and what to do next. That is the work Emily Bernstein does every day. Emily is a Board Certified Patient Advocate and Certified Community Health Worker who helps Umbra clients handle…
Read MoreMeet Karen Green-Heyward
Some of the hardest moments in health care are not medical. They are the moments when you sit in a room, hear a lot of words, and have no idea what to do next. Karen Green-Heyward works in those moments. She is a Strategic Advocacy Consultant and Patient Advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. She helps…
Read MoreWhat Should I Do If My Insurance Claim Is Denied?
An insurance claim denial is not the final answer. There are steps you can take to appeal it and often get it overturned. In 2024, insurers on HealthCare.gov denied 19% of in-network claims, but fewer than 1% of those denials were ever appealed. Of the people who did appeal, about one in three got the…
Read MoreMeet Gina White, PharmD, BCPA
Gina White, PharmD, BCMTMS, BCPA, CSSBB, FACHE, is a consultant pharmacist, healthcare navigator, and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. She brings more than twenty years of experience across clinical pharmacy, healthcare administration, and care coordination to the families she serves. Her focus is medication safety and complex medical decisions, and she helps clients understand…
Read MoreMeet Rachelle Cardinal, RN
Rachelle Cardinal, RN, is a registered nurse and patient advocate with Umbra Health Advocacy. She brings 15 years of nursing experience to the clients and families she serves, and she has spent that time close to nearly every part of the healthcare system. Her focus is helping people navigate complex medical situations with confidence, clear…
Read MoreMeet Patient Advocate: Laura Finnelly, RN, BCPA, CSCM
Laura Finnelly is a Registered Nurse (RN), Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA), and Certified Senior Care Manager(CSCM) with more than 30 years of healthcare experience. As an Umbra advocate, she helps older adults, veterans, caregivers, and families navigate Medicare, complex medical situations, and care transitions with clarity and confidence. An Air Force veteran herself, Laura…
Read MoreCase Study: How a patient advocate helped caregivers convince their mom she needed support
If you have an aging parent, you may have a hard time motivating them to do the things that will keep them well. You wonder, “How can I convince mom she needs support?” Their doctor tells them to do physical therapy. They go once and quit. You notice they have no food in the fridge…
Read MoreDental Advocate: Shelbey Arevalo, BCPA
Shelbey Arevalo is a Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) with more than 16 years of experience in the dental and healthcare industry. As an Umbra advocate, she supports clients and families who feel overwhelmed, confused, or unsure about their dental care, insurance, or treatment options. Shelbey is one of the few advocates in the country…
Read MoreQuestions to Ask a Long Term Care Facility
What Questions Should You Ask a Long-Term Care Facility? Choosing an assisted living community, nursing home, or memory care facility is one of the most important decisions a family will make. The brochures all look beautiful. The tours all highlight the best features. But how do you really know if a place will provide good…
Read MoreInsurance Said No. An Umbra Advocate Overturned It.
An insurance claim denial cut off care a young man had relied on for 18 years. His family had already appealed and lost. Then they came to Umbra. A lifetime of care, ended overnight For most of his life, a young man with a complex genetic disorder relied on in home nursing care to stay…
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