I am delighted to introduce myself as the President of the Health Care Credit Union Association (HCCUA), the fastest growing association in the United States. This is a national organization with tens of thousands of members from all over the country. The HCCUA members are provided with a host of services, benefits, and privileges that help each member with financial wisdom and resources, cost effective savings, health and wellness, and lifestyle improvements. The membership benefits, to list just a few, include membership in credit unions with systematic savings (HCCUA puts money into their savings account every month!), financial planning, credit score improvement, credit counseling, free and discounted legal services, identity theft protection and monitoring, a roadside assistance program, licensed clinical counseling, doctors visits by phone, entertainment and travel discounts, pet care savings and discounts, health advocacy services, comprehensive wellness testing and profile, professional tax preparation and much more! We are adding services, benefits, and discounts all the time! Membership in HCCUA also provides the members with access to affordable health care insurance and prescription options, life insurance, and other long-term optional benefits.

Indeed, one of the best parts of my position as the President of HCCUA is to hear the needs of the members, and to work with others in providing the services they want to have available. After listening to the members, we are soon to add discounted vision, dental, hearing, and alternative health and wellness services and programs for optional members’ benefits. These discounted services will include all types of benefits from weight loss and smoking cessation programs to health clubs, vitamins, massage, and acupuncture. This is a great job!

I will be blogging about many subjects, and I welcome any comments and thoughts you may have in return. I took this position as the President of HCCUA because I was deeply disturbed by the 45.7 million people in the U.S. who do not have health care insurance, and the results that may occur in the physical, mental, and financial health of so many people due to this lack of an essential need. About two years ago, I was hit by another car from behind while coming down a mountain road. This resulted in a pinched nerve in my spine, acute sciatica, subsequent knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, and months of physical therapy and acupuncture until I could walk and sit comfortably again. The driver who hit me didn’t have any accident insurance. Some of these expenses were covered by my medical insurance, and others were not. I expect that I am among the lucky as certainly I was able to afford the medical services that I needed, but what if I had not been able to have my surgery and orthopedic expenses defrayed by medical insurance? Would I still be living in constant pain and not able to walk properly? Would I be able to drive and work? How would this impact my quality of life?

A little bit about my background…..I was born on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and raised near the ocean. I love outdoor activities and sports- swimming, hiking, kayaking, dancing, martial arts, fishing, skiing- to name a few favorites. I really enjoy traveling and learning from new people about their cultures and favorite spots in their home territories. I believe all of us have the ability to be healthy, wealthy, and wise in whatever ways we want and need. I take each day as a new adventure, and I hope you do, too! Let me hear from you!