My family and I just made a huge move from Oklahoma to Oregon for my husband’s new job — our own Oregon Trail, but with meltdowns and caffeine instead of oxen and dysentery. Survival level: expert.
This was our first big move, and we quickly learned it wasn’t just about buying moving boxes and packing them. Spoiler alert: this optimistic guess was way off. We had to pay for moving expenses, downsize our belongings, and secure housing — all before we were able to figure out our new health insurance and how it would affect the care of our son with cystic fibrosis.
When my husband got the job, we immediately started combing through the employer health plan to see if it would cover our son’s CF medications, new CF clinic, and all the other things CF requires. I compared costs, checked on specialty meds, and reached out to parents in the area through a Facebook group for honest reviews of the new clinic.
After trekking the 2,000 grueling miles, we were just happy to have beds set up in our new home. We unpacked boxes, explored our new city, and slowly started to settle in. A few days later, my husband started his new job — which he loves — and called me to say his first paycheck wouldn’t come for a month. Ouch! Deep breath. And the second hit? Our health insurance wouldn’t kick in until we received that first paycheck.
Leaving Oklahoma, I worried about going even a week without health insurance coverage. Now? A whole month. My mind raced, and then I started counting enzymes, staring into the medicine cabinet at a math problem I couldn’t solve.
As a volunteer with the CF Foundation’s Financial Wellness Advisory Committee, we often talk about how families navigate financial challenges. But this time, it wasn’t theoretical. It was us, right in the middle of it.
When life throws you a curveball, knowing who you can reach out to makes all the difference. Over the years, I’ve pictured our support system as circles: an inner circle of family and close friends, and outer ones — our CF care team, other parents, and even the companies behind our medicines. When a crisis hits, I can almost see those circles in my mind, and I start reaching out. Who can help? Who might have answers? Who’s been through this before? That mental map has carried us through more than one tough season, including this one.
I turned to the CF Mamas Facebook group, and they delivered. The best advice I received? Contact both the old and new CF clinics; ask the pharmacy for a “vacation supply” of medications (something we didn’t realize was possible before the move); and call the enzyme manufacturer’s customer care line.
When I called the enzyme company, I was blown away by their compassion and speed. Within a week, an emergency supply of enzymes was on our doorstep. Their support allowed me to finally breathe.
We also leaned heavily on our family and friends during this time — we wouldn’t have made it without them. I’m happy to report that we made it to the end of October, and we’re still standing. We even managed a little trick-or-treating, where our CFer proudly marched around as “a witch, with a green face and a black broom!”
So, for anyone planning a move — big or small — here’s the checklist I wish I’d had to avoid unnecessary stress and unexpected costs:
- If you’re switching jobs, confirm when your current insurance will end and when your new plan will begin.
- Ask about a “vacation supply” of all your medications and enzymes (Note: coverage varies, so contact your insurance to see if this is an option for you).
- Contact your CF clinic for samples if you’re running low.
- Reach out to your new CF clinic early (even before you arrive in your new city) to get established.
- And if you do end up in a bind, ask for help.
I’m also a big advocate for making a “who to call” list — friends, family, care team, support groups — so when life gets chaotic, you don’t have to think about who to go to.
In the end, that’s what made the difference for my family. We thought this move might break us, but it didn’t. Our people and our community carried us through, one box, one resource, one deep breath at a time.
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