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Navigating America's Health Insurance System: It Takes a Village

In this video, vascular cardiologist Dr. Bernard Ashby describes an experience treating an uninsured pregnant patient with high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. As a physician, getting the patient's blood pressure and sugar under control were at the top of Dr. Ashby's priority list. Little did he know that the biggest battle of all would come when facing down the profit-driven insurance industry to secure coverage for his patient's life-saving treatments and medications.

Thanks to Dr. Ashby and his staff's tireless advocacy, the patient ultimately received coverage for her pregnancy care needs. Today, her daughter is one—and thriving. "If it weren't for the support that she received from myself and the community," Dr. Ashby says, "she would not have had such a good outcome. And at the end of the day, I think it's up to all of us to work together to provide care for our most vulnerable, especially our mothers."

Visit OWN's Heart Health page throughout the month of February for vital updates and information about cardiac disease prevention.