The Compass Collective

11/02/2026

"Do you understand your medication?"

For a lot of patients, the honest answer is no. Not because they aren't paying attention, but because no one explained it in their language.

I speak Spanish. I'm not perfectly fluent, but I'm fluent enough to see what changes when a patient hears their own language.

Their shoulders drop. They ask the question they were too embarrassed to ask before. They tell you the thing that actually matters: they can't afford it, they don't have a ride, they stopped taking it two weeks ago.
That's when real care starts.

What I've learned leading in two languages:

→ Trust comes before treatment. People follow a plan they understand from someone they trust.
→ "No questions" doesn't mean "understood." It often means "I don't know how to ask."
→ The gaps are hidden. Missed appointments, "noncompliance" and denied claims often trace back to a form someone couldn't read.
→ Language is more than words. It's culture, family and how people make decisions about their health.

One example: I once helped a grieving family by translating the documents they needed to bring their loved one home to another country. It wasn't in any job description. But at the hardest moment of their lives, they understood every step, and they didn't feel alone.

That's what language access really is. Not a nice-to-have, but the difference between care that reaches people and care that misses them.

To healthcare leaders: bilingual staff aren't just "the person who translates." They're often the bridge your patients have been waiting for. Value them like it.

Do you speak more than one language at work? How has it changed the way you serve people? 👇🏽

11/02/2026

Open enrollment for health insurance is officially here, and this year there's something new you need to know about 👀

If you buy your own insurance (not through a job, Medicare or Medicaid), now is the time to sign up or switch plans through Virginia's Insurance Marketplace.

📅 The dates:

✔️ Enroll by December 31 for coverage that starts January 1
✔️ Open enrollment ends January 29

💰 What's new this year:

Virginia created a new program called Virginia Premium Savings. It could cut your monthly premium by up to 70% if your household income falls in the right range (roughly $22,000 to $39,900 a year for one person).
It's first come, first served, so don't wait until the last minute.

⚠️ Why you should check your plan, even if you have one:

The extra federal savings many people had ended after 2025, so your price may look different this year. Don't just let your plan renew without checking. A few minutes of comparing could save you real money
Feeling overwhelmed by all the plans and paperwork? That's what I'm here for. I'll help you understand your options and walk you through applying, one step at a time.

📞 (757) 344-3270
📧 [email protected]
Hablo español. 💛

You can also go straight to marketplace.virginia.gov or call 888-687-1501.
Please share this with a friend, a family member, or anyone who's self-employed or between jobs. It could save them hundreds this year.

10/28/2026

Medicare Open Enrollment ends December 7, and I want to make sure you're not leaving money on the table.

So many people I talk to are paying more for Medicare than they need to. Not because help doesn't exist, but because no one told them about it.

Virginia has programs that can help pay for:

✔️ Your Part B premium (that's over $200 a month back in your pocket)
✔️ Deductibles, copays and coinsurance
✔️ Prescriptions, with copays as low as $5.10

And here's the part people miss: many folks qualify even when they think they won't. Your home and car usually don't count, and some income doesn't count either.

Take a look at the chart. If your numbers are close, it's worth checking.
Not sure if you qualify? That's what I'm here for. I'll look at your situation with you and walk you through applying, one step at a time.

🌐 thecompasscollective.org

Hablo español. 💛

Please share this with a parent, grandparent, neighbor or anyone on Medicare. This information can change someone's whole month.

10/28/2026

10/27/2026

Can I tell you something I see all the time?

People aren’t falling through the cracks because they don’t care about their health. They fall through because no one is there to help them through the system.

I recently worked with a woman who was prescribed a medication she couldn’t afford. Insurance covered part of it, but what was left cost more than her rent. She stopped answering calls. Not because she didn’t care, but because she was overwhelmed, embarrassed and doing it all alone.

So we did it together. I found assistance programs, helped her fill out every application, and kept following up until the cost was something she could manage. She started her treatment.

That’s what The Compass Collective is here for.

If you or someone you love is dealing with:
✔️ Medications you can’t afford
✔️ Insurance denials or confusing paperwork
✔️ Appointments, referrals or providers you can’t seem to reach
✔️ Not knowing where to even start

You don’t have to figure it out alone. I’ll walk with you.

Hablo español. 💛

Know someone who needs this? Share it or tag them. Sometimes the help people need is just one connection away.

www.thecompasscollective.org

#757

10/23/2026

¿Recibió una carta diciendo que su plan Medicare Advantage va a terminar? No se asuste, pero tampoco la ignore. 💙

Algunos planes Medicare Advantage de UnitedHealthcare y Humana no se ofrecerán en 2027. No todos los miembros están afectados, y Medicare en sí NO va a desaparecer. Pero si su plan termina, lo que haga en las próximas semanas es importante.

Lo que debe saber:

✅ Lea el aviso de su plan. Busque su Aviso Anual de Cambios o una carta que diga que su plan no se renovará.

✅ Si no hace nada, pasará a Medicare Original. Eso suena bien, pero Medicare Original NO incluye cobertura de medicamentos recetados. Podría empezar el 2027 sin cobertura para sus medicinas.

✅ Es posible que tenga protecciones especiales. Cuando su plan sale de su área, puede tener el derecho garantizado de comprar ciertos planes Suplementarios de Medicare (Medigap), aunque tenga condiciones de salud.

✅ La Inscripción Abierta es del 15 de octubre al 7 de diciembre. Es el mejor momento para comparar planes y asegurarse de que sus médicos y medicamentos estén cubiertos.

✅ Compare antes de decidir. Use el buscador de planes en Medicare.gov o llame al 1-800-MEDICARE. Hay ayuda disponible en español.

No tiene que resolver esto solo. Si usted o un ser querido recibió una de estas cartas y se siente abrumado, The Compass Collective le puede ayudar a entender sus opciones y próximos pasos.

📍 Sirviendo a Hampton Roads
🌐 thecompasscollective.org

Por favor comparta esto con sus padres, abuelos, vecinos o cualquier persona con Medicare. Una conversación de cinco minutos puede evitarle a alguien mucho estrés en enero.

10/23/2026

Got a letter saying your Medicare Advantage plan is ending? Don’t panic, and don’t ignore it. 💙

Some UnitedHealthcare and Humana Medicare Advantage plans won’t be offered in 2027. Not everyone is affected, and Medicare itself is NOT going anywhere. But if your plan is ending, what you do in the next few weeks matters.

Here’s what to know:

✅ Read your plan notice. Look for your Annual Notice of Change or a letter saying your plan is not renewing.

✅ If you do nothing, you’ll be moved to Original Medicare. That sounds fine, but it does NOT include prescription drug coverage. You could start 2027 without coverage for your medications.

✅ You may have special protections. When your plan leaves your area, you may have a guaranteed right to buy certain Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, even with health conditions.

✅ Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7. This is the best time to compare plans and make sure your doctors and medications are covered.

✅ Check before you choose. Use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to compare options.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. If you or someone you love got one of these letters and feels overwhelmed, The Compass Collective can help you understand your options and next steps.

📍 Serving Hampton Roads
🌐 thecompasscollective.org

Please share this with a parent, grandparent, neighbor, or anyone on Medicare. A five minute conversation could save someone a lot of stress in January.

10/18/2026

💚 October is Liver Cancer Awareness Month 💚

On March 31, 2025, I lost my grandmother to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of primary liver cancer that many people may have never even heard of.

For me, liver cancer awareness is more than a campaign, a ribbon, or another health observance on the calendar. It is personal. It has a name, a face, and a place in my heart that will never be filled.

What many people may not know is that my grandmother is the reason The Compass Collective exists.

Her life, her journey, and ultimately her passing became part of the foundation for something much bigger than myself. The Compass Collective was born from a desire to help people navigate systems that can feel overwhelming, confusing, and inaccessible, especially when they are already facing some of life's most difficult circumstances.

I wanted to create something rooted in compassion, education, advocacy, and community. Something that reminds people they deserve to be heard, informed, supported, and treated with dignity.

And that purpose will always be connected to her.

So, let's talk about hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

HCC is the most common type of primary liver cancer, accounting for approximately 75–85% of cases worldwide. However, primary liver cancer itself is much less common in the United States than cancers such as breast, lung, or colorectal cancer.

Just because a disease isn't discussed as frequently doesn't mean its impact is any less devastating.

Here are a few things everyone should know:

💚 Liver cancer can develop silently. Early-stage liver cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms, making detection challenging.

💚 Alcohol is not the only risk factor. Chronic hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can increase the risk of HCC. Some individuals develop HCC without cirrhosis.

💚 Symptoms aren't always obvious. Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin or eyes can occur. These symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

💚 Surveillance can make a difference. Certain individuals at increased risk may benefit from liver cancer surveillance, generally every six months, depending on their medical history and clinical recommendations.

💚 A diagnosis should never come with judgment. Liver cancer has multiple causes, and someone's diagnosis should never be reduced to assumptions about their lifestyle or personal choices.

As someone who has spent years working in healthcare and patient advocacy, I know how important it is for people to understand their health, ask questions, and have access to appropriate resources.

But as a granddaughter, I understand something else entirely.

I understand the grief that comes with losing someone you love. The conversations you wish you could have again. The moments you wish you could revisit. And the reality of learning how to carry someone's memory while continuing to move forward.

The Compass Collective is one of the ways I carry my grandmother with me.

Every person I help navigate a healthcare barrier, every resource I share, every conversation about mental health, and every opportunity to advocate for someone who feels unheard is connected to the purpose behind this organization.

My grandmother was so much more than her diagnosis, and I never want her story to be defined solely by the disease that took her life.

Instead, I want her legacy to be reflected in the lives we touch, the barriers we help people overcome, and the communities we continue to serve.

This October, I am raising awareness about liver cancer while honoring the woman whose life helped inspire a mission that continues to grow.

The Compass Collective exists because of her. And through this work, her legacy continues.

In her memory. For their awareness. 💚🕊️