Michael Van Essen is a professional Benefits Specialist at Pacific Clinics living in Southern California and working a challenging, full time career in the private health care industry. Along the way, he was fortunate to receive counseling that Medi-Cal’s California Working Disabled Program (CWD) offered the seamless health services he needed to maintain Medi-Cal benefits while working and saving for his retirement with his new IRA. Michael’s tough road back to independence began in 1985 when he learned he was HIV positive – though he remained in relatively good health until 1992 when diagnosed with full-blown AIDS. He had to quit his job for a period of years. By 1997, with access to good health care and the right supports, he worked at restoring his health at age 45.
Both bored and eager to get back in the game, he explored work options that would not risk his health coverage which provided the bridge he needed to survive. He moved from part time jobs to counseling work at the AIDS Project Los Angeles and his full time career after finding and enrolling in Medi-Cal’s California Working Disabled Program. He continues to work full time thriving, not just surviving, while he counsels others how to meet their career goals and health care needs at the same time. If you would like to be involved in seeing improvements to the CWD please contact Bryon MacDonald 510 251 4304 for more information on how to get involved!
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