Anne Webster: Welcome to your employee podcast, where you can hear and learn from other Costco employees who have overcome or managed their own well-being challenges with the help of Costco benefits. Today we’re talking with Costco employee Crystal Beckstead. Hi Crystal, and thanks for joining us.

Crystal Beckstead: Hi Anne. Glad to be here.

Anne Webster: So how long have you been with Costco?

Crystal Beckstead: Since May of 2022.

Anne Webster: And which location do you work at?

Crystal Beckstead: In warehouse 672 in St. George Utah.

Anne Webster: Great. And what do you do there?

Crystal Beckstead: I’m a baker in the bakery.

Anne Webster: So you have to tell me, what are the top-selling bakery items in your location?

Crystal Beckstead: Muffins and cheesecake.

Anne Webster: Two great choices. How about when you’re not at work? What do you like to do in your spare time?

Crystal Beckstead: I enjoy crafting and just hanging out with the family.

Anne Webster: That sounds lovely. So let’s move on to your story. What health challenge led you to seek help from your Costco benefits?

Crystal Beckstead: Last year in May of 2023, my 14-year-old son was diagnosed with Leukemia.

Anne Webster: Oh no.

Crystal Beckstead: I had never used the health insurance benefits before. So when I contacted Aetna, they connected me with the Live Healthy team who then set me up with my case manager, Monica, and she helped me get in touch with resources for support, managing my accounts, answering my questions, and she checks up on my family regularly.

Anne Webster: That’s great to hear. The Live Healthy team is a wonderful resource to connect you to all kinds of professionals, registered dieticians, pharmacists, and social workers as well. And I think you worked with a social worker to get some travel benefits?

Crystal Beckstead: Yes, I did. Our situation was to travel up to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City once a week for the first year. And for us that was over 300 miles one way.

Anne Webster: Oh wow.

Crystal Beckstead: So we were lucky enough to qualify for the travel and lodging and that helps cover the costs of car rentals, gas, food for two people and lodging if necessary. So you just hold onto your receipts and I kept track of it on a log and send it up once a month.

Anne Webster: I’m so glad you get that help. That is quite a rigorous schedule. And how is your son doing today?

Crystal Beckstead: He’s doing great. He’s back in school and he’s managing his meds properly. He also goes to the gym a couple times a week so he can build his strength back up.

Anne Webster: That’s so wonderful to hear. It just warms my heart. And I think you were saying that your team was really supportive there at Costco as well with your schedule?

Crystal Beckstead: Yes, very supportive. I just kept in open communication with my managers and supervisors and kept them in the loop of how often we needed treatment and how long we were going to be out of town. I had coworkers step up to help with scheduling to take over my spot when needed. It was just very supportive and a great environment to be in.

Anne Webster: I hear that a lot from Costco employees. I’m so glad people were there for you and I’m really happy you found the support that you needed when you needed it. You said that you’re still in contact with the Live Healthy coach Monica, which is wonderful. Does she ever talk to you about any emotional support services?

Crystal Beckstead: Yes, she offers them to our family regularly and I keep her informed with which ones my kids are comfortable with.

Anne Webster: That’s great to hear. Yeah, there are a lot of options which makes it nice for employees. It sounds like in the process you learned a lot about your benefits as well. Let me ask you, do you take the We’re In This Together Pledge each year?

Crystal Beckstead: Yes, I do.

Anne Webster: That’s great. It’s really the best way to discover your benefits, get to understand them and be able to use them to help you live better. And importantly, listeners, the next pledge will be this January. The pledge takes under a minute to complete, so be sure to take it. One more question for you, Crystal. What advice would you give a co-worker about using your Costco benefits?

Crystal Beckstead: I would tell them don’t wait, to take advantage of all that our benefits have to offer. There’s help out there to live a full and healthy life. I had so much support from family, friends, church, co-workers, managers, and all the programs that Costco benefits had to offer and other outside resources. So it just made this journey a little lighter.

Anne Webster: Thank you so much for sharing your amazing story with us and spending time with us. Until next time, stay well, be safe and remember, We’re In This Together.