Yan (Annie) Looi

Annie Looi credits her 1199SEIU benefits with helping her get and stay healthy —and become a U.S. citizen.

After moving to the U.S. from Ipoh, Malaysia, eight years ago where she worked as a nurse’s assistant, Yan (Annie) Looi quickly developed a passion for her new career as a Home Health Aide with First Chinese Presbyterian Community Home Attendants. Her work caring for her clients—including one with severe disabilities—gives her a sense of fulfillment. “It makes me feel so happy to be able to help people for a living,” she explained.

When the pandemic began, Annie continued to do her job and put her clients first while taking all necessary precautions, like wearing a mask, washing her hands regularly and, in April, getting vaccinated. “COVID-19 shouldn’t be a reason not to work,” Annie said. “We still have to do our best for our clients. If I don’t work, my clients would have nobody to give them the help they need.”

And Annie’s health benefits have been there to help her. At a routine checkup four years ago, she was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure—conditions requiring medications that are covered by her benefits. “I’m very thankful for that,” she said. To stay healthy and clear her mind, she often walks to work, up to 30 minutes a day. She also took her doctor’s advice and avoids foods that are heavy in oil or salt, especially when she prepares one of her favorite dishes—coconut rice.

Annie has also taken advantage of the 1199SEIU Citizenship Program to become a U.S. citizen in 2020. She attended classes and got help from an expert who spoke her language to fill out the required forms and prepare for the test and her interview. The program even helped her cover some of the costs of her application fee. “Everyone on staff was so helpful,” she said. “My English isn’t very good, so if I didn’t have that assistance, the process would have been very difficult for me. But now I really feel like I belong. These benefits mean so much to me.”

“It makes me feel so happy to be able to help people for a living.”

What Do Your Benefits Mean to You?

You count on your health benefits to support you in your efforts to stay healthy, whether it’s by getting regular checkups, keeping a chronic condition under control or just improving your lifestyle in general. But has there ever been a time when your health coverage literally saved your life or the life of a loved one? If so, we’d like to hear from you. To share your story with your fellow members in an upcoming issue of For Your Benefit, please contact the Funds at Communications@1199Funds.org.