💐Spring Newsletter

Welcome back to the HealthPair Newsletter! After another cold winter with lots of snow, wind, and parking space savers, it’s finally Spring! Thanks to a little St. Patrick’s Day luck, we're finally heading into warmer days. It's the perfect time to check in on our health and the small steps we can take to better navigate healthcare 💚

March 31, 2026

👋 Welcome to the Team

It’s been a busy past few months for us as we’ve been working on expanding our team!

Welcome to our team, Emma! As our new Community Outreach Coordinator, she’ll be building our digital and physical presence across the community. HealthPair will be partnering and coming to many events throughout Boston, so if you see her around the city, make sure to say hi and give a wave!

Cindy’s our new Marketing Manager and will be overseeing the social media team and contributing to newsletters, like this one! She’ll help us connect with more students, professionals, and health advocates interested in the shared goal of improving health literacy.

📝 Guest Column: You Only Get One Car, Take the Wheel

Meet Kristen Leland, a licensed school psychologist who has called both London and Florida home. After years of supporting students, she’s here to share a unique perspective on how we typically think about personal health. Check out this little snippet and be sure to read the full article on our website to learn more about Kristen’s reflection on what it means to take control of our health!

“I want to tell you something I wish someone had sat me down and said clearly. You have permission to take the wheel.

You can take driving lessons. You can watch and observe others drive, but until you are behind the wheel you do not know what to expect. It takes practice, time, and experience to build confidence, to learn the road, to know your car, and to understand the signals. At some point it becomes an automatic skill, however, you must always remain vigilant, aware, and be mindful of your safety. Similarly, your health works the same way, and driving your health is the most important responsibility you will ever navigate. My hope for you is that you will build your driver’s guide, your blueprint for knowing your car, and you will maintain it with the same vigilance, awareness, and safety. My wish is to provide you with a GPS, not to drive the road for you, but to help you navigate with confidence, awareness, and intention. The route is yours.

Is your health driving you, or are you driving it?”

Kristen S. Leland

Do you have any health knowledge or wellness tips you’re excited about? We’re always looking for voices to share their insights with the HealthPair community. If writing is your thing, send us your ideas and we can’t wait to feature your expertise!

🚀 Get Involved with HealthPair!

Are you looking for ways to make a difference and boost your skills? Join HealthPair!

We’re currently seeking Brand Ambassadors and a Social Media Manager to help expand our reach. If hands-on experience is more your style, we also have openings for Hospital/CHC Workshop Volunteers to contribute directly to our health literacy programs in the Boston-area.

Come be part of our community and help make health literacy accessible for everyone!

🌟 Learn more with Health Insurance 101!

Think you’ve got health insurance figured out? Our Health Insurance 101 course is here to help you take charge of your own health! This 10+ hour self-paced course breaks down often confusing topics like the mysteries of insurance, decoding your insurance card, and budgeting for medical costs all in bite-sized, easy to follow lessons!

🍀 Learn while you play: HealthPair Word Search!

Have a few minutes to spare? Can you spot all the terms that help you navigate healthcare like a pro in our HealthPair Word Search? Make sure to read our HealthPair comments and tips on all the words in the puzzle!

Copayment
- Have you ever gone to the doctors and at check-in, they ask you to pay $20 before you even see the doctor? That’s a copayment. They’re fixed fees that depending on your plan and type of care, often range from $10 to $50.
Prevention
- Fun fact: In the U.S., over 150 million people with private insurance can receive preventive services without any out-of-pocket costs. We definitely didn’t know this! Preventative care can save lives and it’s important to book an annual general wellness check with your PCP. Double check since your insurance may even cover the full cost!
Mindful
- It’s always a great time to take a break and check in with yourself. Ask yourself some of these questions: How are you feeling at this very moment? Is there anything weighing on your mind? What are you looking forward to in the next few months? We can get so caught up in our hectic days so even pausing for a couple minutes can reorient us.
Health
- We often think good health means just a lack of physical illness, but that’s not true. Good health is also taking care of your mental and emotional wellbeing. Be proactive about your full health, don't always wait until physical symptoms appear!
Sleep
- Unfortunately, it’s easy to lose track of time (believe us, we’ve all been there!) Sleep often falls to the bottom of the list as we try to balance our growing to-do lists filled with things like school, work, promising your friend you’ll try a new restaurant with them, and meeting important deadlines. But remember, sleep is your body’s natural medicine, so please prioritize it. Try setting your phone to Do Not Disturb every night if you are tempted by it.
Vaccine
- Although flu season’s ending, it’s still important to be up to date on all recommended vaccinations. Check in with your doctor or stop at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens if you want to skip the lines. Many offer same-day appointments for common vaccines and guess what? They’re often covered by your insurance!
Self care
- When was the last time you grabbed a book, a frisbee, your bike, or just a pair of headphones and went outside? These are things you can do for self-care! If you’re in Boston, keep an eye out for mid-April because the famous cherry blossoms are almost here and remember, spending just 30 minutes a day outside can be a game changer.
Referral
- Quick question: If you have insurance, can you directly visit a specialist? Not always! Some insurance plans require you to have a referral from your PCP or else the visit may not be covered. Try sites like ZocDoc if you need any help finding PCPs or specialists in your area that accept your insurance.
HealthPair
- We’re here to help you build confidence in navigating the U.S. healthcare system. It’s scary, but it’s possible! From educational resources to courses and community programs, our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need to become your own advocate! Learn more about what we have to offer here!

Thanks for reading, until next time! Follow us on our social media to stay up to date with what we’re working on! 💚