diff --git a/src/api/v1/router.py b/src/api/v1/router.py
index ed83c4e..1009f5b 100644
--- a/src/api/v1/router.py
+++ b/src/api/v1/router.py
@@ -46,6 +46,21 @@ async def insurance_chat(request: models.InsuranceChatRequest):
         # raise e
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail=f"Error processing chat request: {str(e)}")
 
+@router.post("/initialize", response_model=models.InitializeChatResponse)
+async def init_chat(request: models.InitializeChatRequest):
+    application = None
+    if request.context and request.context.application:
+        application = request.context.application
+    elif request.context and request.context.applicationDTO:
+        application = json.loads(base64.b64decode(request.context.applicationDTO).decode())
+
+    result = await chat_service.initialize_chat(str(request.userId), application)
+    return models.InitializeChatResponse(
+        session_id=result["session_id"],
+        answer=result["answer"],
+    )
+
+
 @router.post("/estimation", response_model=models.EstimationResponse)
 async def estimate(request: models.EstimationRequest):
     """Handle insurance estimation requests"""
diff --git a/src/models.py b/src/models.py
index 75bdbc0..684250c 100644
--- a/src/models.py
+++ b/src/models.py
@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ class InsuranceChatRequest(BaseModel):
     session_id: str | None = Field(None, description="Chat session ID")
     context: InsuranceChatContext | None = None
 
+class InitializeChatRequest(BaseModel):
+    userId: str | int
+    context: InsuranceChatContext | None = None
+
+class InitializeChatResponse(BaseModel):
+    session_id: str
+    answer: str
+
 class Source(BaseModel):
     plan_name: str
     chunk_number: int
diff --git a/src/services/chat_service.py b/src/services/chat_service.py
index 705a0a1..c88ecd9 100644
--- a/src/services/chat_service.py
+++ b/src/services/chat_service.py
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ from .session_service import session_service
 from ..api.v1.models import Source, HistoryItem
 from ..config import settings
 from ..database import Session, UserSession
+from datetime import datetime
+
+# vars: name
+INIT_MESSAGES = [
+    "Hi. I’m Alia, your personal benefits assistant! If you have a question at any point in the enrollment process, just ask, and  I’ll try to get you an answer.",
+    "Hi, {name}! Welcome back! As usual, I’m here if you have any questions!",
+    "Hi, {name}! Welcome back! Do you want to pick up where you left off and complete your PHQ?",
+]
 
 
 class ChatService:
@@ -125,6 +133,18 @@ class ChatService:
                 # raise e
                 print(f"Error getting chat history: {e}")
                 return []
+
+    async def get_last_chat_message_date(self, session_id: str):
+        async with await self.get_client() as client:
+            try:
+                response = await client.get("/chat/", params={"chat_session_id": session_id, "limit": 1})
+                resp_json = response.json()
+                msg_date = resp_json[0]["created_at"]
+                return datetime.fromisoformat(msg_date)
+            except:
+                return None
+
+
     
     def _extract_sources_from_response(self, response_text: str) -> List[Source]:
         """Extract sources from RAG search results if available"""
@@ -153,6 +173,51 @@ class ChatService:
             session.add(user_session)
             session.commit()
 
+    async def initialize_chat(self, uid: str, application):
+        session_id = await self.get_user_session(uid)
+        if not session_id or not await session_service.validate_session(session_id):
+            session_id = await session_service.create_session(agent_id=settings.TALESTORM_AGENT_ID)
+        try:
+            await self.create_user_session(uid, session_id)
+        except:
+            pass
+
+        try:
+            name = application["applicants"][0]["firstName"]
+        except:
+            return {
+                "session_id": session_id,
+                "answer": INIT_MESSAGES[0],
+            }
+
+        last_message = self.get_last_chat_message_date(session_id)
+        if not last_message:
+            return {
+                "session_id": session_id,
+                "answer": INIT_MESSAGES[0],
+            }
+
+        applicant = application["applicants"][0]
+        if not applicant.get("gender") or not applicant.get("dob") or applicant.get("dob") == "-01-" or not applicant.get("weight") or applicant.get("heightFt") is None or applicant.get("heightIn") is None:
+            return {
+                "session_id": session_id,
+                "answer": INIT_MESSAGES[2].format(name=name)
+            }
+
+        return {
+            "session_id": session_id,
+            "answer": INIT_MESSAGES[1].format(name=name)
+        }
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
 
     async def process_insurance_chat(self, message: str, session_id: Optional[str] = None, uid: Optional[str] = None, current_page: Optional[str] = None, application: Optional[dict] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Process an insurance chat request"""
@@ -162,7 +227,10 @@ class ChatService:
                     session_id = await self.get_user_session(uid)
                     if not session_id or not await session_service.validate_session(session_id):
                         session_id = await session_service.create_session(agent_id=settings.TALESTORM_AGENT_ID)
-                    await self.create_user_session(uid, session_id)
+                    try:
+                        await self.create_user_session(uid, session_id)
+                    except:
+                        pass
                 else:
                     session_id = await session_service.create_session(agent_id=settings.TALESTORM_AGENT_ID)