ethansmom Posted November 14, 2003 Report Share Posted November 14, 2003 I am so discouraged. I have always been covered under my parents health insurance plan since I am a student, but I am turning 22 next week and they are dropping me. I have looked into a dependent continuation plan, but that is going to cost $379 per month to keep my same coverage- OUCH My boyfriend and I already pay that much to have him and the baby covered under his insurance. I also looked into getting on his insurance, but they don't allow an unmarried domestic partner to be covered, and Medicaid won't cover me because I am over 19 and not pregnant or on disability. I don't plan on applying for disability because I am going back to work in a month, but it's only part time so my employer cannot offer benefits.I have looked at all the options, and because I have a pre-existing condition, I can't get a policy for under $700 per month unless I stay with my current insurance company and pay the $379, which is still unaffordable for us. Has anyone been through this, or can offer me some type of advice? I am panicking because as of December 22, I will no longer have health insurance- and the Pro-Amatine alone is going to cost me a fortune, not to mention the other meds and frequent doctor visits. HELP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Sawicki Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Hi Jessica,Sorry to hear about your dilemma! I went years without health insurance when I was younger....and I had a young son. It was scary! Is there any possibility the Dr. you are seeing now would give you a price break since you will be working for him? Just a thought... some doctors do it. Also, are there any "clinics for the uninsured" where you live? You might want to check with your local Health Dept. There is both a free medical and dental clinic in the city that I work in. Not that they will know what to do for POTS, but they may be able to help for lesser, more common ailments.I wish you the best,Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Hi Jessica,Sorry to hear about your problem. I haven't had any insurance in 2 years and I really haven't been able to find any type of government help. One thing that can help is to tell the doctor/s you see that you don't have insurance and explain what kind of situation your in. They will usually reduce their fees and give you free meds if they can. I saw a neurologist recently who asked me how I have been paying for all this. After explainig to her what I have been going thru she waved her personal fee of $120 and only charged me $100 for the hospitals portion. My asthma speacilist waves $50 of his fee now and gives me free meds any time I call in for them. Which saves me over $200 a month! I tried to get free Proamatine from my cardiologist, but they never have any. I hope this helps you out at least little bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Sawicki Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 There are also some programs out there that you may qualify for. Have you checked out: http://www.helpingpatients.org/ I don't know if proamatine is available through them, but it's worth a try.I second what Roy said about doctors cutting their fees. I met some remarkable doctors when I was without insurance. One time I had a small benign tumor in my arm that was continuing to grow and had to be taken out. I saved some money -probably not nearly enough- and went to see a surgeon. When he found out I didn't have insurance he waived the appointment fee and took the tumor out for $50....probably much less than what he should have charged for just the supplies & his time alone. And he never charged me for any follow up appointments either. I will never forget how good that Dr. was to me. Hopefully you too can find some great physicians like Roy and I have found. They are out there.Best wishes,Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneva Posted November 15, 2003 Report Share Posted November 15, 2003 Hi Jessica, at one time I thought I might lose my insurance and that was scary so I can understand how unsettling this is for you. I wish I had some ideas to offer but other than what has been suggested above, I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you and hoping that a solution will become available before your deadline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkNik Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 HI Jessica, I was without insurance for 5 yrs and it was very scary for me. I too work only part time but as long as you work 20 hrs or morre a week you are intitled to medical insurance. You might want to ask your new employer if he will meet you half way with the cost of coverage. If he has medical insurance for other workers there it won't be as costly for you. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlacat Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 Hi JessicaI know how you feel. My cobra runs out in April, right now I'm paying $333.00 a month and if my disability happens to go thru by April then they will give me an 11 month extension on my cbra but my monthly payment goes up to 590.00 and my check will only be 695.00. So we are having to sell our home and move back where I lived before cause at least I can get help from the state there. West Virginia wont help you unless ya live in a box..I was told that I am one of those people who fall between the cracks. The health care is terrible...I take 6 meds everyday and I need my health ins.Carlacat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethansmom Posted November 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2003 Thank you everyone for your great advice!! I have made an appointment with my local health department to see if I qualify for a sliding scale type of insurance, so we'll see what happens. If I do qualify, they will pay for all my medications and help me pay for my POTS specialist, since they obviously can't treat me for that with their docs . I didn't want to resort to this, but I guess they want to make life harder for those of us who have it hard enough already....thanks again for your responses!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Sawicki Posted November 23, 2003 Report Share Posted November 23, 2003 Wishing you luck on you appointment!Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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