What do you do If No Insurance and Dont have a great salary? - General Health Message Board

nokoBot · 04-01-2008, 07:39 PM

I 'm in pain, dont know what to do.. I cant' do nothing cause if i go to the doctors , they'll just want to charge me so much for tests. I'm in total debt now with student loans and other stuff.

So what do we do? Just leave the injuries and hope that they will get better?
Seems that's the only thing to do if we have no money and no insurance

janewhite1 · 04-01-2008, 07:49 PM

Well, letting the doctor know your financial situation in advance can be a help. Many will negotiate fees, and some, especially in clinics that cater to the uninsured, will actually break away from the CYA testing-for-everything mentality and focus on the measures that are most likely to help you for the least cost.

reachout · 04-01-2008, 08:21 PM

Check out your town's. or a neighbororing town's clinics. These clinics have qualified doctors and the charges are prorated according to your income. ususally youre last two pay stubs will need to be offered for proof of income.

Calling the hospital closest to you and asking for the social worker should get some results for the phone and addresses of the clinics near you. Or check the beginning section of the local phone book. Or call the Dept of Health in your city for info.

I worked on a school system and many of the students and their families used the clinuc in our town. The services were very professional and the staff very caring.

My daughter is in the same boat as you and is calling our town's clinic this week.

Best wishes
reach

Sixty8rs · 04-01-2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nokoBot

I 'm in pain, dont know what to do.. I cant' do nothing cause if i go to the doctors , they'll just want to charge me so much for tests. I'm in total debt now with student loans and other stuff.

So what do we do? Just leave the injuries and hope that they will get better?
Seems that's the only thing to do if we have no money and no insurance

I feel your pain dude I am in total medical bill debt with no income because of my condition I can no longer work. Bill collectors just do not care about any situation a person may be in, they want their money asap!! I do believe that my health comes first and forget the bill collectors, thats stinks as lots of hospitals have cash or whatever set aside for these very situations or so I have heard

MountainReader · 04-01-2008, 09:20 PM

Try a local health clinic. They often bill on a sliding scale depending on your income.

Also, you may want to check to see if your state has some state insurance for those with low-income. (Similar to the children's SCHIP programs.) If so, try applying. There are still co-pays and it doesn't cover everything, but it is helpful.

I also agree about talking to the hospitals.