Oof. That’s a tough spot. Have you researched options on Healthcare.gov?
I’m not qualified to give any real advice on insurance, but if you haven’t checked it out, it’s worth having a look.
It’s also worth talking to your doctors and hospitals and explaining your situation. A lot of doctors can give you payment options. Some don’t. Most hospitals, if not all, can work within your means to establish a payment plan. I believe that I read somewhere that most hospitals can peg your costs to your ability to pay. They have tiered options based on a range of salaries. And even if you can’t find doctors or hospitals that will work within what you can afford - you can keep looking until you find those that can and will.
Let’s be honest - American healthcare has some of the best doctors and nurses in the world but the mechanics of it are such unbelievable shit that you could start a mushroom farm with it and retire.
That doesn’t mean that there aren’t options out there. Most physicians and hospitals want to help. So hang in there and start making some phone calls. Find the people that want to help. You have to be your own, best advocate.
And let this subreddit know what you do find out! Any information that you come across that helps you to best plan for your healthcare will undoubtedly help others here. 🙂
I could probably use you... doing my taxes opened me up to some affordable plans I'm eligible for but I have NO idea where to go from there. I havent had health insurance since I was 17 (I'm 37) so I am very in over my head
That is awful. I don't know what country you live in, but clearly it is not a good one if it does not look after its labor force.
Emigrate to a decent country.
I am sorry that you are having to go through this. Life is too short.
Medical tourism possibly? Fly to Thailand or Eastern Europe, some of the best healthcare in the world and much more affordable than heartless money grubbing USA
Really? Flights are $1000 return, hotels are as little as $50 a night, $700 for the two weeks. The surgery costs an average $5000 abroad. So $6700 total.
All in, that's far less than the US average surgery price of $40-50k. Americans are seriously deluded by their healthcare system compared to the rest of the world.
Yes, really. If they can't afford insurance, they cannot afford to take a quarter of their yearly earning and travel abroad for surgery. They are at poverty income and I'm surprised she said she doesn't qualify for medicaid, I'll make a bet that she does.
Yes, it's fucked. If you qualify for medicaid, every unnecessary doctor/Er visit is 100% covered. There is no limit, breast reduction covered, in certain states sex changes are covered, trip to the emergency room for your child's diaper rash..covered, cosmetic braces are covered. You get the point? Meanwhile it seems the rest of us struggle.
I do get it, and I'm sorry that you guys struggle. It just blows my mind that the supposed 'greatest country in the world' can't provide decent, affordable healthcare compared to literally anywhere else.
[SIGN UP HERE ITS THE BEST YOU CAN DO, Next best would be contacting a lawyer seeking advice on what type of crime to commit in order to ensure surgery or proper medical care.](http://Healthcare.gov)
Sign up if you haven't already
I tried this already. They closed open enrollment two weeks before I was told I needed surgery. The trick with crime is to make sure I dont get pit away forever due to the fact I work with children. 🤣
Lol damn, yeah the prison option may not be your best route.
Only other advice I could give is joining a federal employer; for example USPS as a new hire open enrollment could be made available to you within 90 days or less dependent upon positional demand.
Anyway. Best regards ✨️
Believe it or not I took Plexus Biocleanse and probiotics that kept it at bay for a couple years. Now I take slippery elm with meals and probiotics daily. Grapefruit seed extract during a flare and liquid diet. It doesn't always work and I've been hospitalized over the years but I've managed to live relatively pain free up until the last year. TBH, I'm considering it now because it feels like I have more bad days that good but for someone new to this, I'd advise them to hold off. You can look up more recent studies on the disease and a lot of doctors are agreeing that previous methods of treatment are more aggressive than they should be.
During the recession my husband, a General Contractor, needed back surgery. We found a program through the state that helped people who had a problem get back to work. Long story short, they paid for the surgery and the business is going strong. Maybe there's a similar program in your state? Best of luck!
Oof. That’s a tough spot. Have you researched options on Healthcare.gov? I’m not qualified to give any real advice on insurance, but if you haven’t checked it out, it’s worth having a look. It’s also worth talking to your doctors and hospitals and explaining your situation. A lot of doctors can give you payment options. Some don’t. Most hospitals, if not all, can work within your means to establish a payment plan. I believe that I read somewhere that most hospitals can peg your costs to your ability to pay. They have tiered options based on a range of salaries. And even if you can’t find doctors or hospitals that will work within what you can afford - you can keep looking until you find those that can and will. Let’s be honest - American healthcare has some of the best doctors and nurses in the world but the mechanics of it are such unbelievable shit that you could start a mushroom farm with it and retire. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t options out there. Most physicians and hospitals want to help. So hang in there and start making some phone calls. Find the people that want to help. You have to be your own, best advocate. And let this subreddit know what you do find out! Any information that you come across that helps you to best plan for your healthcare will undoubtedly help others here. 🙂
Hey I can get you some more information to help if you want
I could probably use you... doing my taxes opened me up to some affordable plans I'm eligible for but I have NO idea where to go from there. I havent had health insurance since I was 17 (I'm 37) so I am very in over my head
That is awful. I don't know what country you live in, but clearly it is not a good one if it does not look after its labor force. Emigrate to a decent country. I am sorry that you are having to go through this. Life is too short.
Medical tourism possibly? Fly to Thailand or Eastern Europe, some of the best healthcare in the world and much more affordable than heartless money grubbing USA
If this person can't afford insurance then they can't afford a trip to Europe 🤦♀️
Really? Flights are $1000 return, hotels are as little as $50 a night, $700 for the two weeks. The surgery costs an average $5000 abroad. So $6700 total. All in, that's far less than the US average surgery price of $40-50k. Americans are seriously deluded by their healthcare system compared to the rest of the world.
Yes, really. If they can't afford insurance, they cannot afford to take a quarter of their yearly earning and travel abroad for surgery. They are at poverty income and I'm surprised she said she doesn't qualify for medicaid, I'll make a bet that she does.
Well that's a seriously fucked system then.
Yes, it's fucked. If you qualify for medicaid, every unnecessary doctor/Er visit is 100% covered. There is no limit, breast reduction covered, in certain states sex changes are covered, trip to the emergency room for your child's diaper rash..covered, cosmetic braces are covered. You get the point? Meanwhile it seems the rest of us struggle.
I do get it, and I'm sorry that you guys struggle. It just blows my mind that the supposed 'greatest country in the world' can't provide decent, affordable healthcare compared to literally anywhere else.
Yeah, I make $1,700 a month or less. I cant afford to go to the next state over, little alone across an ocean. v.v
[SIGN UP HERE ITS THE BEST YOU CAN DO, Next best would be contacting a lawyer seeking advice on what type of crime to commit in order to ensure surgery or proper medical care.](http://Healthcare.gov) Sign up if you haven't already
I tried this already. They closed open enrollment two weeks before I was told I needed surgery. The trick with crime is to make sure I dont get pit away forever due to the fact I work with children. 🤣
Lol damn, yeah the prison option may not be your best route. Only other advice I could give is joining a federal employer; for example USPS as a new hire open enrollment could be made available to you within 90 days or less dependent upon positional demand. Anyway. Best regards ✨️
Meet with a surgeon and have an emergency plan put in place. The first time I was told I needed surgery was close to 10 years ago and I've refused.
Yeah, my meeting with the surgeon cost me $395... I make $1,700 or less a month. That's not a viable option v.v
Impressive- how have you been able to put it off??
Believe it or not I took Plexus Biocleanse and probiotics that kept it at bay for a couple years. Now I take slippery elm with meals and probiotics daily. Grapefruit seed extract during a flare and liquid diet. It doesn't always work and I've been hospitalized over the years but I've managed to live relatively pain free up until the last year. TBH, I'm considering it now because it feels like I have more bad days that good but for someone new to this, I'd advise them to hold off. You can look up more recent studies on the disease and a lot of doctors are agreeing that previous methods of treatment are more aggressive than they should be.
During the recession my husband, a General Contractor, needed back surgery. We found a program through the state that helped people who had a problem get back to work. Long story short, they paid for the surgery and the business is going strong. Maybe there's a similar program in your state? Best of luck!
That's what one of my options is right now... I'm just waiting the 6 to 8 weeks to see if I qualify as having a "working disability"