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This brief conversation took place on the Women & Literacy listserv from October 19 - 23, 2006.
To view the actual posts, click here.
Question:
Does anyone have any ideas for a single, hardworking, low-paid but otherwise not unhappy adjunct community college ESL instructor seeking health insurance? Something I can afford that will allow me to get a yearly mammogram, and an x-ray in case I fall off my bicycle.
Answers:
- Usually the county hospital or community health clinics will provide these services. If you get injured, you are entitled to go to an emergency room, get seen and then pay in installment. If there is a county hospital, they will probably work with you on reasonable payments, etc. For mammograms you can probably go to a local health clinic for the indigent. Find the poor neighborhood in your community and ask where the health clinic is. Sign up and you'll get seen. They probably provide breast exams, pap smears, glucose tests, CV screenings, etc. You may have to pay a fee. If you have an expensive disease, get a bunch or credit cards. American express usually gives you a no limit account. Spend them to the limit and declare bankruptcy. As far as free or inexpensive health insurance, there is no such thing anymore, even for people in full time employment. There are huge deductibles, for everything except primary care.
- Several years ago, a colleague who had several part-time workplace ESOL teaching jobs in Boston told me that she needed medical care and had no health insurance. She went to the emergency room of a large city hospital. Although the care was good, the doctors did not have her medical history, which could have been a problem. She also mentioned that the person who did the intake for her, a full-time hospital employee with health benefits, was one of her ESOL students.
- I used to live in San Francisco and an organization called Public Media that was housed at Fort Mason permitted people, such as yourself, to sign onto their Kaiser Plan. In many areas, I was just working in Upstate, NY, local groups organized a free mammography program for low income folks. I think you need a mammogram every other year if you don't have symptoms or family history. If you have an accident, the local emergency room will see you and give you an x-ray and have you pay as you can.
- Don't forget about Planned Parenthood. To quote their website... "Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. With more than 860 health centers nationwide, nearly five million women, men, and teens turn to us each year for essential services services we provide regardless of income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence."
- Before you think of trying the credit card idea, be sure to check on the new laws for bankruptcy. The laws changed in early 2006, and it is not as easy to file a Chapter 7, which allows your bills to "go away". Local health care clinics will be your best bet for a mammogram. Call your state's department of health for locations and various programs. Hospitals on the payment plan will take care of x-rays and other emergencies, just be prepared for a long wait. Good luck. The sad reality is the American health care system is failing miserably for all of us.
- A few other suggestions to add to what has already been said: Many communities are served by a local United Way chapter. Local chapters create and maintain community resource directories, with information about health and human services that are available in the community, including low-cost and free services. If you call them, they should be able to send you a print directory or refer you to a local web directory. You may also want to contact private insurers and inquire about catastrophic-only coverage, which is more affordable and may help avoid the bankruptcy issue. If you've had insurance coverage recently through a former employer, you may be eligible for COBRA - which is likely to be expensive, but at least offers continuous coverage and will help avoid pre-existing conditions exclusions. Finally, for anyone with children, all states offer child health insurance coverage for kids (ages 0-18). This program serves families who don' t qualify for Medicaid because their income exceeds eligibility requirements, but who cannot afford private insurance. Your local health department, community health center, department of social services, etc. should be able to provide more information about enrollment (it's often called SCHIP - State Children's Health Insurance Plan).
- ...in regards to the health care issue. I know of a program called Family Health Plus. I am really not sure if it is just a New York State Program or a country program, but it provides free or low cost insurance to families. I know that just about everyone is eligible, but you pay according to income. Hope this could be some help to someone.
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