[USER]

I’m 58 and don’t have health insurance. My job doesn’t provide it and I cannot afford to buy one.

This is what I do: I have a low income clinic where I see a Dr based on my income and also have a basic dental clinic.

If I have to go to the ER I will go to a non private hospital to take care of my needs.

I had paid based on my income . I get my yearly mammogram and colonoscopy when I need it.

There are lots of resources around and I’m grateful for them.

[Pam]

I recently spent 4 hrs(waiting!) at my local hospital ER and finally saw doctor…one ct scan latter food poisoning diagnosis got the bill this week are you ready 19K thank god I’m old and have insurance!

[Phillips]

Have you tried applying for state insurance? To be honest insurance was so expensive that I only work part time now to just stay on the state insurance.

I have lupus so my whole paycheck would go to copays with private insurance.

[Marina]

If you really scour Marketplace there are good affordable plans, if you dont qualify for state insurance and cant afford your work insurance.

My husband and I are in that category, and we have a shared deductible of max out of pocket $3k, $1500 each.

Doctor visits $0-20 depending on how specialized, ER is covered, hospital stays are 80% and the other 20% would fit in the max out of pocket.

My husband has a congenital condition and needs meds daily or he would die, all his meds are $0.

We pay just under $200 a month for the two of us.

$200 isn’t easy for us, but much better than bankruptcy if/when something happens.

[Christina]

This sucks. I’m sorry. How do you deal with the taxes at the end of the year for not having health insurance? Or did they stop that?

The affordable care act was $250 for my spouse and I when we were only in his income.

[Marla]

Have you looked into the Affordable Care Act? It has super low premiums or No premiums for some.

No disrespect intended, sounds like you are doing ok.

[Catherine]

Have you called health care dot gov? Silver metal plans have cost sharing – w lower deductibles and out of pocket max – I had BCBS silver for 10 years.

Also, depending on your income and state of residence you may qualify for expanded Medicaid – unfortunately some states opted out, leaving a coverage gap for working low income Americans.

You need insurance – especially at your age. I was paying 300 a month for ACA insurance – self-employed – and now at age 66 am paying 350 for regular Medicare with supplement.

I haven’t used insurance for 2 years but it is protection against financial ruin.

As we age the likelihood of serious illness increases – even if we eat right, exercise, and don’t smoke or drink.

When uninsured indoviduals use ERs for care it ultimately raises the costs of healthcare for everyone as the hospitals eat costs.

[Minick]

Obama care is soooo expensive in Texas. No way I could afford afford that. It was around $450 for very low income.

Not counting the extremely high deductible and out of pocket max amounts.

Even office visits were extremely high. Best to sometimes just do to your doctor as a cash paying patient for huge discounts.

[Wendy]

Unfortunately with the current administration cutting services, many clinics will close.

I hope that doesn’t happen to the one you go to but I wouldn’t count on it.

[Sarah]

You’re playing Russian roulette. My husband was seemingly perfectly healthy. Doesn’t drink or smoke, runs and lifts weights, only 50 years old.

He had to have a quadruple bypass last year. $250k.

Had we not had insurance we would have lost our home.

Get on the marketplace and at least get something that will cover a catastrophic event.

Honestly at your age you are really playing with fire not having insurance.

[Heather]

Look into the state options. Someone share yesterday about not having insurance. They seemed to be doing it to be frugal.

One diagnosis can wipe out your life.

[Lynn]

And this is what Canadians want to join? I think not…. I had an estimate at the Mayo…$135,000US without complications. Came
Home had it done ‘free’ and had complications.

51st cherished state? I think not. Feel for you guys.

The size of your country and the health care is not sorted out? Terrible just terrible.

[Cynthia]

Guess it works if you’re healthy. I’ve gone without health insurance periodically, never longer than a year.

Doesn’t this going on for *years* make you nervous?

[Jackie]

ACA, go to the website and input your income. Being without insurance is very risky even if you’re young and healthy.

It’s a very bad financial decision.

[Dawn]

I hope it works out for you.
I was very healthy. One trip to the doctor, $60,000 of tests, and I was diagnosed with leukemia.

I’m not on a therapy that I’ll take the rest of my life. It costs $1,000 PER DAY.

There’s no health insurance that is that expensive.

[Chris]

Y’all are missing the point. She has all her needs met and probably for less than insurance premiums would be.

There are dental schools with low cost treatments.

There are all kinds of cost sharing programs too.

[Sandra]

I understand as I didn’t have health insurance from years 18-62! It’s a way of life n it isn’t fun, it’s alot of stress all the time!

Just wanted to tell U, I get it!!

[Ruth]

Sounds like you have it figured out. I have a friend that did something similar.

I would like to mention though that I was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and had ACA at the time fortunately because the radiation treatments alone were over $34,000.

[Susan]

Years ago I had a older neighbor that lived here longer than she did in her native Canada.

She kept her citizenship as she had all the same rights as an American except she couldn’t vote.

She had comfort of knowing she could always go home to Canada where they take care of their own.

[Kenna]

You are doing the same thing I did as a single mother. With planning and mutual cooperation, this system works.

Also, take good care of yourself.

Watch your diet, exercise, maintain an emotional healthy balance and stay social!

[Author]

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