Edit:  I know that stating anything on here is opening my problem up for anyone to pick at.  A grain of salt.

 I am upset, for a good reason, and I am thinking some people will think I am being immature or whatever.  I just think everyone should be able to have health care, and I am upset that it isn't so. 

I am denied health care.  And it is not fair.  Everyone should be able to get the care they need.  Here's my story:

My husband and I made too much money last year to recieve health care at the "free health clinic" and currently make too much for state health assistance.  We are both full time college students; we are trying to do better for ourselves.  We went to the assistance office yesterday, only looking for health assistance- not food stamps or cash assistance.  And we make too much.  So we are screwed.  They told me that if I was interested in family planning services, I could sign up for that.  And there is a program like CHIP for adults, but the waiting list is 2 years.  I am not going to need assistance in 2 years!

My husband needs to see a doctor.(not related to next paragraph)

Last night, after we went to the assistance office, we got into a dirtbike accident.  My husband was hurt alot worse than I was.  His leg turned 90degrees the wrong way and the bike and I landed on him.  To make my damn story shorter, we went to the ER.  My husband has been there twice in the past two months(metal in his eye, and severe migrane w/vomiting) and has debt owed to the hospital.  Last night when we went, they did not give him anything-no tylenol , advil or asprin.  And they had to wheel him out to the car, but would not give him crutches!  They did x-ray his leg and saw nothing wrong with it.  We both pretty much knew that nothing was broken, but wanted to make sure all the tendons and ligaments were ok.  They told him to see his family doctor if is not better in a week.  We don't have a family doctor!  We cannot afford to buy our own insurance.
I am just upset because we are barely getting by.  It is very hard for us to put ourselves through school and be denied health care. 

I was only asking for health care, nothing else.  I am upset that other people who work less (and I mean people that I actually know, I am not saying that everyone is like this,because I am not that blind) and sell drugs and crap, sit on their asses and bring home more than me with their food stamps.  I am not saying that everyone on assistance is abusing it, but it seems alot of people do.  Some one on assistance should not have a cell phone, new car, new clothes and buy the best food around.  I am not putting anyone down who needs it, because if you need it, you need it.  But manicures, hair coloring, lottery tickets and cigarettes should not be included with the benefits.

It sounds like a pity party, but I am not the only one who is denied health care. 

twink: I'm just curious to know how you know that people on assistance have cell phones, new cars, new clothes and buy the best food around??? Did you talk  to them?? I agree, that some people cheat the system but I don't think enough people do to affect it as a whole....Have you looked into getting student insurance? Your college should have a cheap program for you...My next question is why are you & your husband putting yourself in situations that you can get hurt (dirt bikes) very high risk situation...I'm sorry this happened to you twink....I don't think it's right and I do think you should be able to afford health insurance, have you ever thought about getting a part-time job with insurance benefits? Again, if it was my utopian society everyone would have insurance and it would be like Canada...but it not..it is how it is..I"m sorry it happened to you but I also don't think you can assume all people on assistance are living the life..I think there are a hand-full of people cheating the system and that's it....Also, maybe one of you needs to take a break from school while the other one works so you can have health insurance.... 

I agree. You can get student insurance through you're university. Contact you're student services department. My university had a health clinic that was free to students (you just paid for medicine-- at first we got free meds but apparently it was illegal for them to repackage meds and distribute them).

And booster-- I've met quite a few people who have cheated the system. I'm sure it happens more than you're giving it credit for.

I don't know why your husband needs to see a doctor (besides the emergencies) but there are a lot of walk-in clinics out there these days. CVS ( a pharmacy around here) and HEB ( a grocery store) have these little clinics that have a nurse practitioner and they can treat things such as pink eye, sinus infections, strep throat...things like that. I don't know if it would be helpful for what your husband needs, though.

Also, be glad that you don't qualify for assistance. Because to qualify you have to really NEED it, and it isn't a fun position to be in.

If you make too much to qualify, and for some reason you can't get insurance through the university, check into getting it on your own. Search the internet...most plans out there are around 160 a month (a little steep, but if you need it...you need it).

edit: I do agree with booster1, try to take it easy on the dangerous things that can be avoided while you are uninsured.

 

I did not  say that all people on welfare are like that.  Or even alot.  I am not dumb.   I do come from a welfare town where generations of people are on welfare.  I have worked at a grocery store for about 3 years and have seen people abuse the system.  Should a person who yells at their kids to get their Mountain Dew be able to buy the best steaks your store sells.  I do not think so.  I think food stamps should be more like wic checks- give you healthy things instead of junk.  I have lived other places (states) and it is harder to go on food stamps in  some areas than others.  I do think that there is alot of welfare fraud in certain parts of the country.  I do not know every person on welfare (that would be dumb to say), I didn't say that they don't deserve it, I was saying that people I know (personally) are cheating the system.  Some people I know are too damn lazy to work a real job and sell drugs instead, while collecting food stamps.  I think to say that only a handfull of people abuse welfare is ridiculous. 
I am currently attending school monday thru friday 8-230 and working @ school as an assistant from 230 to 430.  Then, I have to be to my other job from 5-10.  On days I do not work at my other job, I sometimes work at a landscaping business.  I am not offered benefits.  I work on weekends too.  We are supporting ourselves- which we knew would be hard with school.   I am determined to go on to be an engineer of some kind.  I was not handed anything.  I know I made the decision to go to school at the same time as my husband.  I am not going to waste my time working minimum wage for the rest of my life.  Neither of us are offered benefits.  The cost of health insurance through our school lenders is too expensive for us.  We are at a technical school- not a university, where maybe there are better health programs, idk. 
Because we still make very little (even with both of us working our asses off), fun to us is going out on the dirt bike in the woods when we can.  The thing with the dirt bike is that we were not putting ourselves in danger- when we wrecked (going around a mud spot), we were going 5 or 10 mph, but landed hard.  We don't go out to see movies and or eat. 
The fact that we got hurt yesterday isn't what matters.  Although I wrote a lot about it.  It's that we can't go to a **** doctor when we are sick.  Too bad.  I think it is complete bull ****.
I could complain all day and tell anyone my opinion, but that's all it is, my opinion. 
Booster1, I don't want you to think that I am blind.  I know people need help with stuff and that is why assistance exists.  I know I am boo-hooing about ****.  It is making me feel better.

I am sorry that you are in this position, and although we don't have the same problem with health care I will agree that many people fraud the system.

I was in a similar situation a few years ago when I had been unfit to work for a period of time and against my Dr's advice I found a part-time job, needless to say it didn't pay all that well, but when I asked for assistance with a couple of things I was told I earned £3 above the limit allowed.....£3!!

I know they have to have a cut off point, but it should be flexible according to circumstances.

twink: There may be more people out there abusing the system than I know, or less than you say , who knows... Have you ever thought about working at Starbucks, they have great benefits, even as part-time?  I understand you are venting, and you have the right too but you also have to realize that you allowed the public in to state their opinion when you posted. I'm not downplaying your situation as I too wish I had health insurance so I could go to the dentist because my teeth hurt but I just have to suck it up....

twink, I am so sorry about your situation.  My family went through something like this.  Even if you did technically "qualify" for public assistance, sometimes you have to SUE the government to get them to hold up their end of the deal and it can take YEARS before it gets resolved. It sounds like you two are receiving health care.  It just sounds like the bills that are the problem, maybe?

But, anyway you still have a lot of options.

1) Look into getting a Medicaid spend down on the bills:

http://www.pslegal.org/medicaid%20spendown%20 page.htm#1

2) Look into student health insurance.  Your university offers the option renewable (usually) each semester.

3) Independent health insurance, with student rates as low as $622 per year.  here's a website that will quote rates for you

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/

Some of the companies you can look at on your own:

• Aetna
• Cigna
• United Healthcare
• Blue Cross Blue Shield

4) The bills suck now, but you can deduct them on a 1040 form, then list them on your FAFSA renewal to qualify for additional funding/grants through your school.  So, even though you pay the bills upfront, the university gives you more help afterwards to compensate for your financial setbacks.

5) Last resort: Negotiate with the care provider to reduce the fees and set up a payment plan.  Some places will reduce your expenses based on a sliding scale.

Also, get friendly with your local minor emergency clinic.  Sometimes, they are faster, friendlier and give just as quality care as the ER.

edited for spelling

My husband thinks he may have prostate cancer.  He has been having problems for a year now.  We are denied at the walk-in(free health) clinics you are talking about.  Last year we had a good job for 3 months and lost it because the company had financial problems.  So we are now in school earing degrees.  My husband is a certified welder(although getting a welding job where we live does not pay good, that's why he is landscaping) and I am earining an associates degree in architectural drafting, and plan on furthering my education  after this schooling.  We are both keeping 4.0 gpa's and have great attendance, but everything does cost money(an obvious thing).  So we need to work alot too.  My only concern is health care.  We applied for charity care at the hospital, to help with those bills.  But there still isn't a doctor he can go to.  I think we should have told the screener at the welfare office that the main reason we wanted health care is to find out what is wrong with my husband.

https://www.studentselect.com/SS/Home/ >>>go here , my hubby used it for a when he attended school full-time....It cost like $90, can you afford that?

I realize that I sound very rude.  I am very upset.  I am very stressed.  You are right that I am venting, of course I am.  I am really considerate of other people's feelings, but I definitely do not sound like it.  I am not trying to make anyone mad at me.

Thank you to all who have responded. 

I do not attend a university.  I am going to a technical school(to study only what I need for my associate's degree) for 16 months straight to get it done and over with. 

I wish that there was more things to help our situation at this time.

Thank you bettypage4 and booster1 for the websites.  I need to see if we can afford those.

Working alot is extremely hard when you are going to school every day.  School is very important to me, but we gotta pay bills.

The thing with assistance here in pa is, that if you are a college student you must work an average of 25 hours per week, but make under the amount to be eligible.  And because both of us are in school, to meet the minimum requirements of work, we make too much.  That's why we are working alot.  We have to.   It's kind of like a catch 22.  I am worried about credit checks when potential employers are interseted in either one of us.  They will see the medical bills. We do not own credit cards- thank goodness.

It's just scary, to not know what the hell is going on with his body.  and it was upsetting and confusing to me that they wheeled him out last night because they did not want him to fall, but would not give him crutches.  I don't really get that?  He still can't walk on it, and can't work. 

twink: sorry about your situation (once again) ..I understand what you are going through. As my husband & I are both college students.....Check out that insurance it might work for you...The next thing I'm wondering is, can you go to another hospital? Even if you have to drive? Information doesn't transfer from one hospital to another.....Next, I dont' think employers look at your credit score, if they do then that's a brand new thing to me..The only thing people look at your credit score for , again I could be wrong, but if you are buying a home, trying to get a loan, or car etc.....I've had several jobs and no one has asked to get my credit score info....I know you said you did charity care, have you also set u a payment plan with the hospital, you can do that, you just have to call the financial department and set up a plan, even if it's only $10 a month that way you will be in good standing....Next...take your husband to another hospital! I'm really worried...His health is really important

booster1 is right.  People don't care if you have bad medical bills.  It's mainly crap like car payments, credit cards, cell phones, and bankruptcy that they look for.  Just set up payment plans and negotiate hard to get the prices reduced/settled.  And get a different care facility ASAP.  What about a private urgent care/ minor emergency place?  Do you have those up there? 

I think that is why I am so upset.  It's him that I am worried about. 

I have talked to my school director about the credit score things I have heard.  She told me that they (my school) only check the financial aid persons for that.  We are getting as much as we can from our financial aid department, because we will have to pay back our school anyways.  That does help.  But PHEA loans were cut.  We do have all the financial help we can get at school, but they cannot help me with health care. 

We could go to a different hospital.  The taxes we just did are what made us unqualified for the free clinics.  I don't understand why they don't take into account what we make now and why we work minimum wage jobs.    When we went to the ER for his eye (there was metal and a tear(rip)) they needed to call in a specialist to see him, which makes sense.  You don't want just anyone messing with your eyes!  Those could be important!

When you say "private urgent care/ minor emergency" the only thing I can think of are the health clinics, which work with the main town hospital. 

they can send you to the hospital for blood work, and the doctors who see you are from the hospital.

twink: your right, credit scores can affect school loans & private loans and sometimes ..usually not financial aid from the government though...I've only had one loan from my school that was affected from my credit score...Have you thought about a private loan ? You would have to get a cosigner unless you make more than 12,000 a year but it might be worth it?

I would forget about the free clinic..Your right, I have tried them, all they look at is your previous taxes and they don't take into consideration circumstance that might change them.....Why don't you take him to a new hospital or an urgent care clinic like betty suggested?

You will have to save your information in a safe place to record it on your 1040 for 2008, which gets submitted next year.  It's a long wait for the deduction, but you can get on long payment plans with hosptials.  At one time, my dad was on a 10 year payment plan if that tells you something!

twink, down here in the south there are public health clinics and then there are private health clinics and then I think there are some that kind of do both.  Some of the private ones are independent and others are similar to chains with several locations.  They only manage urgent care and some occupational therapy stuff.   (edit: I do think some of them do check ups, but am not sure of that.)  Do you have those?  Edit: They could look at your husband and probably give him the tests. 

Edit:I am very organized with our important records.  Keeping bills in a safe spot is not going to be hard.
I need to look that urgent health clinic up.  I have looked at the websites you two gave me.   I will talk to my husband about it (he is sleeping, because it's 3am) when he wakes up. 

I am very appreciative to all the help you have given me.  Cleared my head a bit.  I was really mad.  It is late though, and I need to sleep.  No school tomorrow (today i guess) because it's the 4th of July.  Still have to work.  I need to help him.  I don't want anything to be wrong with him.  But, I won't know unless he gets checked out. 

Thank you

Two things:

If your husband thinks he may have prostate cancer, I would go ahead and get on that two year waiting list JUST IN CASE. Worst case scenario would be the two of you not being able to get insurance then (due to any unforeseen circumstances...or preexisting condition b.s. that insurance companies like to pull) leaving you two in the same position.

Second, the food stamp program in place is working for a reason. Sure, there are people that have unreported income (cheating the system), but even if that is 20% of the people receiving assistance...that is a lot that are doing the RIGHT thing. I think that the program in place (you can buy anything deemed 'food') is the way it should be. With food stamps you are given a limited amount of funds (I receive 185 a month for myself and my son) and the way you spend it is your choice.

I carefully budget how to spend my food monies and there are times when I will buy shrimp, or soda, or Easter/Christmas candy for a treat. My son ALWAYS has healthy choices such as fruits/meats/juices/whatever, and I don't misspend my money. I think you have to be careful not to judge people who buy certain things with their food stamp cards : \

Also, I have been on WIC, and it sucks. If the food stamp program were like that, it would be 'not cool' for a lack of better words. Could you imagine being on assistance and not being able to buy your child a birthday cake and soda for their birthday because you had low income (and were only allowed to buy healthy foods)? Everyone eats different foods, so each to their own...imo.

Pardon my mini-rant, but my feathers got ruffled. I really hope that some of the links provided for you help you to find what you need. I, too, am without insurance and I probably will be until I finish school.