Uninsured?

Uninsured and ignored. This is how I felt for so many years. Many if not most actors, artists, musicians and artistically inclined people have been without insurance at some point in their lives. As an actor, my unions do not offer buy-in group insurance as many membership organizations do and the insurance that they do offer is hard to come by (ah those hoops companies make us jump through to get insurance), so most of my life I’ve been uninsured. I’ve written about some of my experiences in my recent blog. “Health Insurance. It should be an issue of basic humanity.” I’ve had a lot of experience being uninsured and while scary there are some things you can do.

I’m Uninsured. What can I do? Nine Suggestions.

1.                  You can go to a free clinic. Click here for a list of Free Clinic databases in the U.S. and links to free clinics by state.

2.                  You can contact the Foundation for Health Coverage Education which may be able to help you obtain low-cost insurance as well as assist you in negotiating with insurance companies. The US Uninsured Help Line (1-800-234-1317) also offers advice regarding public or private options for which you may be eligible, and can help identify resources to assist you with special situations that affect your insurance eligibility, such as preexisting conditions.

3.                  You can contact your local state Farm Bureau, that may make you eligible for health insurance at the Bureau’s discounted rates, and membership is open to just about anyone — even if you live in an apartment complex miles from the countryside!

4.                  Medicaid: Don't automatically think that since you have a job you won't qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid will pay health care expenses for low-income families and individuals. Each state sets the eligibility requirements so qualifying for the program is state specific. If you are working and still don't have enough to buy affordable health insurance, it doesn't cost you a penny to see if you or your children qualify for Medicaid so it is always best to check Medicaid first before moving on to the next options. And, there is good news about Medicaid... more and more states are adding health care benefits for low-income families so if you don't qualify now, keep informed of your state's Medicaid and health insurance laws because you may qualify in the future.

5.                  Medicare: Most people know if they qualify for Medicare or not, but I need to add it to the list just to make sure it is not overlooked. Medicare is provided by the government and administered by the Social Security Administration. If you are sixty-five years old or older you would qualify for Medicare. You may also qualify if you are getting Social Security disability benefits.

6.                  Medi-Share is a Christian non-profit organization.  http://medi-share.org/Default.aspx
This is not insurance but works similar to it. This is when a group of people pool their money together and pay each others' health expenses... they pretty much become their own insurance company

7.                  If you are part of a membership organization or union, many have group insurance. When I find a list that includes artists, I’ll post it here.

8.                  Check out the organizations below that offer ways to obtain affordable medications.

9.                  Fight for health care reform and some kind of universal health care system in the United States so that those we love and those that come after us do not need to experience the same pain we have experienced.

Getting Affordable Medications When Uninsured

www.togetherrxaccess.com
www.pparx.org
www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Prescription_Drug_Patient_Assistance_Programs.htm
www.needymeds.com
www.freemedicineprogram.com
www.medicarerights.org

Help for the Uninsured