How do you deal with mental health issues if you can’t afford health insurance?
Posted by Dolores
blueberry yum yum! asked:
I have been having anxiety, low self esteem, depression, and suicidal thoughts have been crossing my mind the past few months.. which makes me feel like I need more help then I realized. I work full time but with all of my school loans and other bills i don’t think i could afford health insurance because I don’t make too much an hour.
WENDI
I have been having anxiety, low self esteem, depression, and suicidal thoughts have been crossing my mind the past few months.. which makes me feel like I need more help then I realized. I work full time but with all of my school loans and other bills i don’t think i could afford health insurance because I don’t make too much an hour.
WENDI
April 1st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Hospitals can work with you to figure out the details regarding payment. Always put your health before money problems.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Check your phone book under clinics, or call your local community center. Most communities will have mental health help on a sliding scale. Another option is to call your local hospital and ask them about resources.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:43 am
In the state I live in the public mental health facilities have a “sliding scale fee rate” based on income versus certain allowable expenses. Maybe you could investigate and see if your area is like that. Other than that, if you have a church/religion, often churches will have an affiliation with certain counselors. Short of that, find someone to talk with. Therapy (in my experience) is talking to an interested party that will redirect questions about what you have said back to you and get YOU to find your own answers. So… if you have a good friend with empathy and common sense… they might be able to “fill in” in that role. Often people just want to talk and have someone listen that cares. How about an older relative or relative of a friend (maybe you best friend’s aunt or something like that) while avoiding any relationships that might have sexual overtones (men if you are hetero; women if you are lesbian). Someone with empathy and common sense.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Check to see if there are any nonprofits in your area offering services for free, or on a sliding scale. You may be able to see an intern getting licensure hours. (When I was a Marriage and Family Therapist intern, I worked in a community counseling center where clients got services for free. ) So check out any community counseling centers.
Also your school. Assuming you mean college, many colleges have counselors on staff equipped to help stressed students. Check to see if your school has a health clinic. They could provide resources and referals, if they don’t have counselors.
Good Luck.
April 7th, 2009 at 1:23 am
look up social security in yellow pages and ask them about medecade amd medecare.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
medical assistance programs. call around whre you live and they will help you. that or if you are unders 23 and in school full timeand your parents have insurance than you are still covered under them till that age
April 11th, 2009 at 2:28 am
I always find a way to pay for my mental health if it means sacrificing just about everything. A good job, or big corporate jobs often offer insurance, most time at a discounted rate. They can’t use any discrimination and must give it to everyone, may have pre-exisiting condition clauses though. You could try pay for independent plan for personal insurance, majority of insurance companies offer this. Keep in mind most often depending on what your situation you maybe declined or pay a heavy price. I pay 428 a month for the bare minimum, not including copays and deductibles. 98% of places won’t even insure me cause of the amount and severity of my conditions. Some states, i know mine does has special insurances offered through some type of hippa law. i know there is always a public mental health place, lines will be long, and i understand how difficult it is to have patience with those places. I also know that medical, or some government assistance programs can help if you meet the certain criteria, i don’t know your situation so I can’t tell you what will work. I but if its important enough you will find away.
Think of it this way, diabetics they ALWAYS have their insulin. Mental health is often compared to it, you need medication to life. When there is a will there is a way, i also know of some great links. They are official sites, and some are linked with government plans and assistance.
If you don’t take care of your mental health you won’t be able to keep up with anything else. Mental health should always be priority one. For example,god for bid this happens, but you do something stupid and land yourself in a hospital or facility. When in these places nothing else around you matters, and some are state funded. While you are there, you have the potential of losing every little thing you are trying so hard to keep up with, school loans, bills, work, etc. I always find money to pay for my mental health, everything else comes second. If my school loans or some other bill is going to be late or not paid that month then so be it, i know i am alive and well.