No health insurance through work, but have a well-paying job. Need meds/services.What can I do?! (NY resident)?

Question

I broke my tooth and need a physical anyways. I got used to having health insurance at my old job, but I have nothing at my new job - temp-to-hire. But I need professional care NOW, not "maybe next year."

Is there a NYS program or cheap but good medical insurance provider I can use??? Not sure if I would count for any NYS help programs, but in that middle ground of "making too much" although I barely make ends meat! What can I do?!

Thank you for any information, legitimate web site links are a big help!

Answer 1

As far as a physical goes...that's not urgent. That can wait until you have health insurance.



If you need your GYN annual exam- go to closest Planned Parenthood office or your states health department. Those charge on a sliding scale based on your income. Even if you have to pay full price, it will still be much cheaper than paying out of pocket at a private gyn office.



I used Planned Parenthood for years and got good quality gyn care there.





The broken tooth is more pressing.



Is there a dental school nearby? If so, can you get the work done there by a student?



If not, see if you can find a dentist that will let you make payments on the tooth repair. If your family has a dentist that you've used for years, that would be a good one to talk to. That office may be more willing to work with you since they know you and your family.

Answer 2

Because you already broke your tooth, and you do not already have insurance, you will have to pay for the treatment for the broken tooth yourself, using only your own money, without using insurance. You cannot use insurance for an injury that happened before you got insurance. You can use insurance only for things that begin after you get insurance.



Depending on the amount of your income, you might qualify for "healthyny", a state-run insurance program that costs less you than buying insurance the regular way in New York State, and has higher income limits than other state programs, such as medicaid, family heath plus, etc. If you have a well-paying job, then you will not qualify for medicaid, family health plus, etc. Check into "healthyny" and see if you qualify for it. If not, you will have to buy insurance at the regular price, which is a few hundred dollars per month in New York State.

Answer 3

You PAY for them.



Once you NEED work done, it's too late to buy insurance. Plus, dental is a completely different policy.



Even in NY, which is a "guaranteed issue" state, with no prior coverage, they STILL exclude coverage for preexisting conditions for the first YEAR you have coverage in force.



*meet. You make ends meet, not meat. Unless you're a butcher.

Answer 4

Buy your own individual insurance.