<p>I encourage you to check with your local Planned Parenthood clinic for the gynecology exam. They charge their patients on a sliding fee scale, so if she has little or no income, her exam may be free. The local clinics here have both gynecologists and gynecological nurse practitioners on staff. I’ve heard only positive comments on the quality of care they provide. If one of the prescriptions she needs is for birth control, they also provide that on a sliding fee scale.</p>
<p>For the prescriptions, have you contacted different pharmacies to compare prices on her medications? Perhaps she can go to the websites of the drug companies that manufacture her prescriptions, and check into their assistance programs.</p>
<p>Maybe she can find English-speaking doctors trained in North America or Europe where she is living. Medical care in the rest of the world is so much more affordable.</p>
<p>“The health care options for uninsured that I am aware of …”</p>
<p>These are local non-profit ‘free clinics’ typically staffed by volunteers or local health departments clinics.
The driver’s license with your address, if still valid, is just the proof of residence needed.
Do you claim your DD on your income tax? That, her bank statement, and her school’s proof of enrollment might work to verify lack of income.</p>
<p>For prescriptions…many grocery store pharmacies offer hundreds of generic drugs for $9.99 for three months. Worth checking to see if any of the prescriptions are on those lists…or seeing if the doctor can prescribe things that ARE!</p>
<p>Most states have insurance for folks who are unemployed. Would you daughter be eligible for Medicaid?</p>
<p>I know of a Dr in my area that takes care of local non documented residents and ilegals for sliding scale fees. Very lucrative for him. He handles everything and if he can’t he sends them to whatever ER the
pt wants to go to and because of our laws, they have to be seen and treated regardless of ability to pay. Also while at hospital there is charity care money available to help pay for costs and the social workers can get emergency Medicaid to cover the cost of the hospital. Not saying this is best option but its there and its done all the time.</p>
<p>"Would you daughter be eligible for Medicaid? "
Maybe yes, maybe no but either way it will not help her for this brief visit.
She has to physically be here to apply for it in person, and there is a lag time for enrollment.</p>
<p>“Do you claim your DD on your income tax?” No.
"…her school’s proof of enrollment " No school, till next year. Then “Proof of enrollment” will be written in a foreign langage, if they even have such.</p>
<p>"I know of a Dr in my area that takes care of local non documented residents and ilegals for sliding scale fees. "</p>
<p>“…local non-profit ‘free clinics’ typically staffed by volunteers or local health departments clinics.”</p>
<p>I think this is the type of info we are after here, if anybody knows of such in Westchester County NY , or NYC please let me know. I will suggest the Planned Parenthood clinic, for a start.</p>
<p>I suggest that you start with your local hospital. In our area, someone with little or no income can apply for “charity care” and be seen at the hospital’s family practice for things handled by family practice doctors (this does not cover dermatology for example, but doctors on staff at that hospital may give a discount for those who have this documented “charity care”). Additionally, there is a clinic at the dental school for hygienists, and they take x-rays and do cleanings there for a discount or sometimes for free. I know a hygienist, and when she was a student, she was looking for patients to bring for free treatment. We are not near you, so the particular clinics that I am talking about are far from you. If you need them, send me a pm, and I will tell you where they are. </p>
<p>I personally pay out of pocket for my dentist, and have no dental insurance, and have not had it for years. For the amount it costs, I personally would not go to the clinic.</p>
<p>As to primary care, or even other specialists, start with your own doctor and see if they will give a discount for the uninsured. Quite a few will do so if asked.</p>
<p>If your dau had pre-existing conditions that relegated her to high risk insu pools AND she hasn’t been under a Drs care for over 2 years AND she’ll only be home briefly, there may be few Drs that would feel comfortable seeing her, not to mention she’ll have to be seen as a new patient, probably for a longer initial appointment AND it may be hard to get an appt on short notice. My suggestion- talk to the Drs ( or their offices) that previously treated her, explain the situation and ask if they will (a) be able to fit her in for an appt and (b) if they offer any discount for private pay patients. If she doesnt have a relationship with any Drs there, ask your/your spouses Drs if they can work with you.</p>
<p>** if she has any ongoing issues she may need more than one appointment. E.G., if she hasnt seen a dentist in 2 yrs she may need xrays,then a full exam, then appts to fill cavities, etc. These will probably require several appointments.</p>
<p>I was also going to suggest a Dental School for cleaning and routine care. When I lived in Philly, quite a few college students had work done at dental schools. Since you are in Westchester County a quick google search brought up Columbia Dental School clinic for reduced fee services. [Columbia</a> University College of Dental Medicine](<a href=“http://dental.columbia.edu/patients/sdosclinics.html]Columbia”>http://dental.columbia.edu/patients/sdosclinics.html)</p>
<p>Along those lines there is a free clinic supported by NYU medical school: The New York City Free Clinic. </p>
<p>I would also start with her previous medical providers and ask about a reduced fee schedule as that may be easier than starting from scratch. If you decide to go to new doctor, get copies of previous medical records to take to the appt or send ahead so that all pertinent information is readily available to a new physician.</p>
<p>“What about buying travelers insurance to visit the US, like Canadians do?”</p>
<p>Perhaps this is a canada thing? The travel insurance we’ve purchased here, and she bought there, covers things like evacuation if there is political instability. I do not recall seeing a plan we would be eligible to buy that would cover routine medical visits, for checkups or to renew prescriptions. All links/ references welcome. FWIW she is in Asia, not Canada.</p>
<p>How long has she been without coverage? Is she still a student? Is there student coverage from her school? Is she a US student studying abroad or enrolled in an overseas school? How old is she? If she is only coming home briefly, is she employed? Perhaps a bit more info would be helpful. If she took a year or 2 to travel (gap year) she should have acquired insurance then. Not sure what will be available to her as far as insu goes at this point unless she belongs to any organization that offers group healthcare.</p>
<p>" How long has she been without coverage? "
Let’s see, she graduated two years ago, I think they kept her on the plan till the end of that year though, so I’m gonna say 18 months.</p>
<p>“Is she still a student?”
No. </p>
<p>“Is she a US student studying abroad or enrolled in an overseas school?”
No. she will be next year though. </p>
<p>"How old is she? "
23</p>
<p>"If she is only coming home briefly, is she employed? "
Now yes (though trivial earnings), however, come to think of it, her employment will have been terminated before her visit and her next step will be as a student there, not employed. Not sure her new school will qualify for "student’ satus or not, I think it’s a language school not a college. And who knows what sort of documentation they have there, these insurance rules are a US thing not their thing. But her coverage as a student may now be possible again, question is would it apply to the summer before she starts, when she was ineligible previously.</p>
<p>We had her on COBRA for a while,now that I recall, it cost close to $600 per month, they wanted us to pay 3 months at a time.</p>
<p>She would need to check with the school as to what they offer with respect to healthcare benefits. Doubtful any insurance company will consider someone a student <em>before</em> they are a student. Most companies require documentation of their enrollment, class schedule, etc (especially if it is not a plan offered by the school). You should look into your employer’s health plan to see if you can put her back on your plan in Sept, when the new healthcare bill goes into effect. This is my personal opinion, but unless she is eligible for free, government run health insurance where she will be residing, ESPECIALLY if she has some sort of chronic or pre-existing condition, she should have health insurance. Medical bills are one of the major things that lead to bankrupcies.</p>
<p>One thought is indeed to call her previous doctors and explain your situation and upfront ask for a reduction in billing. Since your daughter wishes to see some specialists, like the dermatologist, a general public clinic would not suffice. However, I know that Memorial Sloan Kettering offers free “skin checks” certain days of the month at various centers. For example, I believe there is one in NJ where such is offered monthly. </p>
<p>Many large hospitals offer “clinics”, which are run on an appointment made schedule typically (some walkins probably) and often are sliding scale. A large hospital then staffs them with their residents, overseen by the internist or clinic director. I would encourage you to call around to major centers and see if this is available. </p>
<p>Planned Parenthood has already been mentioned and is staffed by NP’s, and sometimes a physician on site. </p>
<p>Here is the Public Health Center for your area: [Westchester</a> County Department of Health](<a href=“http://www.westchestergov.com/health/]Westchester”>http://www.westchestergov.com/health/)
Often these are well run with regular staff, so you may wish to call and see whether they offer walk in medical care or prefer regular appointments. They work on a sliding scale. </p>
<p>"Yes she should have [affordable] health insurance. Hopefully our country has/will be addressing this.</p>
<p>we saw the huge problems in the system firsthand when my wife’s firm closed its doors and we had to fend for ourselves. It wasn’t pretty. Or affordable.</p>
<p>Our kids were denied coverage for seemingly trivial reasons. we had to check the “wrong”-as it turns out- box on the application form, however they have no serious ongoing medical problems.</p>
<p>MonyDad- spoke with a friend who does not have prescription drug coverage. He said he always calls around to the different pharmacies. The prices can vary. He also lets the Dr know that he does not have a prescription coverage and the Dr sometimes gives him samples or will prescribe something that comes in generic form if possible.</p>