Need Health Insurance

[CeliacFashionista]

I'm been struggling to get health insurance for over a year now and I am 100% sure I have celiac disease. I have been gluten free for about a month now and I feel sooo much better than before. However, I was diagnoised with acute hyperactive thyroid a while ago and I believe I need to be a on medication for this now. I cannot get insurance however to see any doctors to treat me. I take a multivitamin and drink milk kefir daily to improve my health on my own but I am aware this is not enough. I am 22 and in my senior year of college and this is a very crucial time in my life. Please any advice will help!

[kareng]

A lot of colleges offer inexpensive health insurance for students. You would have to see if there is a "pre-exisiting condition" clause.

If you go to a college with a med school, they will usually treat students free or very cheaply.

There might be a public health clinic or county health clinic. They would need your previous records to treat you.

[ravenwoodglass]

Do your parents have health insurance? The laws have changed recently and you can be added back onto their policy if you are in college and under 26. If that is not possible do check and see if you qualify for Medicaid. Many qualify but don't realize it. You do not have to take any other assistance if you don't want to.

[saintmaybe]

A lot of four year universities require their students to have health insurance, whether it's through their parents or through the school. I think that regulation *may* vary by the state though.

I second the student health insurance. It may not get you very far with specialists and such, but it will at least get you in to see the Nurse Practitioners and Staff Physicians at your school. I've found universities have some excellent dietary support groups, because students are striking out on their own for the first time, and usually have terrible eating habits. Those you might not need insurance to participate in at all. Just a thought!

[livelifelarge24]

You may also check with the county program where you live. In Ca we have CMISP which pays medical costs for people under a certain income level that don't qualify for medi cal. You can google your county's department of health and human services and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

[CeliacFashionista]

Thank You all very much for your responses! I finally convinced my mom to buy me a health insurance plan and I have been able to see doctors.