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Health Insurance Question...Can Anyone Help?

Hi, I'm a 27 year old guy in good health and 2 days ago I had an accident at home. I tripped and fell down my stairs and suffered a concussion and had to receive stitches in my inner lip for a laceration that was caused by my teeth. I was knocked unconscious, and had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance, where I then received a number of X-rays. I Left the company I worked for a over 2 months ago, so COBRA doesn't apply, and the Health insurance I had through my old company was terminated in December. Are there any avenues I can take to take care of this through some sort of insurance or am I just out of luck? If I'm out of luck, is there some way I can have the medical bills reduced since I am without Health Insurance? I have always had health insurance and this is the first time I have been without it in my life, so I really don't know what is best to do. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thank You in advance

Public Comments

1. You should speak to someone at the hospital in financial services. There are programs in place to help reduce and sometimes take care of medical bills in full. At the very least they can set up payments that you can afford.
2. It's great that you are trying to be proactive about this. Most of the situations where the hospital wasn't helpful in making payment plans is when the patient ignores the bills. If you haven't gotten a bill within 3 weeks of the incident, contact the hospital. Many hospitals have discount programs if you pay the bill in full within 30 days = often between 25%-50%. Or some will offer very reasonable payment plans $25 a month for years. Typically the ambulance ride isn't associated with the hospital, so they are not as generous. I'm in Southern Calif, where basic ambulance services can be $300 or more. However, we do have programs where you can join the ambulance company for $10 a year and it covers all visits to your home. Check to make sure you don't have something like that. Glad you aren't seriously hurt!! Even if you are healthy, this is a prime example why insurance is necessary. You can typically get private insurance if you are healthy and under 40, for less than most cell phone plans. It won't cover ever sniffle you get but will reduce the doctors rates and it will be available when you need it, like now.
3. I don't understand why you say COBRA "doesn't apply." I assume you mean that you chose not to continue coverage under COBRA. In that case, you ARE "out of luck." Contact the providers' billing departments and try to negotiate payment plans.
4. Cobra COULD apply, IF you haven't declined coverage yet. If you've declined coverage, you're uninsured. You're not going to find insurance to cover something that's already happened. But you can try calling the hospital/ambulance company, and negotiating the price down to a cash price, and then setting up a payment plan.
5. I assume you don't think it is socialistic to have someone else pay for your health insurance like the Tea Baggers? If you have no income and are disabled from your job, you might get State Disability but you have to ask them about it. You can go to a community health clinic or to a charity clinic inside a Catholic hospital for medical treatment. How did you pay for the hospital when you fell down stairs.. Thats what I did until I got Medicaid. The states don't have much of a state health plan any more because they did not get funding from Washington. Depends what state you live in. So, if you have money, you should buy individual insurance. At age 27 you can get it for a lot less than older person.