[gris212]

I was teaching for over 8 years but back in November I fell into a terrible depression. I took FMLA and during this time decided I didn't want to go back to teaching. I wasn't happy with it and I felt a lot of anxiety being in the classroom. I gave my resignation letter this month and my insurance coverage ends next week.
I applied for health coverage through Obamacare and because I am between jobs I may qualify for Medicaid. I'm suppose to be contacted by the state but it's going on 2 weeks, I'm going to try contacting them tomorrow.

I'm on short term disability until May, but have looked into a part time job starting next month. Tomorrow I'm going to see about classes to become a medical assistant.

My concern is insurance. I need my meds, psychiatrist, and therapist! I'm worried that very soon I won't have what I need to keep stable.

[wildflowerchild25]

In NJ it took multiple calls for me to get Medicaid to consider my son and just a general bureaucratic bumbling of my case ended with my son being withot insurance until I managed to get a job (teaching, actually) that offered insurance. With Medicaid I would be calling hem every two weeks to check in things, and make a note of every time you call. In my state they kept claiming I had never called and that they were going to "put his through to the supervisor" blah blah blah. Keep on them.

Anyway ask your current providers if thy are willing to do a sliding scale arrangement with you. Sometimes if you've built a rapport with people they will help you out. You can also consider going to another provider, a clinic that will do sliding scale treatment, unless you have already established a relationship with your pdoc and therapist.

As for medication, that can be tricky. I make sure I am on only generic versions, which limits me to older drugs - no abilify, saphris, latuda, etc. even Effexor was too expensive as a generic. Sometimes you can also utilize samples from yor doctor until you can get insurance, or go through the maker of the drug. Astra Zeneca, for example; gave my friend free geodon when he didn't have insurance for a few months. My doctor had a sample coupon for Seroquel XR and wrote me a script for 300mg pills that I could break in half so that I could get twice as much for free. So there are ways to get your care without insuranCE.
I know this because even though I have insurance now, I have to pay out of pocket until I reach my deductible\

[gris212]

I would think with the new insurance laws going on things would be smoother. I has on hold for an hour and was told to call back tomorrow. If I can't get insurance through Medicaid maybe I can do Cobra through work although I've heard its kind of expensive.

I will try Astra Zeneca because I do take Geodon. I've been seeing my psychiatrist for 9 years and I hate to lose her. I'm just afraid of facing the world if I can't see my psychiatrist or have the needed meds. That worries me and I'm having a lot of anxiety over it right now.

There's a clinic I'm going to call tomorrow to see if there is any way they see patients without insurance.

[wildflowerchild25]

Talk to your pdoc too. She might be willing to work with you on payments, especially since you've been with her for so long.

[wing]

Also, isn't there a website to apply online? maybe you'll get faster results.

[krlgirl]

Sending warm and friendly thoughts to you. I can relate to your situations and find myself in similar circumstances. I have been teaching for several years and dread going to school/work with each day, suffering from major depression and anxiety. However, I need the health insurance to continue to see my doctors and therapist, so it is a catch 22 situation. I am contemplating taking an FMLA sick leave for the depression, but worried about the ramifications. I would like intermittent leave, but that is not great for the school.

Good luck with the insurance. You are entitled to Cobra coverage, but it is very expensive, for example, my single rate would be approximately $1200 per month. Obama Care is a possibility, but most plans have very basic coverage for mental health issues.

Hope everything works out with insurance and a new career.