I'm lucky enough to own my own house. I think I could sell it, pay off my loans and have a good chunk of change left over for mental health care (I can't get insurance because I'm uninsurable; no insurance company will cover me. I'm trying to get on the government's new plan for preexisting conditions folks like me but the Supreme Court looks like it's going to strike the Affordable Health Care Act down in June.

Given that we go back to our old system, and I can't get any private insurance company to cover me, and assuming I need intensive longish term mental health care, what's the most reasonable plan of action? Sell my one asset and use the money to pay for as much mental health care as I can get (and after that just plan for a life of homelessness and destitution) OR keep my house and pay for a little mental health care here and there (which isn't really sufficient and I'm falling through the cracks plus running up huge credit card debt.

The bright side is that possibly if I'm lucky I could get well enough to hold down a steady job again, one that would hopefully give me health insurance. Is that the best I can hope for?

[Rose76]

I would be very slow to let go of that house. It sounds to me like this might be a good time for you to go and get financial counseling from a good reputable, non-profit counseling agency.

When I was in the market for a job, Division of Vocational Rehab in my state was willing to pay $8000 for me to participate in a program of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. I am so burned out on therapy that I just didn't want it. You might check out Voc. Rehab in your state. I am getting psych care through a county program for low-income people. There might be more available around you than you realize, but it can be awfully hard to find out just what you might qualify for.

Programs to help low income people often don't require you to liquidate either your home or your retirement savings. That's the case with the health care program I am covered by.

Sometimes bankruptcy can be an option worth very serious consideration. I also ran up credit card debt paying for private psychiatric care, when I could have gotten it through the county for very low co-payments. I just didn't know what was available.

[Suki22]

don't sell the house! it's a good asset to have and it's stability for you (as long as it's not too much work to upkeep).

Rose has some very good suggestions. if you check into bankruptcy you usually can meet with a lawyer for free the first time. you have options! yes, it's a lot of work even checking into all the options but it will be worth it. hang in there!

[Rose76]

Here's something I recommend. I did it, and was real, real glad I did. Go to Barnes and Noble, or wherever you find has good, current paperback reading material. Buy a book, or two on Bankruptcy.

Check out some of Suzy Orman's books; they are written in a style that is reader-friendly. (Her book for the Young, Fabulous and Broke is a good primer in personal finance whatever age you may be. I bought one for me and I'm over 50; then I sent copies to my nieces.)

The reading I did helped me understand why the financial counselor recommended what she did. I ended doing my bankruptcy "Pro Se" which means without the help of a lawyer. The main think is not to lawyer up. The main think is to smarten up with some real homework. (Those lawyers like you to be dumb, 'cause then you are so pathetically dependent on them. Not a good place to be. Most of what you think you hire them for ends up being done by paralegals and clerks.)

I got to tell you one more thing. The "intensive longish term mental health care" that you think you might need . . . and that might restore you to being well and able to be gainfully employed again . . . and that you're willing to go into hock for and risk the loss of your home for . . . take it from me - it's highly overrated. (Well, don't take it from me. You don't know me.) I did a good bit of that, myself. I spent thousands back when I had a very good income and wanted more than insurance would pay. I went out and bought me the best. I payed right out of my pocket for it - and with credit cards, like you are finding yourself doing - it was NOT worth what I paid.

[Amazonmom]

get a good bankruptcy lawyer. My friends with huge medical bills were able to keep their home and cars while having their second mortgage eliminated entirely in a chapter 13 case. Pro se is very difficult to do properly if there are assets to protect such as a home. The whole case cost 2000 dollars payable over 5 years.

[Rose76]

I went "Pro Se," but I absolutely would not recommend that to anyone who owns a house. In my case, I had nothing to protect, but future income. I mis-spoke above.

[Perna]

Mental health care can not ever be covered in "health" care very well because not everyone needs it; it's like dental or vision care. Everyone gets medically ill but not everyone gets the others and, if they do, no two people need the same care so there's no way to tell how much to charge/pay for it.

I would not sell my house unless I had another plan I had made for myself and that I had faith in being what I wanted.

I like the story of your experience above, Rose. It's another idea/option.