Seeking a Social Services Education—Fast
October 31, 2010 4:58 PM Subscribe
What's a poor couple in Michigan to do for medical insurance?
In thirty days our 18 months of Cobra will expire and we need to find an alternative. We have a pre-existing condition and the only individual plan we know of that will accept that is Blue Cross, the cost of which will rapidly exhaust our meager savings. Our only income, unemployment, ends in December so we'll likely qualify for a subsidized program but we don't have a clue where to start to explore these. We have no experience with social services beyond unemployment and and our call to a social worker last week has not yet been returned. I worked for 24 years at the same job before it was eliminated.
In thirty days our 18 months of Cobra will expire and we need to find an alternative. We have a pre-existing condition and the only individual plan we know of that will accept that is Blue Cross, the cost of which will rapidly exhaust our meager savings. Our only income, unemployment, ends in December so we'll likely qualify for a subsidized program but we don't have a clue where to start to explore these. We have no experience with social services beyond unemployment and and our call to a social worker last week has not yet been returned. I worked for 24 years at the same job before it was eliminated.
Response by poster: These looks great, megatherium and zug, thanks!
posted by tangram1 at 8:48 PM on October 31, 2010
posted by tangram1 at 8:48 PM on October 31, 2010
Best answer: There are also various county plans, and "sort-of plans". I'm on one of the sort-of plans, and it covers most scheduled doctor visits and prescriptions, and it is free.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 11:06 PM on November 1, 2010
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 11:06 PM on November 1, 2010
Response by poster: Do you know how to find out more, ETP?
posted by tangram1 at 9:32 AM on November 2, 2010
posted by tangram1 at 9:32 AM on November 2, 2010
I would Google for your county's website. Mine (Ingham) has a fair amount of info on there.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 12:52 PM on November 2, 2010
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 12:52 PM on November 2, 2010
What COUNTY are you in? I know several people that could get you some phone numbers....
posted by peewinkle at 2:36 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by peewinkle at 2:36 PM on November 4, 2010
Response by poster: Sorry, peewinkle. We're in Kalamazoo County. I hope you're still checking in. We called a social worker at one of the hospitals to ask for information and she said she couldn't help us because so many people are "shopping" for benefits now.
posted by tangram1 at 9:32 PM on November 7, 2010
posted by tangram1 at 9:32 PM on November 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by megatherium at 5:55 PM on October 31, 2010