HELP, I cannot get insurance.
TLDR: I need to get a $22k medical procedure done. Got dropped by one insurance company and denied by another. Can't afford the procedure or other potential treatments. Am I going to die bc I can't access healthcare in the US? Do I have any options that I don't know about?
December 2023 enrolled in insurance through the healthcare marketplace like I have the last several years. Go to the doctor at the end January and everything is fine with the insurance. Go back a few days later (but in the month of Feb) for blood work. March I get a bill for the blood work but I didn't think anything of it because the same thing happened last year when I got blood work done but it was an error.
Well it wasn't an error. The marketplace insurance canceled bc I missed a payment. I didn't even realize I had missed it. I thought I had autopay set up but I guess I didn't. I also found it really hard to believe that it would get canceled after one missed payment but I talked to 4 different people with marketplace and they confirmed that's what happened. They also informed me that unless I get married or have a baby I can't get insurance until November 2024. Again, this sounds absurd to me but I guess it is what it is.
The marketplace people tell me to go through my local blue cross blue shield. I reached out to them 10 days ago and just got a letter notifying me that I had been denied. The denial was based on seeking mental health help when I was going through a hard time a few years ago. At the time they slapped some diagnoses on me and gave me some pills. I took the pills for a month and haven't had any problems since. I wasn't hospitalized or anything like that. It was two drs appointments that lasted less that 30 mins in total. This is especially frustrating bc I thought seeking help was the right thing to do. I was actually really proud of myself for asking for help.
I don't qualify for medicare and I'm self employed.
Most years I wouldn't be too worried about it but I'm scheduled for a much needed endoscopy and colonoscopy in May. I have already put it off a year but my GI issues have gotten much worse and there is a very strong family history of colon cancer at a "young age". I received the bill and the procedure is going to be $22k and there is just absolutely no way I can pay that much.
And then what if worst case senecio happens and I need further treatments. Then what's going to happen? Am I going to die bc I can't get health care in the United States of America? Is Mexico an option?
Do I have any options?
submitted by /u/yeppa08
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