I don’t have health insurance and need to go to rehab (f/31/FL)

I am in desperate need of alcohol rehab. I have money saved and was planning on taking out a loan to pay for it. I spoke with a lady at the rehab facility who pointed me in the direction of another person (well call her Rachel) who told me exactly what insurance to get so that it would be as minimal cost to me as possible.

I have never qualified for insurance through my work place due to it being a seasonal job and I quit last week (bartender, rehab, self explanatory).

“Rachel” tells me I can get medigap insurance however I must first be denied Medicaid. I do not have any “life qualifying events” but she insists I qualify if I am denied.

I apply for Medicaid and online shows me I am ineligible and pending.

I call the number she gave me and spoke with 3 different people. I am told the first 2 times if I didn’t have Medicaid before then it does not qualify. I am honest and tell them I didn’t.

Rachel tells me to say less, so the 3rd time I call to buy insurance I say I am denied Medicaid and she says so you had it before and were deemed ineligible okay and kinda glosses over me answering. She tells me send the denial letter when I get it and we’re all good to go.

How big of a deal is that? Only because this info was all through the rehab and a health service agent, I just don’t want to to break any laws or get into worse trouble. I don’t mind a little white lie if it isn’t going to get me into worse trouble, they seemed very confident in what direction they were steering me for this, I just want to be fully confident in trusting them.

Also how long should I have the insurance before I go to rehab? A friend who asked a good resource said to wait at least a month.

Thanks for any helpful advice.