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Depression Treatment with No Insurance?

BlackjackBlackjack Registered User regular
in Help / Advice Forum
Basically, I'm looking for advice on exactly what the topic is. I have no health insurance since I'm now done with school, but I also have finally reached the conclusion that frankly I should have reached about ten years ago: It's time to actually get help for my depression. What sort of options and resources are available to me in my no job (so very little money), no insurance life?

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Posts

  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    Medicaid, depression is a serious illness and shouldn't be treated OTC or, without an accompanying provider to maintain and supervise your treatment.

    You probably qualify, but that's really dependent on your state.

    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    If you are male in PA, possibly not. I haven't been able to have my husband added to my case because he has no pre-existing medical condition that requires daily medication or regular treatment. That all changes in October, though.

    Basically, if you can hold out until October, everything will be different then.

    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • NeadenNeaden Registered User regular
    ceres wrote: »
    If you are male in PA, possibly not. I haven't been able to have my husband added to my case because he has no pre-existing medical condition that requires daily medication or regular treatment. That all changes in October, though.

    Basically, if you can hold out until October, everything will be different then.

    Unfortunately the Medicaid expansion won't kick in until Jan 2014 and that's only if your state is going along with it. If your do live in a state that is expanding Medicaid you will qualify if you.
    Do you live in an urban area? there may be psychiatrists with a sliding fee scale in your area.

  • PirusuPirusu Pierce Registered User regular
    Look into reduced cost programs. While I was living in Raleigh and had no insurance, I was able to visit a clinic that was income-based talk-therapy. Your assigned therapist is a student working on their MSW or such, and you have a licensed therapist overseeing your case. I didn't do meds through this group, but they offered psychiatric services as well, so it may be an option of some kind. The group I went through was called "New Leaf Behavioral Health" though as I said, that was in Raleigh.

  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited May 2013
    Neaden wrote: »
    ceres wrote: »
    If you are male in PA, possibly not. I haven't been able to have my husband added to my case because he has no pre-existing medical condition that requires daily medication or regular treatment. That all changes in October, though.

    Basically, if you can hold out until October, everything will be different then.

    Unfortunately the Medicaid expansion won't kick in until Jan 2014 and that's only if your state is going along with it. If your do live in a state that is expanding Medicaid you will qualify if you.
    Do you live in an urban area? there may be psychiatrists with a sliding fee scale in your area.

    Okay, the application process starts in October. That is really what I should have said. The actual changes take effect in January. PA is going with it, although even the people working in the Medicaid change office don't really seem to know exactly how the changes will affect them or what the new process will look like. The guy I spoke with the other day, who was incredibly nice and helpful, by the way, basically said "yeah, we don't know what happens then, at this point we're along for the ride."

    One option you may have (and this is how I got my current health care setup) is to find a non-profit advocate in your county. If you call around someone may be able to give you some lower-cost options.

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • PeJaePeJae Registered User regular
    Your local college or university is going to have the best information on low cost mental health options in your area. Many universities that offer therapy degrees will have free sessions as a way to get their students field experience. If you happen to be religious your priest or pastor might be a good resource. The clergy have become a lot better (depending on the denomination and if your gay) at helping their parishioners who are struggling with mental illness, depression in particular. Many Catholic charities will have mental health services for the uninsured and the low income.

    If you think you need medication you have a much tougher row to hoe. A therapist will not be able to prescribe you anything and most doctors will be unwilling to treat psychiatric conditions in a free or walk-in clinic situation. While most of the common antidepressants are now generic without an insurance company to negotiate the costs down full retail price is exorbitant.

    I think you are best off trying to find an interim fix. Mental health on Medicaid can be a bit tricky. Many providers over the last few years have stopped taking on new medicaid patients. In rural areas it can be tough to find a doctor. You might be better served by trying to get any job that is willing to give you medical coverage at least until the PPACA kicks in.

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