There Has to Be a Better Option

[Yukari-sensei]

To begin with, I do not have health insurance... yet. I am a working college student in one of the poorest areas in the United States. I am fortunate enough to have an endocrinologist which I pay around $100 per visit.

The problem is that I cannot move from my anti-androgens to hormones for two reasons... weight and lab costs... (I'm dealing with the weight issue) Most of my labs I can get through the university for a total of $50, but the rest of them total $750! How often is he going to order these labs?! Each round of these tests are 83% of my monthly income!

Should I wait till January to sign on to the student health plan or my wife's health option or does any non-profit help with this? Or am I just screwed...

[JLT1]

Hey,

What tests is your endo asking to do?  That does not sound right.  And yes, there are options. 
List or PM. 

[JaneNicole2013]

The good news is that you are close to the beginning of the year...only a few months away. I would definitely sign up for insurance.

[Lauren5]

I highly recommend student insurance; my school has been a bit slower than I'd have liked with transition process (although that's mostly my fault, being tryphanophobic, and too anticipatory) but overall they have been excellent about it.

[Yukari-sensei]

Tests Ordered:

CBC & Diff, Cortisol, FSH, Fructosamine  Level, Hemoglobin Electrophoresis, Hepatic Function Panel, Hgb A1c, Iron Level, Lipid Panel, Lutenizing Hormone, Prolactin Level, Renal Function Panel, T4 Free, Testosterone Free, Testosterone Total, TSH, Vitamin D Level, and US Liver (Ultrasound).

My father, an RN, was "wow! This guy is being really thorough! This is out of my area of expertise though, *pause for contemplation of adjective*... child"

[ttim0324]

Can't you just apply for Medicaid and let them take over the bills? I'm pretty sure thats available in all of the USA.
My endo ordered those same tests and my health insurance took care of it.

[Jamie Marie]

My endo did these at the University of Michigan

ESTIMATED GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE
PROLACTIN
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL
ESTRADIOL
TESTOSTERONE

It was $712.00 so I don't know about the average cost but it can be pretty high.

Jamie

Oh if your staying in college for awhile i'd go for the student insurance.

[Yukari-sensei]

Can't you just apply for Medicaid and let them take over the bills? I'm pretty sure thats available in all of the USA.
My endo ordered those same tests and my health insurance took care of it.

Texas... Governor Rick Perry blocked Medicaid expansion...

[TaoRaven]

Can't you just apply for Medicaid and let them take over the bills? I'm pretty sure thats available in all of the USA.
My endo ordered those same tests and my health insurance took care of it.

and AFAIK, no new Medicaid claims are being processed until the first of the year.

[ttim0324]

Texas... Governor Rick Perry blocked Medicaid expansion...

UGH. So sorry!
Might wanna follow the other advice given here and go ahead with student insurance, probably the best course of action.

[Yukari-sensei]

My endo did these at the University of Michigan

ESTIMATED GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE
PROLACTIN
COMPREHENSIVE METABOLIC PANEL
ESTRADIOL
TESTOSTERONE

It was $712.00 so I don't know about the average cost but it can be pretty high.

Jamie

Oh if your staying in college for awhile i'd go for the student insurance.

Well at least I know I'm not being gouged... January is looking better and better...

[Ms Grace]

My blood tests are similarly thorough, but I'm in my 40s so I guess the endo needs to make sure nothing is going into meltdown or shutdown.

Wow, those costs though! In Australia we have Medicare (have had it for over 30 years now) a universal health care system that covers the cost of blood tests. Hope you can find a good cheap solution!

[Cindy]

My blood tests are similarly thorough, but I'm in my 40s so I guess the endo needs to make sure nothing is going into meltdown or shutdown.

Wow, those costs though! In Australia we have Medicare (have had it for over 30 years now) a universal health care system that covers the cost of blood tests. Hope you can find a good cheap solution!

Same, I pay $36 for all of this, but the USA doesn't like universal health care, they seem to have problems with the 'socialization' of health care, it is a contradiction of the 'free' society. Possibly a case of not seeing the 'would' for the 'decrees'.

<goes into hiding>