Health Insurance Suggestions

I was wondering if anyone has advice on getting health insurance vs. trying to find a therapist with a sliding scale.
Last year I lost the ability to use my parent's health insurance and have been struggling to get it since. I am a part-time student and I work part-time. This means I can't get health insurance from work or school, however I cannot afford to pay out of pocket. The main reason I need it is for my mental health.
Any suggestions?

Well... I obviously don't know anything about the insurance-related circumstances where you live. Personally, I'd have to say, although I've always had health insurance, that didn't result in me finding anything in the way of a competent therapist... (at least not from my perspective.)

To my mind, whether it's better to try to get health insurance, vs. trying to find a T with a sliding scale, is perhaps not so much the question. Of course, having health insurance is a good thing under any circumstances. But I personally don't know as it's necessarily going to lead to finding a better T. A T you feel comfortable with may be one who only accepts health insurance. But it could also be one who has a sliding scale fee structure. I doubt there's any direct relationship between the two, if that makes any sense.

Yes, that does make sense that a T with a sliding scale might not differ than one that accepts insurance. I suppose I was thinking about it in that way because I am taking medicine and was thinking of PsyD as well.
I guess it is just one of those things that I will figure out as I go along. Sliding scale T, it is.

Thank you for your response and suggestion.

Can you get insurance through your county? Are you on disability? You can also get insurance through disability. I would start with your county.

I live in the U.S. where plans that include mental health coverage are expensive (in my experience). I'm not on disability either because it would affect the future price of my health insurance & I work more hours than possible for it.
I'm sure there is a reasonable option, I think part of it is that I know trying to find a good T is hard. You know what I mean? Perhaps a bit of self-sabotage and procrastination is at play.

What about finding a therapist through the school's health center?

until 2019 america is still required to have health insurance. what that means is that president obama passed a law saying all americans must have health insurance, those that do not will have to pay a fee. most times this fee is assessed when someone files their taxes (there is a space on the tax forms where american's need to supply verification of their health insurance, insurance companies send those signed up with them this verification letter with their verification for taxes number), then president trump signed a new tax reform bill that will get rid of the mandate for health insurance by president obama....but..... it doesnt take affect until 2019.

what all that means is that when you file your tax returns between now and april because you have a job, you will need to show proof that you have health insurance. the rate of the no insurance fee right now is....$695 or 2.5 percent of your income which ever is greater.

the fastest way to get health insurance now is by ....

looking in your phone directory and contacting insurance companies. most have basic just starting out packages where you dont have to pay a whole years worth in one payment. most will take small monthly payments, some as little as 25 dollars, some as much as 50-80 dollars.

contacting your nearest social services office and applying for medicaid. with medicaid you can still work and get some foodstamps and health insurance coverage. be sure to take with you all the basic info they will need. this will make the application go through faster. basic info you will need, your identifications, social security number, and sometimes card, proof of address... after you fill out the forms they will look on a chart and match your annual income to the chart the chart will tell them whether you meet the income bracket for state medicaid standards. being that you are part time employment you most likely are elligible for state medical insurance, food stamps maybe something but most likely not much and maybe a bit on the cash grant or not depending on how your location requirements are for the welfare cash grants.

Thank you amandalouise, I have been so confused about what I can do and what is required of me. Are there any downfalls with future loan applications, credit, or housing if I apply and get Medicaid?

since you have a part time job you might have to do what they call "pay a co pay" thats when you pay so much of the bill and medicaid pays the rest. for some people thats as little as a dollar and for others its more. it all depends on what your income is and what your own states standards are for co pays. your department of social services can answer that when you apply for the medicaid.