Over
the weekend I ran into an old friend who connected me to an individual in need
of “some type of health insurance.”
The
woman, age 23, told me that she has never had any type of health insurance coverage
but heard on the radio that things have been changing and she might be able to
enroll in the new healthcare exchange. She was frustrated to hear that the
healthcare exchange is not yet available to consumers.
We
talked a little about her family. She lives with her mother, but aside from
splitting the electric bill 50-50 they live in separate households. She brings
home around $350 every other week and she is frequently depressed about her
financial situation. She then explained to me that this is why she is seeking
health insurance — she needs mental health services. Unfortunately, childless
adults are not eligible to receive Medicaid at her level of income, so I couldn't assist her with the application. I did point her towards an awesome
resource organized by Mental Health America
of Franklin County.
The
Pro Bono Counseling
Program
connects volunteer mental health professionals with those in the community who
need mental health counseling but cannot afford it. This local resource and
other programs like it can be a vital lifeline for those struggling with poverty
and mental health disorders. My new friend may have to wait until October to enroll in the
healthcare exchange but not to receive mental health counseling.
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