Health and Dental Care | Heath Care for Contract employees. | Forum

Hi Rudy use the search box and type in health care. Be sure to read what Ms. Bubbly writes. I would have copied and pasted all the links but there are way too many. Good Luck!

Hey Rudy, I'm in the same boat! In the same city, too, I might add. After being covered under my father's insurance, which was incredible, for my entire life, I went out with a bang in the last few months of my insurance last summer, costing them $375,000 in 3 months, and then it expired because I was not a student anymore. I bet they threw a party!!! Anyway, I have been looking into options around the city, and there are a few free clinics you can go to, though you have to go in for an evaluation to see if you qualify. QUalifications include being over 18 and uninsured, I think. THey will try to get you covered by free insurance, too, but if you make too much money then you won't qualify (I don't make a ton, but apparently even what I make is probably too much for them). SO I went in a couple weeks ago, and got an appointment for next Saturday…I can give you a review of the clinic after that, if you like. It's right by Union Square, and seems clean enough, lol. It is a student clinic, I think, so you have to see a med student and a doctor, so it may be a long appointment but it is free! And they cover everything except prenatal and dental, I believe…and I doubt you need to worry about the prenatal part!!! My roommate went to a free clinic in the Bronx, and they even do dental there.

ANYWAY here is the link to the one I am going to, if you are still interested:

http://www.med.nyu.edu/nycfreeclinic/

If you have found any other resources I would be interested to know as well!

Hope you are well and having a great day!

Jessica

Rudy,

Unless you have ongoing dental problems or did not have regular dental care as a child, I would argue there's no need for dental insurance. I'm fortunate that my parents took care of regular cleanings, braces, sealants, etc. when I was a kid. I have not had dental insurance for 6 years and don't plan on getting it anytime soon. I get a Groupon/"daily deal" every 6 months for a dental cleaning/check-up somewhere in my area. these pop up all the time and cost about $35 for a cleaning, x-ray and exam.

Or, look into your local dental hygiene community. They do free cleanings/x-rays/etc. for the public done by supervised students. There is usually a long waiting list, but you can eventually get in.

I had a cavity about a year ago and paid $225 to take care of it. I simply pay out of pocket if something is needed. Dental insurance is a luxury for most people.