Any state health insurance for poor people (Richmond, Lynchburg: home, unemployed)

[johnnybc]

We are on state health insurance in Mass because we are muscians and don't make much money, does Virginia offer anything?? Many thanks

[TN Lily]

To the best of my knowledge, NO.

You either have to be poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, or have the money to buy your health insurance (assuming your employer does not provide coverage).

You should check with Anthem. If you are young and healthy, I suspect you can pick up a policy for around $150-$200 a month per person. It's been a while since I have shopped for insurance.

Another option you have is to look for a policy with a very high deductible. That would at least give you coverage if you had a costly accident or were diagnosed with an illness requiring expensive treatment.

[marmatt61]

I am currently unemployed and without health insurance. I have taken my son twice and myself once to the Community Health Center here in Fredericksburg. The doctors were fantastic. The cost is based on income and whatnot. My visit was for a diabetic checkup as I was about to exhaust my old prescriptions. Anyway, the visit was $15.00 and the bloodwork was $38.00 If you are in Richmond I'm sure there are an plenty of such places. I just googled "free health care in fred..."

[TPL]

If you're able to work, then you have no excuse for not doing so in order to secure health insurance. Heck, even part-time work at Starbucks gives you full medical!

[LynchburgLover]

You say you are muscians. Do you have jobs lined up in Virginia before you move?

Or do you just plan to move to Virginia and wing it?

[johnnybc]

thanks for everybody's input, very helpful. We teach privately and play gigs, so we are self-employed, and we can survive for a year or so while we get set up, here besides teaching at home we teach part time at comunity music schools, but they don't offer health ins. and to get on a co plan without help would be $15K a year or so, so there's half our household income. So yes we're going to wing it if we move, but it seems like a good area for culture etc.

[LynchburgLover]

Sounds like you better pick a fairly small rural community -- Danville, Martinsburg, Winchester, Front Royal, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg etc. The cost of living in NoVa, Charlottesville or Richmond is going to be really, really rough to survive on $30k. But as far as I know, the state doesn't offer any except the above mentioned Medicaid. Best of luck.

[Coubr]

There's something called Virginia Coordinated Care, but I'm not sure exactly what the qualifications are. You might have to be completely indigent to qualify for that.

[TN Lily]

This is what I found online re Virginia Coordinated Care.

Provides healthcare services for the uninsured who meet Virginia's indigent care guidelines. No appointment necessary - call for hours and financial screening information.
Virginia Coordinated Care for the Uninsured
VCU Medical Center (or P.O.Box 5548)
Richmond, VA 23286
Phone: 804-828-0966

[johnnybc]

We may not qualify but I'll definately find out. We are thinking of Sttaunton whiich we love and it's less expensive but still close to CVille for gigs. Or maybe a small rural town near there, Greenville, Verona??.