Help, I've fallen and I'm a freelancer!

Health care: The (big) necessary evil that will cut into my shoe budget

For the past week, I've had sharp pains in my shoulders. Plus, my back bones have been cracking - every vertebra - each time I stretch during a yawn. At first I thought these things might have been caused by my irrational need to carry a suitcase-sized handbag at all times (it's like a security blanket for chic young women). Or maybe they were effects of moving 20lb. file boxes every day at one of my temp gigs. (workers' comp case much?...j/k...I think :o )

But since the pain started I've stopped that temp job and lessened the load I carry in my purse. Nevertheless, the searing feeling hasn't subsided. So, I did what any 80s baby with a non-life threatening health issue would do (according to generational stereotyping): I promptly called my mommy to ask her to fix my boo boo...

No, my plea for assistance wasn't that juvenile. It was more along the lines of, "Do you still have me covered under your insurance? Because I need to see a chiropractor stat." I was a tad taken aback by my mom's response though. Whereas a year ago she would've softened the blow of a non-affirmative answer with a short list of viable alternatives that I didn't have to think of on my own, today she simply told me that 'NO' I was no longer covered and 'NO' she couldn't give me money to pay for a doctor visit without insurance. (sad face all around)

Instead of whining and pouting like I wanted to do (ok, I pouted - but she couldn't see me because we were on the phone), I confidently told her, "I understand. I'll figure this out myself." Then, as I was about to hang up in anger and despair, a bit of my old mommy returned :o ) She suggested I look for a free clinic that treats the uninsured - afterall, she said, it's New York. The old me - All-American-raised middle-class suburban cheerleader-type - would've scoffed at the thought.

*To put my experiences with healthcare up until now into perspective: my immunization shot records were always ahead of the scheduled 'expiration' dates because my mother monitored my childhood well-being like CIA agents guard the president. At the smallest sniffle, my brother and I were likely to be carted off to the family physician for a general exam. Even when I left the lollipops behind and started seeing a gynecologist, my mother was there - or dictating via phone - to make sure every part of my anatomy was properly inspected. Annual eye exams - of course. Regular teeth cleaning - sure. Braces - got them off May 31, 2002. And family therapy sessions - I don't want to relive. All performed by reputable licensed medical professionals; all covered by a pretty darn good employee (my mother's) health plan. In light of opening my eyes to the real world, I now know that I was blessed to grow up as I did. Proper health care was a given fact for me - not something to agonize over majorly.
So, to say I handled my mother's suggestion well is putting it mildly. I immediatley got off the phone and Googled clinics in the city. Fortunately, New York seems to have a comprehensive network of free or cheap health care providers. In fact, if you live in the area and find yourself in a similar situation, here's the website I visited: The New York City Free Clinic. I'm going to check it out tomorrow. Hopefully I can get someone there to refer me to a chiropracter who gives deep discounts. Or at least a massage parlor minus the 'happy ending' (afterall, this is New York, right?)

That solution might work in the short-term, but what about the future? Well, my current manager (oh yeh, I got a job - didn't I tell you? ;o ) suggested I look into health insurance for contract workers through the Freelancers Union. It's an organization started in the city, but expanding nationwide, that brings freelancers from all professions together to qualify for group health care rates. The lowest monthly price for an individual is about $130 - for 100% coinsurance for most everyday medical visits. Ofcourse, there are stipulations. But it seems pretty easy to qualify for. So, in the meantime in between time, I'm going find a way to get by.

Life Lesson #254: Health care doesn't come easy and it doesn't come cheap.

*Note: For a first-person take on shopping for healthcare as a freelancer, visit my friend Justin and read his post, Damn that benign testicular cyst.