# What options are there if you are uninsured **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2009, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632 "2009-09-26T08:29:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632/21 "2009-09-29T13:46:07Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](#): > > Wasn’t that 9? This one goes to 11. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632/22 "2009-09-29T20:42:29Z")
Teaching hospitals are fine if you happen to fit a current study and strictly qualify for the conditions of that study, otherwise they are the same as any other hospital. I’ve worked with teaching hospitals in the past and their criteria is very strict. Uninsured people tend to have multiple issues and that mucks up their studies. For instance, if you have migranes they don’t want to study you if you have, diabetes, malnutrition and a host of other things that may cause or mimick the migrane. If you need care the thing to do is go to an ER (preferably as far away from your home as possible.) “Forget” to bring your wallet and go into the ER and say you can’t breathe. This is going to be a one time thing, that’s why you want to do it far from your home, in case something happens you can get to the closer hospital for a real emergency. Hospitals can’t turn you away for a life threatening emergency, but even painful things like kidney stones, are not emergencies and don’t have to be treated. State and federal money isn’t available for those with HIV, you need to be diagnoses as having AIDS, which isn’t the same. I know quite a few HIV+ positive people that don’t get meds as they haven’t got AIDS yet. Of course this has led to doctors sometimes diagnosing AIDS just to get their patients meds. Fortunately there are a lot of private social organizations that will help people get HIV meds. Unfortunately they are located in major urban areas. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632/23 "2009-09-29T22:21:15Z")
Identity theft. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632/24 "2009-09-30T04:19:47Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > And free sodomy, which could lead to other further medical or mental health complications… Gee, I hadn’t thought of that, possibly because I am not unduly influenced by media hype and sensationalism. It could be a factor, though. One might want to choose a jurisdiction in which the penal system has a reputation for being better regulated. Hey **salinqmind** , was your friend sodomized while _she_ was in jail? I wonder if strap-ons are available in women’s prisons. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632/25 "2010-01-26T06:21:15Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > 1. Marry someone who has a job that offers health coverage. How common do you suppose this is? I always heard about is as a way to get in/stay in the country. Makes me wonder if there is money to be made here. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632/26 "2010-01-26T07:45:38Z")
Do what I do: pay cash for my 6 annual office visits and bloodwork, and of the $300 worth of pills I have to take every month, get as many as possible from Canada. And go without needed knee and eye surgery. 8+ more months until Medicare. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-options-are-there-if-you-are-uninsured/511632.md?page=1)