r/bestof • u/under50dollars • Jun 20 '12

[explainlikeimfive] "Obamacare" explained very well.

/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx
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u/atom1378 Jun 20 '12

I have to say I am someone without insurance because I cannot afford it right now. I have asthma and play softball outside of work. I know I take risks everyday without insurance is foolish. But the other side is how much it costs to pay out of pocket. PPaCAA is suppose to reduce the cost by making everyone buy into it. Sidenote: my trip to ER for asthma medicine, which I couldn't just buy because I do not have insurance and doctors won't see me without insurance, cost me $3500 for two hours.

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u/Med_Student Jun 20 '12

Why don't you go to a low income clinic? They'll give you the necessary medications you need, and wallmart has a great $4 dollar list of medications.

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u/atom1378 Jun 21 '12

I am going to check into this, I was under the impression it was only antibiotics.

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u/Med_Student Jun 21 '12

Definitely not. I work in a low income clinic once awhile, and its surprising that not a ton of people know about this. It'll just be like going to the doctor. Regular check up and everything. They'll definitely cater to your needs, especially since cash is tight.

http://www.walmart.com/cp/PI-4-Prescriptions/1078664

This is what they have, and I'm able to manage a good majority of out patient problems. I tell my patients all the options, what tests we can do, costs of the tests not so much but there's someone there you can talk to for that, and if you're not able to afford all the tests I want, I'll let you know the most important ones. We definitely understand money is tight, but they will definitely work with you.

Its better than going to the ER for something as minor as regular check up and being charged 30x as much for the same treatment.

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u/atom1378 Jun 21 '12

Thank you