A
female
age
26-29,
anonymous
writes:Hi everyone, this is not a relationship issue but rather an issue within myself. I'm 19, going to school full time and work a part time retail job. I live with just my mom and a few wonderful animals. We are really, really broke to the point where we can't afford much at all. My dad, who is addicted to gambling and hasn't been a part of my life since I was a little girl, doesn't pay the child support or health insurance he is required to. I woke up this morning to a throbbing pain in one of my molar teeth and poked it and just about then and there I wanted to grab pliers and rip the tooth out. My teeth aren't visibly bad but I'm sure I have a lot of cavities. I brush and rinse twice a day. Last year I had to get a tooth removed because it broke and the nerve was exposed and damaged. That visit was my first to a dentist since I was four or five maybe. This visit cost my mom well over a thousand dollars for the c rays and extraction and all the gas they had to give me because I am truly terrified of the dentist and I have a very low pain tolerance and hate foreign objects like those creepy tools in my mouth. Anyway, since we cannot afford health insurance I am finding this situation increasingly difficult for myself... My paycheck is way too little to cover the cost of health insurance every month and I can't up front pay that much money for a visit, I hardly have enough for basic needs as it is. I am contemplating joining the military (my boyfriend is a marine, his health care is only $50 a month and includes dental!) but don't want to have to put a hold on going to school as I want to graduate ASAP for a real job. I have checked for clinics in my area and haven't been able to find any that will accept patients without insurance. I don't know where else to turn or what to do, this is putting me down so much knowing that I might have to put my life on hold to make sure I can take care of something that most other people can get for free or very cheap even if they can afford it. Thank you in advance for any advice!
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reader, anonymous, writes (14 January 2014): What the hell, it costs 1k for an extraction in America? I went in a few years back with a broken tooth and a huge abscess (half of my face swollen and high risk of septicaemia) including medication it only cost me 100 Euros and I had no insurance then. That was for 4 visits too.
Your country's 'if you can't afford it, you don't deserve it' attitude is very weird.
OP I had a huge fear of dentists until I got that abscess, nothing like that kind of pain to cure a fear. I hadn't been in about ten years before that because of that and I had more than a few cavities. Each only cost 80 bucks to get filled too. My point is OP health comes first, if you have to take out a loan to sort your teeth out then so be it. Try what all the others suggested first, surely there's a way you can get it done. OP rotting teeth can kill you, it's better to be in debt than dead.
I thought your "demon" president introduced some kind of "evil communist" health care system recently, are you not covered by that? Also if you live anywhere near the Canadian or Mexican border check out your options. I have heard of people hitch-hiking to Canada and getting their medical care there.
Seriously though OP, health first, money second.
I just don't get it though, you have to have charities provide healthcare there like some kind of third world country. That's such an alien concept to me and especially in the richest country on the planet. Where I'm from healthcare is a right, not a privilege and I'll never understand how Americans can let their government not fulfil their duty to protect their citizens from by far their biggest threat, disease.
A
female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (14 January 2014):
 You Wish brings up an excellent point. I had my wisdom teeth removed for virtually nothing at a dental school by a dental student. The professor was right there and I was all numbed up and relaxed with the right medications, so it was not horrifying at all.
Definitely go to the closest dental school for more information on that!
Hope you are okay and that you get the required health coverage you need!
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (13 January 2014): Have you tried your local health department? You may have to wait in line but it is free for extractions and other dental work. Sometimes too, local dentist do pro bono work--ie "Operation Smile." Dental professionals donate their time, materials, and staff. I would check with your local dental society. Good Luck!
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A
female
reader, YouWish +, writes (13 January 2014):
 Not many people know about this, but the larger universities with dental training programs take on people for a fraction of the cost of a dentist. Basically, you get every service that any other dentist offers, but the dentist is accompanied by dental students who are learning their trade. The care you get is fantastic. For example, the tooth extraction would have been about $105 for the procedure and another $100 for the gas.
Your mom also needs to file with the court system in order to get the money your dad owes for your care. She can do the filing for free by filing "in forma pauperis" which waives filing fees. Your father is stealing the food from your mouth.
The other aunts have given great links to the health care sites. Filing for government assistance is a good idea as well.
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A
female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (13 January 2014):
I think dental falls into a slightly different category than medical care. We have excellent health care coverage and I don't get my dental for free or even very cheap. I expect you have many years of problems built up if you haven't been to the dentist in 14 years.
I would suggest that you look for health coverage for yourself and also have your mother look for the two of you to find a plan. I found a website that may help you: https://www.healthcare.gov/find-premium-estimates/
Are you in high school or college? Check with your college to see if it has any links to dental schools.
If you are so financially strapped as a family you may qualify for subsidies. You will need to be proactive and chase these things down.
It may be time for your mother to ask the courts to go after your father for his failure to pay your child support.
Sorry you find yourself in this situation.
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A
female
reader, person12345 +, writes (13 January 2014):
 Have you looked around the healthcare marketplace yet? If you make under a certain amount you can get subsidized health insurance. Contact one of the health care navigators, who can help you find something affordable and see if you qualify for subsidies.
https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/
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A
female
reader, Honeypie + ♥, writes (13 January 2014):
 The military does give "free" medical for the soldier and his/her family (spouse/child). But I would find it a hard thing to join JUST to get medical, specially coming from a home-country where medical is "free) we pay for it over our taxes.
You could look into dental school they DO need "patients" to practice on. I know a friend who got her teeth done for free that way.
Unfortunately you are in the same boat as MILLIONS of Americans.
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