I know nothing about being an adult.
 

Today, my mom chose to inform me, likely solely in an attempt to upset me, that when I turn eighteen I supposedly will no longer be covered by their health insurance. Which worked in upsetting me, because it's a really scary thought. I'm /really/ sick. I have medications I need to take that will cost thousands without insurance, I'm as of yet STILL undiagnosed and tests that doctors need to diagnose me costs thousands (I just had an MRI that would have cost $6000+ without insurance, but we only had to pay about $900 which is still a whopping amount, but more doable). I don't know what to do. I don't turn 18 until July, but I know nothing about being an adult. I missed all of high school from being sick, and it seems other people learned a lot of stuff about what it takes to be an adult during socializing, talking to teachers about college, etc. I know nothing I need to.

I don't know how to figure it out, or if there is anything I can do. Most of my medications are "optional" in the sense that TECHNICALLY if I stop taking them, I do not immediately drop dead... but the symptoms I had are not livable uncontrolled.

I've always thought I'd end up killing myself before I turned eighteen for such reasons, and that becomes more and more a reality as it draws nearer. My mom laughs and says I better get used to not having painkillers, but I can just barely move WITH them. WITH these medications I still am unable to do most things in life. Without them, getting out of bed will probably never be an option for me anymore. And I've lost enough to my illness already, I can't take it becoming completely paralyzing in every sense of the word...

What am I supposed to do?
I'm so scared...:crying:

(I probably posted this in the wrong place, but I don't even know. >.< Just really frazzled right now...)

Im not sure of the american system, but is there any way you can get insurance yourself? or look into free options?

Look into Medicaid. It's for people of low income or minimal assets/resources, and depending upon the state, it can cover mental health. (It's funded by the federal and state governments, but managed by the states.) There is a wikipedia page that explains what it is exactly, and I think on their website you can look up your state and its specifics .

I am 25, and I still find all of this crap confusing and ask my mom about it all the time who works for an insurance company...There's a lot of jargon...

Is there a school counselor that would help you decipher all of this? Would your mom be willing to help out (though from how you described her, I gather not...)?

Good luck. I really hope things turn out for you!

I know here (in Washington) we have a department of social and health services, which deal with everything from getting on food stamps to low-income housing to cheap/free mental and physical health services. If you can find the equivalent in your state, I'm sure there would be people there willing to help you sort through it.

I think your location said Tennessee, so I googled a few pages for you: http://tn.gov/humanserv/ (Tennessee Human Services Page)

http://www.state.tn.us/mental/ (Tennessee Department of Mental Health Page)

Hope this helps :)

If your parents have insurance, the company is required to allow you to be covered until you are 26.

Otherwise, hook up with your social services people and they'll be able to point you in whatever direction.

These are all really good suggestions. As Amaryallis said, insurance has to cover you up until 26 now. I would personally call the insurance place and talk to somebody there, it might just be your mom hasn't heard of what's going on or isn't properly informed.

Besides that, medicaid is pretty good to look into, although it can take a long time to get on. Uh, there's also free/low income health centers, and often they can help to get you medication for a lower price or even free in some cases.

Or, if you're in college/university, they'll probably have some type of insurance that you could look into getting. You have to pay extra to get it, but it's better than not having insurance at all.

If all else fails, try to get in touch with the social services or something and see if they can help connect you to something in your area! :)

If your illness is that bad then you probably should look into some kind of disability/pension and the insurance is still supposed to cover you so ask your mother about that as well.