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Hey gorgeous! My name is Kia. Welcome to my blog! I'm a natural hair enthusiast turned master cosmetologist. On my site, you can expect business tips, hair tips, product reviews and more! Check back periodically or follow me on IG or Youtube to see what I'm up to.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀
Storytime! So A few years ago during the open enrollment, I went to the healthcare market place to get insurance. Well little did I know, I wasn't going to have health insurance the following year. I did my application in November I don't remember the exact date but I got my application in on-time. I was extremely excited because this particular year my monthly rate was going to be $11/ month for Blue Cross Blue Shield. The previous year I was paying over $200 a month but with a recent job change, I was able to qualify for a lower rate. I waited patiently for my insurance cards and nothing came. I called the marketplace repeatedly and got no answers. It wasn't until a client shared with me that Blue Cross had pulled out of the marketplace that I realized I was screwed.
At first, I was annoyed and then I got resourceful. I came up with the following ways to get healthcare without health insurance:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1. Women needs-
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or Planned Parenthood, is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. They are typically known for providing affordable abortions but they actually provide a wide range of services. Some of the services PPFA provides include birth control, clinical breast examinations, cervical cancer screening, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, sex education and vasectomies.
2. Eyes-
America’s Best⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I can't speak on America's Best personally because I don't wear contacts or glasses but they look like a good service. AB is a high volume eyeglass manufacturer headquartered in metro Atlanta. Each location has a professional optometrist inside int's retail location. America's Best is committed to providing high-quality eye care. All of their stores are equipped with state-of-the-art optometric equipment, with new equipment constantly being tested. They offer free eye exams with the purchase of 2 pairs of eyeglasses.
3. Teeth-
⠀⠀⠀⠀In the past, I've gone to the dental school at Clayton State University to receive discounted cleaning and x-rays. However, schools are sometimes limited on the services they can provide. In the link above I located a resource that lists free/discounted dental services. DISCLAIMER: I've never used this site before but it looks very helpful. ⠀
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4. Common cold-
⠀⠀⠀⠀I stumbled upon this gem during cosmetology school when I got the most annoying ear infection of my life. A client was telling me once when she was between insurance providers she had to go to CVS and see a Practitioner. So I went and had a really good experience. It was convenient and very affordable. The practitioners specialize in family health care and offer a wide range of services. They are open every day, you don't need an appointment.
5. Therapy-
Thriveworks⠀⠀⠀⠀
A couple of years into entrepreneurship I decided it was time to see a therapist. Not for any particular reason, just because. Seeing a therapist is one of the best decisions I've ever made. I go 1-2 times a month and find it helpful to talk to someone without feeling judged. I chose Thriveworks because I can pay out of pocket and scheduling an appointment was super easy. Their goal is to connect individuals with exceptional providers who help their clients manage challenges like depression, anxiety, relationship issues, major life transitions, and others.
I hope you found this post helpful. If you know of any other services please share!
I'll talk to you soon!
Kia
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