Look into student health insurance through your college. You usually get pretty decent coverage and you pay by the semester. Otherwise look into state health insurance. You have to act quickly though in order for your pre-existing condition to be covered under any new plan!

thanks so much for your advice, but that is what i mean when I just run into a brick wall as of right now I only attend a community college and they don't offer it and the state tells me that I have to be either 65, disabled, or be pregnant.

Best Benefits Healthcare Savings Program
This is NOT insurance.

However, Best Benefits is a discount health services plan -- in fact, the largest non-insurance health services membership program provider in the country. With more than 400,000 providers available in urban, suburban, and rural areas, Best Benefits members always have easy access to their benefits and to substantial savings.

Because Best Benefits is not an insurance program, there are no pre-existing condition limitations, waiting periods, or deductible or claim forms for the uninsured.

If you are insured, the Best Benefits program can also be used to reduce your out-of-pocket costs for those services not covered by your medical insurance. All Best Benefits members referred through CCFA are eligible to receive services at substantial savings. In addition, a portion of the membership fees will go to CCFA to continue the fight to find a cure!

NOTE: CCFA cannot authenticate the specific credentials of any participating providers. CCFA recommends that members review the list of participating providers in their area to make sure the provider of choice satisfies their criteria.

CCFA is not recommending any of the treatments covered by the discount plan. Chiropractic care may not be appropriate for IBD patients because of susceptibility to brittle bones.

Basic Plan


The Best Benefits Dental Program is designed to provide cost savings, not only on routine and preventive care, but also on more extensive treatments such as fillings, crowns, root canals, dentures, bridges, oral surgery and orthodontics. With Best Benefits Dental, members can save up to 50% on dental care expenses.

Benefits Include:

Savings: Members receive discounts of up to 50% on preventive and diagnostic services. Savings are based on average dental charges depending on the geographic area.


Discounts: In addition to preventive and diagnostic services, other dental services, including specialty services are discounted at a 15% discount off the dentist's usual and customary fees.


All participating providers are credentialed by an accredited credentialing verification organization.


Convenience: To receive discounts, members simply present their membership card to a participating dentist at time of service. There are no pre-approvals, claim forms or reimbursements involved.


Choice of Providers: Absolute freedom of choice of providers within the dental network.
Vision
The Best Benefits Vision Program provides members and their families with significant savings on the purchase of corrective eyewear, contact lenses and related eyewear products. Membership entitles eligible participants to valuable savings from the first day of membership, everyday, all year.

Benefits Include:

Cost Containment: Eyewear products are sold to members at savings of up to 50% off the retail price. Members receive discounts on all frames, prescription lenses, tints and coatings.


Quality: Preferred providers are certified or otherwise qualified by the states in which they practice. These preferred providers carry up-to-date, top of the line products from leading manufacturers.


Convenience: The Vision Care network is comprised of preferred provider locations including many retail chains. Simply select a provider and present your membership card. There are no pre-approvals, claim forms or reimbursements involved.


Choice of Providers: Absolute freedom of choice of providers within the network.


There are no restrictions or limitations. Members are entitled to use the benefit to purchase as many products as they need, as often as they desire. There are no restrictions on the type of frames, lenses and/or options that they may select. For disposable contacts, members can use the convenient mail order service.


Most replacement contact lenses can be ordered through our mail order service at savings of up to 60% off usual and customary prices. Most major brands and types of contact lenses are available through the mail order service. Members can call and receive price quotes for brands and types of lenses over the telephone.


The Best Benefits Vision Plan guarantees satisfaction and the lowest price. If a member finds a lower price anywhere else on the exact same pair of prescription eyeglasses purchased at a participating location within 30 days, the difference will be refunded.


Your satisfaction in the Best Benefits Vision Plan and the mail order service is fully guaranteed. If for any reason you are not happy with a purchase at the retail locations or through the mail, return the merchandise within 30 days for an exchange or full refund.
Hearing
The Best Benefits Hearing Program makes hearing affordable, and is provided by one of the largest networks of audiologists in the United States.

Benefits Include:

Comprehensive Audiometry testing for only $49. ($59 in NY and CA). This includes pure-tone air and bone conduction and word recognition measures.


20% discount from the provider's usual and customary fees on hearing aids (10% off programmable or digital hearing aids), hearing aid repairs as well as related hearing products (excluding batteries). An additional charge may apply to an earmold for a Behind-the-Ear (BTE) hearing aid.


No charge on Environmental Risk Consultation including discussion of daily noise exposure and recommendations for hearing protection.

Free annual cleaning and check of hearing aids purchased through the program.


During the first year from the date of delivery, the provider will replace any hearing aid with the same model if it has been repaired three times or more through no fault of the member. Members will also receive a free loaner during any repair period if the style permits.


An unconditional 45-day refund policy on hearing aids will be provided to the Best Benefits member. However, the provider shall be entitled to retain a fee of $35 per returned hearing aid plus a custom earmold charge, if required. Return policies vary from state to state.


Each participating audiologist is required to demonstrate evidence of appropriate licensing and verification of malpractice insurance.
Prescription Drugs
The Best Benefits Prescription Drug Program links most of the largest pharmacy chains into a common and consistent discount program. Through an exclusive agreement with one of the nation's premier drug management organizations, members can obtain discounts of up to 30% on drug prices through a national network of approximately 40,000 pharmacies.

Retail: The Best Benefits Prescription Drug Program provides savings on generic and many brand name prescription drugs. Take your membership card with you to a participating pharmacy. Show your membership card to the pharmacist. The pharmacist will enter the information on your membership card into the on-line computer system and you will be immediately eligible for the special negotiated price. Your actual cost will be the contract price or the pharmacy's usual and customary charge that day, whichever is lower.

The Best Benefits drug program is a mandatory, on-line claim adjudication program. Because discounts are electronically determined, members are assured of receiving a consistent discount. The pharmacist enters the member's identification number printed on the card into the on-line computer system and the Best Benefits prescription discount prices are accessed. Discounts on prescription drugs are based on a discount on the manufacturer's wholesale price plus a small dispensing fee.


Mail Order Service: An important component of the Best Benefits Prescription Drug Program is the mail order service option. The mail order service provides either brand name or generic drugs at significantly discounted prices. A 100-day supply of the prescription drug can be sent by mail order. The mail order pharmacy program is especially convenient for maintenance prescriptions. Members save time and money as trips to the pharmacy are reduced. Once the initial prescription is filled the member will receive a new order form for subsequent orders and refills. Most regular prescriptions are mailed via first class mail within 24 hours of receipt of your order.
Chiropractic
Millions of Americans rely on chiropractic care to reduce pain and stress and to function more productively. The Best Benefits Chiropractic Program reduces members' costs for routine chiropractic care as well as for acute chronic problems. There are no claim forms, no deductibles and no exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions. Members may see the chiropractor as often as they need with no limit on the number of visits. Payment at the reduced fees is made to the doctor at the time of services.

The Best Benefits chiropractic network is one of the largest chiropractic networks in the United States. Members can utilize these private practice chiropractors knowing that they have met the highest professional standards in the chiropractic profession.

Benefits include:

Free initial consultation
Up to 40% savings on x-rays (if necessary)
40% savings on other diagnostic services
20% savings on all other services and follow up treatment
Additional Medical Plan Options


More info. can be obtained at www.ccfa.org

A few people have contacted me in regards to NO health insurance - this info. might be resourceful to some of you or someone you know.
Please pass it along and take advantage of this program if you'r not covered by insurance.
There is little life when our health is suffering. And Bush is NOT helping our unisured Americans to survive IBD diseases in a healthier way.
Good Luck, Jade ~