Quote Originally Posted by asscore
Thanks for the help!

We tried Denver Health, since we don't live in Denver County they told him to screw off.

He is not officially disabled so he doesn't qualify for medicaid. He hasnt had insurance in the last 6 months.

He works a crap job without insurance and is a caregiver. So no luck there.

Thanks for the link to gettinguscovered and HCPF, I will have him check them out / apply and see what happens.

Worst case scenario is I guess we have to find him a "residence" in Denver county, although from what I have read Denver Health is so overburdened they have a huge waiting list.

His last round of medical bills was over $200K.
You have to remember that finding an affordable, private insurance plan will be impossible, since your friend is asking the carrier to take him on as a risk.

His only options are likely public aid like medicaid or covercolorado. He won't be happy with the service or the product, but welcome to the future of our healthcare delivery system if obamacare stays as-is.

If you can, get him set up as a business of some sort. If you can show tax docs and if you're willing to spend some time and effort, your friend could get a better private plan that's guaranteed issue and covers pre-ex. It's complicated but it can be done.

If he's already in debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars, it would be nice to spread that risk around. Right now, you and I and other taxpayers are paying his medical bills since he's receiving care through the ER, which you are seeing is expensive. It would be nice to spread that cost around a large pool of peers who are also paying into the system.

I don't understand why young people don't carry insurance. I'm in the industry so I'm biased, but ignorance of consequences is appalling among today's young people. I'm not talking of the OP or his buddy, just society in general.