Friday, October 15, 2010

New Link for Free/Very Low Cost Medical Insurance

 Hi everyone!please note that the search bar at the top of the blog page serves for finding topics. For example, if you are looking fro free  to Very Reduced Fees medical insurance programs, by typing in medical insurance, the posts on that topic will come up.

 I (Michelle)have  added a couple more resources for free/very lost cost medical  insurance programs to the post with Inland Hospital's Free Care Program  so that  the medical insurance programs are together.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Freecycle Network

There is a world wide program called Freecycle.  www.freecycle.org/  is an online message board for  local subgroups all over the world.The rules  for different subgroups may vary slightly-one rule is the same across the board- no money exchanges hands.]
Freecycle is a resource for members regardless of income to be able to request times and to give items if desired or possible. I (Michelle am a members of a few local Freecycle groups. One time, I received a full box of  Mothering Magazines.
 Just one in my local area requires members to post an offer, that is something they would like to give away before they post a request.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Maine Dental Clinics

Is anyone looking for dental care that costs less than typical dental fees.
In Maine, there are several dental clinics that offer reduced fees.
I (Michelle) have gone to the Bangor University College Clinic for cleaning where dental hygienist students work under the supervision of supervisors. I received excellent dental cleaning  there.I live about 45 min. away but even factoring in the gas prices, its much cheaper for me to go there rather than go to a dentist here for a cleaning.
The appts. do take longer than traditional dentist cleaning visits. The students are required to do an extensive question and answer intake. The visits can be broken up into 2 visits instead of just one.
 Here is a Maine state directory of dental clinics.
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bohdcfh/odh/documents/directoryNov09.pdf


Some dental clinics have income guidelines while others like the Bangor University College Clinic do not.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Events Calendar

Dear visitors, just to point out, there are a couple of parenting workshops going  on in the next few days(evenings).

We here at the blog ask you visitors to please contact us. You can say hi letting us know you popped in, let us know if  if there is a particular type of program you are looking for:we will do research to see if  such a program exists.tell us any listing  has been personally helpful, or let us know about other resources that could help others.Lets pay it forward ah!☺

Private and Homeschool Funding

For parents out there who are seeking public school alternatives but feel it it is not financially possible, well as I (Michelle) like to say, there's always a solution to a so called problem.

 For those here in Maine, there actually is a private school fund for people who financially qualify.Here The Maine Children's Scholarship Fund's application page:  http://www.mecsf.org/index.php?area=application.This fund does not just provide scholarship money  for children to attend for traditional private schools. Homeschoolers are also eligible to receive finds.
Applicants do not have to really every year as  the scholarships are" renewable annually at the sole option of the MCSF".

The applications

A few years back, I wrote an article on school choice affordability for a national audience at The Dollar Stretcher. The link is here: http://www.stretcher.com/stories/05/05jun13g.cfm

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Woodfords Family Services

This is a wonderful company that helps families with special needs. They have offices located in Westbrook, Topsham, Waterville, and Rockport. Woodfords helps those of every age, from toddlers to adults. The list of programs they have are:
They also offer training classes for anyone to sign up for. Forms are located on their website. 
The website for Woodfords is:
http://www.woodfords.org/

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Free/Very Lost Cost Medical Insurance Programs

 I (Michelle) just learned of a new free insurance program offered by Waterville Maine's Inland Hospital. It is for people who do not qualify for Maine Care but can not personally afford the sky high out of pocket expense of other insurances.http://www.inlandhospital.org/pas.aspx?id=2910

One can fill out an application prior to receiving care or in the case of needing to go to the ER, one can receive care prior to filling out the form. If approved for the program, the cost will be covered.According to the website,the 2009  upper income guidelines for a family of 2 was $29,140.http://www.inlandhospital.org/assets/0/276/310/552/566/1784/FF39341E-9A65-49B1-98D7-074169FB3A6F.pdf
Wendy Wing is the   program's  financial adviser;she can be reached at 861-3025.

 Eastern Maine Medical Center (The hospital is in Bangor which Inland in Waterville is  actually part of, has a free or reduced rate insurance care program:
http://www.emmc.org/assets/0/274/306/3268/6904/8286/ce33d9d8-c22e-4f83-a9ba-9ec4ef1192de.pdf

Maine General  at both  their current Augusta and Waterville locations has two free to low coast insurance Programs and also have financial counselors::http://www.mainegeneral.org/body.cfm?id=855

Sabasticook Valley Health (Their hospital is  in Pittsfield, physicians are in surrounding towns) also has a Free Care Program:
 http://sebasticookvalleyhealth.org/billing-help.aspx?id=18334&terms=free+insurance