Native American Lore #8: Men Visit the Sky

Men Visit the Sky

Seminole

Native American Lore

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Near the beginning of time, five Seminole Indian men wanted to visit the sky to see the Great Spirit.

They travelled to the East, walking for about a month. Finally, they arrived at land's end. They tossed their baggage over the end and they, too, disappeared beyond earth's edge.

Down, down, down the Indians dropped for a while, before starting upward again toward the sky. For a long time they travelled westward. At last, they came to a lodge where lived an old, old woman.

"Tell me, for whom are you looking?" she asked feebly.

"We are on our way to see the Great Spirit Above," they replied.

"It is not possible to see him now," she said. "You must stay here for a while first."

That night the five Seminole Indian men strolled a little distance from the old woman's lodge, where they encountered a group of angels robed in white and wearing wings. They were playing a ball game the men recognized as one played by the Seminoles.

Two of the men decided they would like to remain and become angels. The other three preferred to return to earth. Then to their surprise, the Great Spirit appeared and said, "So be it!"

A large cooking pot was placed on the fire. When the water was boiling, the two Seminoles who wished to stay were cooked! When only their bones were left, the Great Spirit removed them from the pot, and put their bones back together again. He then draped them with a white cloth and touched them with his magic wand. The Great Spirit brought the two Seminole men back to life! They wore beautiful white wings and were called men-angels.

"What do you three men wish to do?" asked the Great Spirit.

"If we may, we prefer to return to our Seminole camp on earth," replied the three Seminoles.

"Gather your baggage together and go to sleep at once," directed the Great Spirit.

Later, when the three Seminole men opened their eyes, they found themselves safe at home again in their own Indian camp.

"We are happy to return and stay earthbound. We hope never to venture skyward again in search of other mysteries," they reported to the Chief of the Seminoles.

Breathtaking Aerial Landscapes of Iceland

Breathtaking Aerial Landscapes of Iceland by Sarah Martinet 

While on a recent trip to Iceland, photographer Sarah Martinet had the opportunity to shoot these amazing landscapes from a plane with open windows. You can see much more of her work (as well as more from this trip) on 500px and Facebook.

Native American Lore #7: Godasiyo the Woman Chief

Godasiyo the Woman Chief

Seneca

Native American Lore

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At the beginning of time when Trutle Island was new, a woman chief named Godasiyo ruled over an Indian village beside a large river in the East. In those days all the tribes spoke one language and lived in harmony and peace. Because Godasiyo was a wise and progressive chief, many people came from faraway places to live in her village, and they had no difficulty understanding one another.At last the village grew so large that half the people lived on the north side of the river, and half on the south side. They spent much time canoeing back and forth to visit, attend dances, and exchange gifts of venison, hides, furs, and dried fruits and berries. The tribal council house was on the south side, which made it necessary for those who lived on the north bank to make frequent canoe trips to consult with their chief. Some complained about this, and to make it easier for everybody to cross the rapid stream, Godasiyo ordered a bridge to be built of saplings and tree limbs carefully fastened together. This bridge brought the tribe close together again, and the people praised Godasiyo for her wisdom.
Not long after this, a white dog appeared in the village, and Godasiyo claimed it for her own. Everywhere the chief went the dog followed her, and the people on the north side of the river became jealous of the animal. They spread stories that the dog was possessed by an evil spirit that would bring harm to the tribe. One day a delegation from the north bank crossed the bridge to the council house and demanded that Godasiyo kill the white dog. When she refused to do so, the delegates returned to their side of the river, and that night they destroyed the bridge.
From that time the people on the north bank and those on the south bank began to distrust each other. The tribe divided into two factions, one renouncing Godasiyo as their chief, the other supporting her. Bad feelings between them grew so deep that Godasiyo foresaw that the next step would surely lead to fighting and war. Hoping to avoid bloodshed, she called all members of the tribe who supported her to a meeting in the council house.
"Our people," she said, "are divided by more than a river. No longer is there goodwill and contentment among us. Not wishing to see brother fight against brother, I propose that those who recognize me as their chief follow me westward up the great river to build a new village."
Almost everyone who attended the council meeting agreed to follow Godasiyo westward. In preparation for the migration, they built many canoes of birch bark. Two young men who had been friendly rivals in canoe races volunteered to construct a special water craft for their chief. With strong poles they fastened two large canoes together and then built a platform which extended over the canoes and the space between them. Upon this platform was a seat for Godasiyo and places to store her clothing, extra leggings, belts, robes, moccasins, mantles, caps, awls, needles and adornments.
At last everything was ready. Godasiyo took her seat on the platform with the white dog beside her, and the two young men who had built the craft began paddling the double canoes beneath. Behind them the chief's followers and defenders launched their own canoes which contained all their belongings. This flotilla of canoes covered the shining waters as far as anyone could see up and down the river.
After they had paddled a long distance, they came to a fork in the river. Godasiyo ordered the two young canoeists to stop in the middle of the river until the others caught up with them. In a few minutes the flotilla was divided, half of the canoes on her left, the others on her right.
The chief and the people on each side of her began to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the two forks in the river. Some wanted to go one way, some preferred the other way. The arguments grew heated with anger. Godasiyo said that she would take whichever fork her people chose, but they could agree on neither. Finally those on the right turned the prows of their canoes up the right channel, while those on the left began paddling up the left channel. And so the tribe began to separate.
When this movement started, the two young men paddling the two canoes carrying Godasiyo's float disagreed as to which fork they should take, and they fell into a violent quarrel. The canoeist on the right thrust his paddle into the water and started toward the right, and at the same time the one on the left swung his canoe toward the left. Suddenly Godasiyo's platform slipped off its supports and collapsed into the river, carrying her with it.
Hearing the loud splash, the people on both sides turned their canoes around and tried to rescue their beloved chief. But she and the white dog, the platform, and all her belongings had sunk to the bottom, and they could see nothing but fish swimming in the clear waters.
Dismayed by this tragic happening, the people of the two divisions began to try to talk to each other, but even though they shouted words back and forth, those on the right could not understand the people on the left, and those on the left could not understand the people on the right. When Godasiyo drowned in the great river her people's language had become changed. This was how it was that the Indians were divided into many tribes spreading across America, each of them speaking a different language.

Though the skeleton may only say...

Sant’Agostino, memorial to Cardinal Giuseppe Ranato Imperiali, by Paolo Posi (design) and Pietro Bracci (statuary), 1741 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

The dead are everywhere in the churches of Rome. Their tombs line the walls and dominate whole side chapels. Visit enough of them and you’ll come to expect the loose wiggle and hollow thunk of the marble slabs shifting beneath your feet that signal you’ve walked over a grave. If you imagine what’s just beyond every surface, the churches become mega-necropoli, Tokyos made of tombs instead of hotel rooms.

Unlike the relics of the saints, the entombed bodies of clergy and parishioners are largely hidden from the public, but the Baroque skulls and life-sized marble skeletons won’t let you forget they’re there. They speak to you. But as David Sedaris noted in When You Are Engulfed in Flames, the skeleton has a “limited vocabulary, and says only one thing: ‘You are going to die.”

Rome’s skeletons prefer to deliver the bad news in Latin, an appropriately dead language, but even so you can’t mistake the message or the fact they’re addressing you directly. An engraved skeleton on the façade of Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Mort unfurls a banner that reads, “Hodie mihi. Cras tibi.” “Today me. Tomorrow you,” it shrugs.

Though their message is grim, the skeletons are surprisingly lively. At San Francesco d’Assisi a Ripa Grande, they climb out from behind the artwork. At Gesù e Maria, one appears frozen in the middle of a solo danse macabre, flailing so wildly it seems to be coming apart. Even in the more staid examples, it isn’t unusual for the skull’s empty sockets to convey more emotion than busts of the living. It’s this kinetic quality that’s so arresting; life seems to bursts supernaturally from these dark corners devoted to death.

The juxtaposition is intentional. Bernini popularized the use of these unusually active skeletons, and in doing so masterfully expressed a tenant of his Catholic faith. The feathered wings signal these aren’t your average corpses. They’re complex allegories for the inescapable passage of time, and the belief that death and decomposition of the body are the first stages in the transition to everlasting life (or damnation, as the case may be). Though the skeleton may only say, “You are going to die," for some that implies, “You haven’t lived yet.”

Sant’Eustachio (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

San Lorenzo in Damaso, memorial to Allessandro Valtrini by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1639 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

Gesù e Maria, memorial to Camillo del Corno by Domenico Guidi (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

Façade of Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte, designed by Ferdinando Fuga, 1738 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

Santa Maria del Popolo, tomb of Giovanni Battista Gisleni, made for himself prior to his death in 1672 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

Santa Maria del Popolo, tomb of Princess Maria Eleonora Boncompagni Ludovisi, died 1745 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

San Pietro in Montorio: Detail of the relief carved on the tomb of Girolamo Raimondi by Niccolo Sale, chapel designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

San Pietro in Vincoli, memorial  to Cardinal Cinzio Aldobrandini by Carlo Bizzaccheri, died 1610 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

San Pietro in Vincoli, memorial to Cardinal Mariano Pietro Vecchiarelli, died 1639 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

Sant’Onofrio, tomb of Marquis Joseph Rondinin (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

Santa Maria sopra Minerva, memorial to Carlo Emanuele Vizzani, by Domenico Guidi, 1661 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

San Francesco d’Assisi a Ripa Grande, memorial to Maria Camilla and Giovanni Battista Rospigliosi, skeleton by Michele Garofolino, 1713 (photograph by Elizabeth Harper)

Words of Truth, A Prayer...

Words of Truth

A Prayer Composed by:
His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso The Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet

Honoring and Invoking the Great Compassion
of the Three Jewels; the Buddha, the Teachings,
and the Spiritual Community

O Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and disciples
of the past, present, and future:
Having remarkable qualities
Immeasurably vast as the ocean,
Who regard all helpless sentient beings
as your only child;
Please consider the truth of my anguished pleas.

Buddha's full teachings dispel the pain of worldly
existence and self-oriented peace;
May they flourish, spreading prosperity and happiness through-
out this spacious world.
O holders of the Dharma: scholars
and realized practitioners;
May your ten fold virtuous practice prevail.

Humble sentient beings, tormented
by sufferings without cease,
Completely suppressed by seemingly endless
and terribly intense, negative deeds,
May all their fears from unbearable war, famine,
and disease be pacified,
To freely breathe an ocean of happiness and well-being.
And particularly the pious people
of the Land of Snows who, through various means,
Are mercilessly destroyed by barbaric hordes
on the side of darkness,
Kindly let the power of your compassion arise,
To quickly stem the flow of blood and tears.

Those unrelentingly cruel ones, objects of compassion,
Maddened by delusion's evils,
wantonly destroy themselves and others;
May they achieve the eye of wisdom,
knowing what must be done and undone,
And abide in the glory of friendship and love.

May this heartfelt wish of total freedom for all Tibet,
Which has been awaited for a long time,
be spontaneously fulfilled;
Please grant soon the good fortune to enjoy
The happy celebration of spiritual with temporal rule.

O protector Chenrezig, compassionately care for
Those who have undergone myriad hardships,
Completely sacrificing their most cherished lives,
bodies, and wealth,
For the sake of the teachings, practitioners,
people, and nation.

Thus, the protector Chenrezig made vast prayers
Before the Buddhas and Bodhisativas
To fully embrace the Land of Snows;
May the good results of these prayers now quickly appear.
By the profound interdependence of emptiness
and relative forms,
Together with the force of great compassion
in the Three Jewels and their Words of Truth,
And through the power
of the infallible law of actions and their fruits,
May this truthful prayer be unhindered
and quickly fulfilled.

This prayer, Words of Truth, was composed by His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet, on 29 September 1960 at his temporary headquarters in the Swarg Ashram at Dharamsala, Kangra District, Himachal State, India. This prayer for restoring peace, the Buddhist teachings, and the culture and self-determina-tion of the Tibetan people in their homeland was written after repeated requests by Tibetan government officials along with the unanimous consensus of the monastic and lay communities.

Long-life Empowerment and a Long-life Offering to Conclude the 33rd Kalachakra Empowerment

July 14th 2014

Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India, 14 July 2014 - Last night’s full moon was still setting over the mountains around the Leh Valley this morning as tens of thousands of people converged on the Teaching Ground at Shiwatsel one last time. At about 7am His Holiness the Dalai Lama stepped out of his residence to walk to the Teaching Pavilion, stopping here and there to greet an old acquaintance or comfort an old or infirm person on the way. From the throne he announced:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama comforting elderly Tibetans as he arrives for the Long Life Empowerment & Offering Ceremony on the final day of the 33rd Kalachakra in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India on July 13, 2014. Photo/Manuel Bauer

“I’m going to give the White Tara Long-life Empowerment. My preparations will take about fifteen minutes. During that time I’d like all of you to recite ‘Om Mani Padme Hung’. As there are about 150,000 people here, if each of you could recite 1000 Manis it will total 150 million for the benefit of all sentient beings. In the past, Tibetan masters praised the recitation of mantras because while you do that you don’t think about longevity, wealth and so forth.

“Avalokiteshvara is the deity of compassion, someone with whom Tibetans have a special connection. He’s the patron deity of Tibet. Over the last 60 years or so Tibetans in Tibet have undergone great difficulties. Despite having its own long history and cultural heritage, Tibet is at risk of becoming extinct. There is an urgent need for us to make every effort to preserve Tibetan religion and culture. Pursuing the path of non-violence, we are doing what pleases all the Buddhas, including Avalokiteshvara. Whether through the power of truth and taking refuge in the Three Jewels we achieve our goal in the short term or not, we can at least aim for it.

“It would be good if you can recite Mani mantras on the basis of understanding. Om like Hri has a threefold meaning implying body, speech and mind and even body, speech and mind have gross, subtle and subtlest aspects. As long as we are under the influence of negative emotions we are caught in the cycle of existence. And as long as we are subject to obstructions to knowledge we remain sentient beings. Once we overcome them we reach Buddhahood, at which point body, speech and mind become of one taste. Negative emotions and obstructions to knowledge are adventitious and can be eliminated.

“The word ‘Mani’ means jewel and implies something that fulfils our wishes, in this case the awakening mind of bodhichitta, the thought to help ourselves and others. ‘Padme’ means lotus and implies the wisdom understanding emptiness. ‘Hung’ means not letting these two separate; ensuring a combination of wisdom and bodhichitta.”

His Holiness gave the transmission of the mantra and suggested offering a verse of praise before beginning the recitation:

Your 1000 hands represent the 1000 universal monarchs
Your 1000 eyes represent the 1000 Buddhas of this fortunate aeon
You give teachings appropriate to the needs of beings
I pay homage to you, noble Avalokiteshvara.

May the prayers of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas be fulfilled,
May I attain the state of Avalokiteshvara,
And may all beings attain it as well.
May all beings be freed from the cycle of existence.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferring the Long Life Empowerment on the final day of the 33rd Kalachakra Empowerment in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India on July 13, 2014. Photo/Manuel Bauer

His Holiness explained that he was going to give a Long-life Empowerment and that, among the many deities associated with longevity, the Tara of the Wish-fulfilling Wheel is the purified aspect of wind-energy. The movement in our minds, for example, is due to that energy. She has a special quality of helping beings by removing obstacles, such as obstacles to life.

“Let’s pray for the welfare of all those physically gathered here,” His Holiness advised, “and also for those inside Tibet, especially those who may have fallen ill for various reasons.”

He also mentioned the 4-500 million Buddhists in China, the country with the world’s largest Buddhist population, and people around the world dedicated to the welfare of others. His Holiness said he would conduct the empowerment of Tara of the Wish-fulfilling Wheel on behalf of them all. He remarked that many people in different parts of the world are facing trouble and not a few tyrants do them harm. He made the wish: “May the oppressed be relieved”. He suggested that when reciting the prayer for taking refuge in the Three Jewels, his listeners should remember that all 7 billion human beings in the world are directly or indirectly related to them. Like them, they all want happiness and not suffering.

His Holiness proceeded with the various means to offset hindrances to the empowerment. Offering the mandala and three representations of the enlightened body, speech and mind was done by Kathog Ge-tse Rinpoche, who His Holiness commended saying that his lineage has connections going back to the 7th and 8th Dalai Lamas.

With regard to the practice of tantra and the difference between Buddhist and Hindu practices, His Holiness mentioned that conversations with an accomplished Hindu yogi had revealed that the two traditions have inner heat, vase breathing, projecting the mind out of the body and working with the channels and drops in common. However, from discussions with Khunu Lama Rinpoche he concluded that the distinction between the traditions lies in Buddhist tantra’s being founded on an understanding of emptiness and the palace of the meditation deity’s representing the 37 Practices of Enlightenment. Buddhist tantra cannot be undertaken without a sense of bodhichitta and some understanding of selflessness. He then led the gathering in taking the Bodhisattva vows once more. 

With the conclusion of the Long-life Empowerment and the distribution of blessed substances among the crowd, the focus shifted to the making of a Long-life Offering to His Holiness, presided over by Ganden Tri Rinpoche, Rizong Rinpoche, and also based on a White Tara ritual. To begin with there was chanting of a lineage prayer, which included past masters of India and Tibet as well as the Fourteen Dalai Lamas.

The Oracle Tsering Che-nga during the Long Life Offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the final day of the 33rd Kalachakra Empowerment in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India on July 13, 2014. Photo/Manuel Bauer

In the course of the ritual, the oracle known as Tsering Che-nga or the Five Long-life Sisters was invoked. She gathered Ganden Tri Rinpoche, Sharpa Chojey, Drikung Kyabgon, Sakya Dungsey, Samdhong Rinpoche and the Sikyong in a circle around His Holiness. The State Oracle, Nechung, was also invoked in the old Phodrang, approaching the teaching pavilion through the spell-bound crowd at a run. He came before His Holiness with a powerful and convincing display of respect. At the same time, perhaps half a dozen cases of spontaneous possession took place among members of the audience. These energetically animated individuals were assisted in coming before His Holiness, where they paid their respects, after which the possessions ceased.

Ganden Tri Rinpoche began his formal laudatory speech of request to His Holiness to live long with a verse from the 7th Dalai Lama’s praise to Avalokiteshvara:

Homage to Arya Lokeshvara

The compassion of all the conquering Buddhas of the ten directions,
Numbering as many as the atoms of the countless worlds,
As deep as an ocean and attached, completely attached, to living beings,
From which was born that perfect splendour of wonderful qualities
Renowned as Avalokiteshvara, the great guide,
The jewel mountain upon whom we should all rely.
To you I bow.

As members of the Jonangpa tradition were presenting a huge mandala offering to His Holiness and a procession of offerings was beginning, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah arrived. He greeted His Holiness with visible affection and took his seat beside the throne. Groups of Ladakhi men and women danced and sang before the pavilion as the Long-life Offering came to an end.

There followed a number of concluding speeches. Geshe Konchok Namgyal, co-Chairperson of the Kalachakra Organizing Committee (KOC) gave a tentative financial report with the assurance that a final account will be given in due course. Dr Tondup Tsewang spoke of the Committee’s great joy and celebration at the successful conclusion of the event attended by an estimated 150,000 people including: 86,000 local and Tibetan devotees, 9,000 monastics, 12,000 from the Transhimalayan Region, 6,100 foreigners from 73 countries, more than 25,000 registered children under the age of 15 and 10,000 volunteers. He remarked with satisfaction that event resources had been mobilized within Ladakh and not out-sourced.

Jammu and Kashmir Chier Minister Omar Abdullah speaking at the conclusion of the 33rd Kalachakra Empowerment in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India on July 13, 2014. Photo/Manuel Bauer

Local MP Thupstan Chhewang, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Rigzin Spalbar, and Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Urban Development all spoke in glowing terms at the successful conclusion of the event, which has seen no accidents or unfortunate incidents.

Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah first acknowledged His Holiness and other dignitaries present. He spoke with eloquent sincerity of having shared the greatest disaster with local people when a cloudburst in 2010 unleashed an immensely destructive flood. Now in 2014 he was happy to share in their greatest success with the holding of the 33rd Kalachakra Empowerment in Ladakh, whose blessings he said would go a long way towards restoring peace and confidence in the population. He mentioned his own great respect and affection for His Holiness, saying that it was a matter of great personal satisfaction to him that he had met him on the occasion of the first Kalachakra in Ladakh in 1976 when his grandfather was Chief Minister, during the region’s second Kalachakra in Zanskar in 1988 when his father was CM and now on the third occasion when he was himself Chief Minister. He offered thanks to His Holiness for his presence personally and on behalf of the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

Descending from the teaching throne, His Holiness stood at the front of the platform to make his own concluding remarks.

“The Kalachakra Empowerment has gone very well, in beginning, middle and end. I thank the organizers for their good work. Today, we’ve done the White Tara Long-life Empowerment and the Long-life Offering, in connection with which Ganden Tri Rinpoche has been performing a ritual of accomplishment for the past week. I pray that I can and will live long.

‘Today, along with human beings many gods, goddesses and protectors came forth. I’d like to thank them to for showing their support and solidarity with us. According to the Buddhist description of the world, there are many different kinds of beings, some we can see and some we cannot. A friendly scholar once told me he was surprised that while I seem to have a scientific outlook, I accept the existence of many other kinds of beings. I told him that it’s not a matter of superstition, rather a simple acceptance of reality. However, just as it is not good for human beings to engage in harmful activity, I counsel these spirits and other beings not to engage in mischief.

“Today, we have the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir with us, the third generation of his family to hold the post. Sheikh Abdullah, a friend and contemporary of Pandit Nehru showed great affection for Tibet. Farooq Abdullah, his son, is a friend of mine. Omar Abdullah, the young grandson who is here with us, is also a friend of Tibetans. I’d like to thank him very much for coming here today.”

Turning to the Chief Minister, he said with a chuckle:

“ I understand that your party suffered a setback in the recent elections;  this is something that happens from time to time. When political leaders I know in different parts of the world experience electoral defeat, I often write to them to say that this is just part of democracy, which is a good thing. India is the world’s most populous democracy, a country where democracy has become deeply rooted, which is one of its greatnesses.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to the crowd of over 150,000 people at the conclusion of the final day of the 33rd Kalachakra Empowerment in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India on July 13, 2014. Photo/Manuel Bauer

“The other leaders who spoke just now I’ve also known for a long time. I remember Thupstan Chhewang when his hair was black and now it’s completely white. Rigzing Jora I’ve known for many years. We are not just acquaintances, we know each others’ minds; we are trusted friends.

“Finally, I want to say that I don’t take any fee by way of offerings for the teachings I give. I follow Tseley Rangdol in feeling that to do so would be like selling the Dharma. This great mandala offering you Jonangpas have presented to me, I thank you and request you to take it back to use in your monastery in Shimla.

“I have nothing else to say other than to encourage you all to turn your minds to Dharma. Thank you.”

His Holiness held brief private meetings with some of the guests while announcements were made for the public to view the sand mandala. Then, still taking time to smile and wave to well-wishers and comfort the old and infirm who awaited him, he climbed into the car that drove him back to his residence.

No Health Insurance? There Is Help and Hope!

Thanks to: http://www.healthcare-information-guide.com for this article. 

No Health Insurance?

There Is Help and Hope!

"What to do if you have no health insurance but still need medical care".... This subject is very near and dear to my heart.

As a nurse, I know how important it is to do whatever you have to do to stay healthy. Neglecting to stay on top of a "small" medical condition like a simple cough that won't seem to go away can turn into a life-threatening pneumonia.

But I also know that paying for medical care is very expensive. When you have to decide whether to pay for your blood pressure pills verses food for your family or gas for your car, trying to do the right thing can become blurred.

There is hope!

There are a growing number of assistance programs to help those with no health insurance, or those who need assistance paying their premiums or co-payments. Hopefully, the resources and recommendations provided here will help make the decision to stay on top of your health clearer and easier.

• CoverageforAll.org provides a state-by-state directory which answers many of your insurance questions and provides contact information. Some of the topics it addresses include considerations with COBRA and if alternatives are better for your circumstances, determining eligibility in programs based on the Federal Poverty Level, are you and your family eligible for Medicaid, how to apply for children's healthcare coverage and more.
  To find out more go to: http://coverageforall.org/resources.



• If you have children but have no health insurance, Insure Kids Now is a wonderful resource.
  Insure Kids Now is a state and Federal government program which provides medical, dental and psychological care for children through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
  Their website includes how to apply for coverage, finding healthcare providers in your area and more. To learn more, go to their website at www.insurekidsnow.gov or to find how to apply for coverage go to http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/state/index.html.



• In 1993, legislation was passed to allow states to create a safety net for individuals who had been, or could be, denied healthcare coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Many states now have their own High Risk Pool (http://www.naschip.org/states_pools.htm) for those with no health insurance or those who are facing high insurance costs due to pre-existing conditions.
  States contract with major insurance carriers to manage the high risk pool programs and offer plans that are similar to individual policies offered by these carriers. You can even choose your own deductible.
  The plans are created to be affordable while providing you with comprehensive healthcare coverage.
  To see if your state participates in the High Risk Pool program you can go tohttp://www.naschip.org/states_pools.htm or, to learn more about the High Risk Pool program you can go to: http://www.naschip.org/portal/.



• Free clinics are also an option if you have limited health coverage or no health insurance. The United States Department of Health and Human Resources provides a list of free clinics in your area. To find a health center in your area go to:http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/index.html. If you are a member of a federally-recognized American Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, services are also available through the Indian Health Service.


• No health insurance? This is not a problem for most urgent care facilities. Most facilities are able to offer cash paying patient 20% off of their services and will work with you to provide you with the care you need.
  Some urgent care facilities will offer a family package. Your package would include basic exams plus any urgent care you or your family may have throughout the year.
  My husband and I have been very impressed with the compassion and high quality care provided by the urgent care facilities near our home.
  Check with your local urgent care provider to see what they have to offer.



• Nonprofit hospitals must provide you with emergency medical care regardless of your ability to pay. Often times these facilities are able to write off a certain portion of your bill and/or help you set up low payment plans if you are able to provide them with proof of your income.
  Some physicians may be willing to negotiate a lower rate for uninsured, cash-paying patients. This website, written by 2 doctors, should give you good reason to ask for a lower rate if you have no health insurance. It's becoming more widely known about the disparity in the charges for healthcare costs for those with insurance and those without.
  Whether you are negotiating rates with a lab or healthcare provider, the Healthcare Blue Bookis a wonderful resource to help you determine the cost of medical services in your area. Having an idea of how much things cost can help you with your negotiations. The Healthcare Blue Book includes the cost of basic labs, dental services and more.
  For a percentage of your bill, you can hire a medical negotiating company to assist you in evaluating whether or not you have been over-charged and help you with the negotiating process.
  If you would prefer to use one of these agencies or you just want to see what they have to offer, you can find a list of medical negotiation companies at www.billadvocates.com.



• There are more and more financial assistance programs available to those with no health insurance in need of help with dental care, prescription coverage, medical care, mental health needs, and even vision.
  I have listed quite a few resources located at the bottom of this page and will continue to add to them as I find more and more.
  If you would like to find some resources on your own and share them with others, you can Google® "patient assistance programs".
  Don't forget that Schools of Dentistry and Medical Schools can often provide you with free care!
  Some church organizations can also be a resource for individuals in need of counseling and support.



• Prescription assistance and numerous $4 generic drug programs are popping up everywhere! The $4 generic drug programs are available to those without healthcare or those without prescription coverage on their health plan. Some of the bigger $4 programs include Target, Kroger, Safe-way and Sam's Club/Wal-Mart.
  Many of the larger pharmacies such as CVS, Target, Walgreens and others offer American Automobile Association club members (AAA) prescription discounts.
  RxAssistance (www.rxassist.org) is run by pharmaceutical companies. The program provides free medications to those who cannot otherwise afford their prescription drugs.
  Other prescription programs include: RxHope (www.Rxhope.com), NeedyMeds (www.needymeds.org) and RxOutreach Assistance Program for Discount Prescription Drugs (www.rxoutreach.com).
  Many pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, and Merck also provide patient assistance programs. You can always check with the pharmaceutical manufacturer of brand name drugs to learn more about their programs for those with no health insurance, or if you need help with health coverage.
  While we are all facing challenging times, the good news is, with the growing number of assistance programs available your health does not have to suffer!



• Older Americans with no health insurance can check for those resources and long-term care benefits and help with paying for food at BenefitsCheckup.org and Eldercare.gov.

Resources

www.naschip.org/states_pools.htm The National Association of State Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans provides this link for a state-by-state break down. If you would like to know more about the high risk program you can go to their site at www.naschip.org.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/financialassistance.html The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and National Institute of Health is a great "one-stop shopping" site which provides you with links for Medicaid, Children's health assistance programs, disease-specific assistance and more.

http://www.nmha.org/ go to the "Affiliate Search" section of Mental Health America's website to find treatment, support groups and a host of other resources available to low income individuals or individuals with no health insurance who find themselves in need of counseling or support.

http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/index.html The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides a link to help you find a community health center in your area. Your local community health center can help address not only you physical, but your mental health issues as well.

http://www.thebody.com/index/hotlines/other.html The Body provides a state-by-state directory of resources available to those with HIV.

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/financialhelp/ The National Kidney and Urological Disease Information Clearing House provides listings of patient assistance programs (PAP's) for those with kidney disease who are in need of medical and prescription coverage in addition to links to Medicare and Medicaid.

http://www.needymeds.org/ Needy Meds is a non-profit organization which provides resources forthose who cannot afford medical care or prescriptions. Their website provides links to SCHIP, Medicaid, patient advocacy groups and other programs.

http://www.pparx.org/en/prescription_assistance_programs Partnership for Prescription Assistanceprovides links to co-payment programs in addition to links for financial assistance for prescription medications.

http://www.1dental.com/v2/ Carington Dental Plan provides affordable dental, vision and prescription coverage.

I was happy to see that there are quite a few dentists who are participating in this program including my dentist! HURRAY! Now I can get my teeth taken care of too!

www.freeclinics.us The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) provides a list of free clinicsthroughout the United States.

http://www.eyecareamerica.org/ Eye Care America provides links for resources (financial assistance and more) for seniors, patients with diabetes, glaucoma, medication assistance and more for those withvision care needs.

http://www.aoa.org/visionusa.xml Vision USA is another organization which helps provide eye care to those who do not qualify for Medicaid.

http://insurekidsnow.gov/index.html You can go directly to the website for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to learn more about the program including how to apply for dental and medical care for your child.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/12/ep.health.insurance.help/index.html CNN has provided a wonderful article entitled "No Health Insurance? Get help here" This is a wonderful article which provides ideas on ways you can lower your healthcare costs if you have limited coverage or no health insurance.

http://www.healthwellfoundation.org/ HealthWell Foundation is a non-profit organization that assiststhose with insurance who are unable to afford their co-payments.

www.familywize.com FamilyWiz is a non-profit organization that provides free prescription discount cards. The cards can be used by those with no health insurance, and for those with healthcare coverage during deductible. This site will tell you more about the program and where to find the cards!

www.copays.org Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief (CPR) program providesfinancial assistance for those who meet the medical and financial qualifications. PAF covers a vast array of healthcare conditions. Go to their website to see if you qualify.

www.gooddaysfromcdf.org Chronic Disease Fund (CDF) is a non-profit organization which providesfinancial assistance to those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma and much more.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/financial/#financialsources The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) provides information about sources for financial assistance for complementary and alternative medicine.

http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/health/health_care/complementary_and_alternative_medicineThe National Resource Directory provides you with links to free complementary and alternative (CAM) care if you are a veteran or have cancer. It also provides other valuable resources such as caregiver and family supports. This is definitely a site you will want to bookmark!

http://consumeraction.gov/insurance.shtml The Consumer Action Website is an absolute treasure chest of information!! It not only provides you with information on how and where to file a complaint against a healthcare provider but it also provides you with information on how to select a physician and hospital. I have placed this link in several areas of my website just because I think it is such a great find! I hope you will think so too!

PriceDoc is a service in which the consumer pays out of pocket but at a reduced rate, much like popular travel sites in which you can negotiate pricing for the services that you need. The benefit to you is that the services will be at a lower cost than normal; the benefit to the provider is that they can fill in gaps in their appointment schedules. The down side for you is that the services have to be paid out of pocket; the providers are therefore paid directly and in full. See their "About Us" page for further details. This could be another solution if you have no health insurance, but take into consideration its benefits and drawbacks.

Islets of Hope provides an extensive list of resources for persons with diabetes, including state-by-state resources, Canadian and New Zealand resources, charitable and private resources (including those for pump supplies), etc. An extensive source, especially if you have no health insurance and are trying to pay for diabetic supplies.

An additional page of resources can be found at 'Insurance Resources', which provides links to other organizations and government agencies.

No compensation was received from any of the websites included on this page. They are provided for information purposes only.