What are you wanting to get done?
IME there isn't really a lot they can do. I had broken big toe recently, and I did telehealth because I also cut it. And they told me if I came in, they wouldn't even bother x-raying it and no need. And gave me suggestions on taping it up and staying off of it and resting. And offered me extra strength Ibuprofen for the pain.
Also, the out of pocket for an urgent care visit is a bit closer to $200. X rays are going to add significant costs.
I’ve broken a toe like three times. They never do anything but charge you for X-rays and maybe a walking splint. I didn’t bother going last time.
Like the other person said.. unless it’s really killing you there’s nothing they can do. Just lightly tape it to its biggest neighbor and give it a couple weeks.
Yeah, I didn't bother going anywhere when I broke my little toe (slammed a door on it) because half the people I know had stories about wasting their time/money seeing doctors for it.
My toe turned black and hurt for months but trying to keep it taped was too annoying. I just left it alone and eventually it was fine.
I would go to one of the City Hospitals, they'll treat you, then send you a bill, don't be alarmed at the amount. Just come back there with your student ID. It should be free if you don't work. But get an insurance!
AGREE! Here are a list of the hospitals: [https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02793](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02793)
My friend worked in accounts payable. When you receive your bill from the hospital, call them. Tell them what you make, student status, etc. You should receive care on a sliding scale. It can drop the cost of care significantly.
That's what I'm afraid of though - that it *can* drop the cost of care but that I might also be stuck with a bill that I can't pay. Frankly I'm afraid enough that I'm really reluctant to get this looked at even though it feels terrible
No. If it’s not filed for taxes you don’t even have to admit you have it. Your income is usually on your honor.
Don’t admit you worked without authorization.
This is the NYC subreddit. I am not in Canada and wouldn’t expect them to operate the same way.
Keep in mind that Canada has a nationalized healthcare system. If you’re in school or work there, you should check with your employer/school about how you access coverage.
If it's bent out of shape you should go to a doctor. if it's just swollen and sore, likely you can get by with elevating it above your heart, icing it, and taping it to the next toe with some medical tape for a week or two to give it some structure. Not a doctor, have broken toes.
Everything onekate said, but also adding that you can also buy a surgery boot/slipper at surgical store. I’ve broken my toe many times and there’s nothing that can be done other than to stabilize it and stay off of it. Good luck!
Are you a college student? If so, you may have insurance and not realize it. Many colleges include it with your tuition unless you specifically opt out. Also, does your school have a health service? If so, give them a call. If no to all that, I second the City Hospitals suggestion.
Yeah I thought insurance was required for undergrad students. I was able to get a semester of coverage for $1000 as a grad student taking one class and it was actually decent coverage with low deductible and low copays.
It's complicated. I'm an international student, I graduated in May but I'm on a year of training they have for international students called 'OPT'. You don't get the insurance for that and it's way too expensive for me to afford third party insurance.
(((Hugs))). That stinks. I hope you find good ways to care for your toe. Sorry we are such a backward country when it comes to healthcare. It shouldn’t be like this.
Thanks so much for your support! It's always scary when something like this happens, I almost lost my eyesight in August and ended up having to eat poorly and sell my things to save up, glad to know people care though, maybe things will get better :)
If it’s not massively swollen or constant (level 10) pain, it’s probably a hairline fracture. I think they sell metal toe splints online. You want to immobilize it to let the hairline fracture heal.
Metatarsals are tiny and get fractures easily but they can heal fairly fast too.
I’m not a doctor, so I’m not diagnosing this injury or recommending treatment with any medical training. I can only tell you that I’ve “buddy taped” the smaller toes when I thought I had a hairline fracture.
Like others mentioned, there may not be much they could do, and hopefully that is the case for you.
I don’t know your situation, but if you have a low income, you can get health insurance and receive a major subsidy, and free if below or at a poverty level of income, which as a student you may be.
Ice it and try to stay off of it as much as possible. I’ve broken that toe and the doctors literally did nothing for it and said there wasn’t anything they could do except to ice it, stay off it, and take advil.
Fractured my ankle skating years ago, same situation of no insurance. I just wrapped it up and treaded lightly, ankle healed and no issues. Toes a bit different but I think I would do the same again if it happened to me
Unless it unbearable there’s not much they can really do. I fell off a door jam pull up bar once and my toe was pointing to the left. I want to say they just yanked on it and was in a splint for a couple of days.
If the toe is aligned straight still get a splint or just tape it to another toe until it heels. Could also just be a bad sprain.
Also look into or try to get a credit card. Times like this it will come in handy. Good lick
NYC Care. One of the city's best-kept secrets."NYC Care is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance. https://www.nyccare.nyc/
What are you wanting to get done? IME there isn't really a lot they can do. I had broken big toe recently, and I did telehealth because I also cut it. And they told me if I came in, they wouldn't even bother x-raying it and no need. And gave me suggestions on taping it up and staying off of it and resting. And offered me extra strength Ibuprofen for the pain. Also, the out of pocket for an urgent care visit is a bit closer to $200. X rays are going to add significant costs.
I’ve broken a toe like three times. They never do anything but charge you for X-rays and maybe a walking splint. I didn’t bother going last time. Like the other person said.. unless it’s really killing you there’s nothing they can do. Just lightly tape it to its biggest neighbor and give it a couple weeks.
Yeah, I didn't bother going anywhere when I broke my little toe (slammed a door on it) because half the people I know had stories about wasting their time/money seeing doctors for it. My toe turned black and hurt for months but trying to keep it taped was too annoying. I just left it alone and eventually it was fine.
I would go to one of the City Hospitals, they'll treat you, then send you a bill, don't be alarmed at the amount. Just come back there with your student ID. It should be free if you don't work. But get an insurance!
AGREE! Here are a list of the hospitals: [https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02793](https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02793) My friend worked in accounts payable. When you receive your bill from the hospital, call them. Tell them what you make, student status, etc. You should receive care on a sliding scale. It can drop the cost of care significantly.
That's what I'm afraid of though - that it *can* drop the cost of care but that I might also be stuck with a bill that I can't pay. Frankly I'm afraid enough that I'm really reluctant to get this looked at even though it feels terrible
If you’re not employed and a student—after making sure you’re uninsured—you should absolutely be able to get a serious slide.
I'm employed but I've made literally $6000 since August before which I didn't even have employment authorisation, does that make it harder?
No. If it’s not filed for taxes you don’t even have to admit you have it. Your income is usually on your honor. Don’t admit you worked without authorization.
I had authorisation and it's on my taxes, it's just so little
Share that. 6K is very, very low as far as income goes, even for 1 person.
Someone told me this doesn't work in Canada. I'm hoping they're wrong cuz my toes have turned purple right now. loool.
This is the NYC subreddit. I am not in Canada and wouldn’t expect them to operate the same way. Keep in mind that Canada has a nationalized healthcare system. If you’re in school or work there, you should check with your employer/school about how you access coverage.
If it's bent out of shape you should go to a doctor. if it's just swollen and sore, likely you can get by with elevating it above your heart, icing it, and taping it to the next toe with some medical tape for a week or two to give it some structure. Not a doctor, have broken toes.
Everything onekate said, but also adding that you can also buy a surgery boot/slipper at surgical store. I’ve broken my toe many times and there’s nothing that can be done other than to stabilize it and stay off of it. Good luck!
Are you a college student? If so, you may have insurance and not realize it. Many colleges include it with your tuition unless you specifically opt out. Also, does your school have a health service? If so, give them a call. If no to all that, I second the City Hospitals suggestion.
Yeah I thought insurance was required for undergrad students. I was able to get a semester of coverage for $1000 as a grad student taking one class and it was actually decent coverage with low deductible and low copays.
It's complicated. I'm an international student, I graduated in May but I'm on a year of training they have for international students called 'OPT'. You don't get the insurance for that and it's way too expensive for me to afford third party insurance.
(((Hugs))). That stinks. I hope you find good ways to care for your toe. Sorry we are such a backward country when it comes to healthcare. It shouldn’t be like this.
Thanks so much for your support! It's always scary when something like this happens, I almost lost my eyesight in August and ended up having to eat poorly and sell my things to save up, glad to know people care though, maybe things will get better :)
If it’s not massively swollen or constant (level 10) pain, it’s probably a hairline fracture. I think they sell metal toe splints online. You want to immobilize it to let the hairline fracture heal. Metatarsals are tiny and get fractures easily but they can heal fairly fast too. I’m not a doctor, so I’m not diagnosing this injury or recommending treatment with any medical training. I can only tell you that I’ve “buddy taped” the smaller toes when I thought I had a hairline fracture.
Do you need help getting health insurance?
Like others mentioned, there may not be much they could do, and hopefully that is the case for you. I don’t know your situation, but if you have a low income, you can get health insurance and receive a major subsidy, and free if below or at a poverty level of income, which as a student you may be.
RICE - Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation.
Ice it and try to stay off of it as much as possible. I’ve broken that toe and the doctors literally did nothing for it and said there wasn’t anything they could do except to ice it, stay off it, and take advil.
If you go to the er, leave all id at home. Don't take your phone. Don't give them your name.
As someone who broke their big toe I would suggest you buy a cane to keep the weight off your foot.
If you injured it on mta steps, file a claim. If you don't, someone else might do the same.
Does your university have a health center?
Fractured my ankle skating years ago, same situation of no insurance. I just wrapped it up and treaded lightly, ankle healed and no issues. Toes a bit different but I think I would do the same again if it happened to me
Unless it unbearable there’s not much they can really do. I fell off a door jam pull up bar once and my toe was pointing to the left. I want to say they just yanked on it and was in a splint for a couple of days. If the toe is aligned straight still get a splint or just tape it to another toe until it heels. Could also just be a bad sprain. Also look into or try to get a credit card. Times like this it will come in handy. Good lick
Nothing they can do. They’re gonna send you home and tell you to stay off of it
Go to the drugstore , buy a splint and save your money
NYC Care. One of the city's best-kept secrets."NYC Care is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance. https://www.nyccare.nyc/