Posted By: crazyshit
But many providers in NYC do not have health insurance.  In fact, many people in NYC in general don't have health insurance, and many providers who do this are doing this because it is a sort of "last resort" as opposed to having another career that provides insurance and doing this on the side.

Most of the people I know who lack insurance simply do not go to the doctor very often, and so the only other means of testing would really be via free clinics.  It just hasn't been my experience that providers are going to get tested at free clinics for STDs several times a year.  Now, I cannot PROVE this, but if and when the question arises as to when you were last tested, what you often hear is a pat "Oh, I got tested a few months ago."  Which to me at times seems like a standard answer and maybe a canned one, because over the course of time, you find out more about each others' personal lives.

I only see high-end providers and if I venture into the $200 range, those are bodyrub-only girls.  If I am partaking in escorts, these are $400+ women, and mostly $500+ providers.  So I am not playing in the low-budget ones that advertise in Backpage.  

And like I said, I have a chronic medical condition (diabetes) which means regular trips to the doc and getting bloodwork done every few months.

Your points are well-taken, but please don't make assumptions about me and my "questionable friends," as I have not passed any judgment on you, Sarah.  That kind of comment is uncalled for.