Health Insurance Question

[lilminx]

I don't know the answer to this because I've always been covered under health insurance, but what do you do if you're sick and don't have insurance? Is there an alternate way of dealing with it without having to pay out of your pocket- especially if you can't afford it?

 

[Guest]

 

[Cheyenne]

We have some free clinics in the poorer areas of town. I'm not sure about quality of care, although it has to be better than no care at all. And there is probably a long wait line. Still, free is free. For something that isn't a major illness, I'd think a clinic could help.

 

[Gilly Bean]

Where we are in Michigan, if you go to a private care doctor for any checkup or anything, you pay upon visit, in full.

If you have to go to the hospital, or a med center type place, you pay partial, and get billed for the rest. That is if it is a state or county run hospital, and not a private hospital. Don't know then.

 

[lilminx]

What about Medicaire or Medicaid? How can you get that?

 

[morninggirl5]

I didn't have health insurance for several years. The company I worked for offerred insurance but it was $100 per month just for me. For routine care (annual gyn exams, etc) the Health Dept here has a sliding scale and you pay what you can afford. (They knew all the ladies from my job, we all went there.) They also provided birth control (condoms or the pill) basically free.

Getting sick was expensive. I had one doctor that I always saw and he was aware of the situation. I paid for office visits but he would work with me to avoid prescriptions (either give me samples, let me take prescription equivalents of OTC medications, or the least expensive prescriptions available).

 

[morninggirl5]

What about Medicaire or Medicaid? How can you get that?

Medicare is for the elderly. Here in Georgia, Medicaid is primarily for children and pregnant women. You go through the Department of Family and Children's Services for Medicaid.

 

[HARDKOREBJ]

insurance

im not sure but where i work at they have been raising the insurance up every so often.i had to drop it.now that was not smart.

 

[freakygirl]

What about Medicaire or Medicaid? How can you get that?

Medicare.. is for the elderly/disabled

Medicaid..is for pregnant women and children of low income families...

i get what is called Basic Health.. it's a program ran thru the state for low income people.. i pay $22 a month for basic insurance for me (no dental or eye care is available to me.. only doc, hospital type visits are covered) and my daughter is on a program that costs me NOTHING.. it's full coverage on everything.. medical dental and eye care.

Call your local DSHS office. I know they helped my older brother out, even tho he was working. He couldn't afford dental bills and was deathly ill with an infection (went from a bad tooth into a lung infection).

It doesn't hurt to ask.. if they can't help you, they might know of someone who can..

If all else fails, go to your doc and ask about payments.. like i said before, it never hurts to ask. (remember, the ONLY dumb question is the one NOT asked )

Good luck, and i hope all is well with you.

 

[lilminx]

This isn't for me- I'm sorry if that's what anyone was led to believe- I actually posted this for someone else b/c I wanted to know what their options were concerning health care.... I hope that some of these suggestions are helpful and that this person will do some searching for options based upon the responses here...

 

[chanaud]

Every city or county provides funds to a local hospital or clinic. Because the hospital receive government funds, they must offer free medical services for the poor or cannot deny anyone who requires medical. For example. our local hospital offers free medical twice a week. They usually don't require a salary history, but is based on a first come-first serve bases. My advice is to call around, go early and take a good book.

Good luck!

 

[Trinka]

medical schools

If you live near a medical or dental school, you can get service there. A lot of times the price is based on your income level. When my husband was a student, he had a teeth cleaning done for $10.

I understand that doctors take a oath (sorry don't know how to spell it) Hypocratic that says they will not deny care to anyone in need. This doesn't always happen on the personal level, but I think each city has a hospital you can go to where you won't be turned away if you need help.

I would also suggest calling social security, even if the friend isn't an older person and tell them what you need. They will know where to send you for help.

Good luck

 

[peaches~n~cream]

Insurance

Larger cities may have the free clinics, smaller cities and rural areas usually don't have them. We had a grant at one point for free medical care but when that money was gone, you had to pay your bills.

Most states do have indigent health care plans though.

 

[lilminx]

Thanks for the info, everyone- now hopefully the person who this thread was meant for will actually READ it and try to find out if any of these options are available for him/her... *ahem*...

 

[LadyDarkFire]

Re: medical schools

\I understand that doctors take a oath (sorry don't know how to spell it) Hypocratic that says they will not deny care to anyone in need. This doesn't always happen on the personal level, but I think each city has a hospital you can go to where you won't be turned away if you need help.

Problem is, it does not say that they can't hold your feet to the fire for payment later. They Can hold you in debt and they Will.

If a person is a student, even at a community college, low cost health care is usually offered for students taking a certain number of units. There are also student Clinics. If you go to places like a Welfare office, or other Aid offices, they generally have flyers for places such as clinics and low cost health insurance. If it is for Women's Health, Planned Parenthood is not just for things like unwanted pregnancies, they offer a full service clinic focused on women's health, and it is a pay what you can service.