Get Free or Low-Cost Health Care
We all know how bad the economy is right now. Millions are out of work, many unable to access adequate health insurance, many unable to pay for health insurance if they do have access.
In this article, I will show you get free or low-cost health care if you are in the United States. Most of these programs work on a "sliding-scale" basis- you pay what you can afford.
Instructions
1. A lot of people are unaware of the fact that there are a number of clinics in the United States that offer free and/or low-cost health care to people with limited income and limited resources. There are over 6500 such clinics. They offer free or low-cost health care on a sliding scale basis- you pay what you can afford.
In the resources section of this article (below), there is a link to a database with these clinics. Click on your state and a list of clinics in your state will come up. Many of these clinics even offer dental work, mental health care, and women's health services on a sliding scale. This is an absolutely fantastic list to have.
2. If you are seeking mental health services and do not see a clinic listed, check your local yellow pages. There are usually "community mental health centers" available. These are government-run mental health clinics available. They will see you on a sliding-scale basis.
3. Planned Parenthood is another option for free or low cost health care. They offer general health care services, such as employment and sports exams, physical exams, high blood pressure screening, and vaccinations. They also offer men's health services (colon cancer screenings, male infertility screenings and referrals, sexual check-ups, etc.), women's services (breast exams, PAP tests, infertility testing and treatment, sexual check-ups, etc.), birth control, and pregnancy services (including testing, prenatal services, and childbirth classes).
See the resources section below for the link to find a free or low-cost Planned Parenthood clinic near you.
4. If you do not see a clinic listed near you, you should be able to call any hospital and ask for a referral to a free or low-cost health clinic that works on a sliding-scale. Some hospitals even work on a sliding-scale.
5. If you are pregnant, elderly, or disabled, you can apply for Medicaid or Medicare. Please search for this topic in the eHow search box at the top of the page.
6. Ask-a-Nurse hotlines are a free health care option for you if you have a mild injury or unusual symptoms and are unsure whether or not you should go to the hospital. The hotline numbers vary by state and city. With these hotlines, real nurses answer the phones and walk you through treatment of small injuries that do not require a doctor. They can also help you identify symptoms and suggest what to do about them. The Ask-a-Nurse hotlines can also refer you to doctors, if needed. Some may have information on low-cost clinics. To find one near you, do a Google search for "Ask-a-Nurse (your city)".
7. If you have a procedure you need to have done, it can be hard to price shop. There is a link in the Resources section below to a website that will help you do just this.
Tags: free low-cost, health care, free low-cost health, mental health, health services