Introduction
A Simple and Step-by-Step Guide to Getting
Medical Care When You Don't Have Insurance
If you don't have insurance, then
you can't be sure of getting the treatment that you need. The problem isn't
just the loss of insurance; all sorts of complications can occur in emergency
situations. Whatever health issue may be affecting you, if you're uninsured it
will be hard to find high quality medical care within a short time frame. If
you're looking for solutions to this problem, then there are several things
that you'll have to consider to get relief for your condition. Here are some
tips on how to get medical care if you don't have insurance .
Ask
for a discount
If you can't afford insurance, ask
your doctor if he or she can work with you to get one. Many doctors will agree
to give you a discount on your bill if there isn't any insurance available for
you. If it's not possible to get insurance and still afford the treatment, ask
if it would be possible for your doctor to refer you to another facility.
Doctors are required to provide medical care regardless of whether they can
charge for it or not, so asking about getting referred is a good way to get
quality care at no cost
If you're uninsured, it can be hard to ask for a discount from your doctor. You
may worry that they'll think you don't really need the care and won't bother
seeing you again. But this is often not true. If a doctor doesn't take
insurance, he or she might not be able to see many patients — but if they know
that you're uninsured and how bad your problems are, they often won't charge full
price anyway.
2. Find a charity hospital or clinic
Some hospitals and clinics also have
programs through which they will treat patients without insurance in exchange
for donations to their cause. These facilities are usually nonprofit
organizations that depend on donations from the community to stay open. You
should ask around at local community centers or churches if they offer free
health care services for people who can't afford it themselves.
Get primary care from community
clinics, free clinics or medical school teaching clinics.
If you're not covered by an
employer-sponsored plan, apply for a public Medicaid program called Qualified
Health Plans (QHPs). Some states have created their own versions of QHPs,
called Healthy America Plans (HAPs), which cover low-income people with no
income or assets to evaluate. If you don't have insurance, you can get primary
care from community clinics, free clinics or medical school teaching clinics.
Community clinics are staffed by
doctors who volunteer their time to help patients in need. These doctors
usually offer low-cost or free health care to uninsured people and those with
limited resources.
Free clinics are staffed by
volunteers who work on a donation basis. Some of these clinics provide free
care; others do not. Free clinics may not be able to offer all treatments that
are covered by insurance companies, but they may be able to offer many other
services such as vaccinations, pregnancy tests and HIV testing.
Apply
for Marketplace health insurance
If you qualify for tax credits and
your income is low enough that you may be eligible for Medicaid in your home
state, the Marketplace is the best place to start.
You'll need to apply online at
healthcare . gov or by phone at 1-800-318-2596. Depending on where you live,
you may be able to enroll during open enrollment or after the fact through
special enrollment periods if your circumstances change.
The process takes about 30 minutes
and will help prove whether you qualify for financial help to pay for health
insurance coverage. If so, it will also determine what plan options make sense
based on your needs and budget.
Look for free and reduced-cost
health centers
Look for free and reduced-cost
health centers. These centers provide primary care and prescription drugs to uninsured
people who can't afford it elsewhere.
Some also offer mammograms and other
screening tests at low cost or free of charge. Other centers offer dental
services, mental health care and HIV testing at reduced rates as well.
Some cities have more than 100 free-
or low-cost clinics that accept patients without insurance. If you don't have a
regular doctor, try to find one who performs services only for people who can't
pay.
Join a Free Clinic or Program
The first thing to do is join a free
clinic or program. In many states, there are programs that offer free or
low-cost medical care for people who don't have insurance. The clinics may also
have information on how to get insurance if you can't afford it.
Some states also have medical
programs that will pay for people's medical bills when they don't have
insurance or their insurance doesn't cover the cost of their medical treatment.
Free clinics offer medical care at
no cost to those who qualify. If you're uninsured and don't have health
insurance, the clinic may provide services such as:
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