Hospitals must treat you in an emergency even without insurance.
If you don't have health insurance, you may have difficulty accessing the medical treatment you need. You probably already know medical care can be quite costly, especially if you have a serious illness or injury. Fortunately, options do exist for the uninsured. You may not find assistance for all the treatment you need, but you should manage to find some help.
Outpatient Treatment
If you don't have health insurance and have trouble affording visits to doctors or for other outpatient medical care, you can apply for Medicaid. Eligibility criteria vary from state to state, so you may or may not qualify. Apply at your local welfare agency. Most counties also have clinics that provide services on a sliding scale; they base the fees on your income. Contact your local board of health to find out about such clinics in your area. Such clinics may only provide basic medical care, so if you need specialized treatment, they may not meet your needs.
Emergency Medical Treatment
If you need emergency medical treatment or are in active labor, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act says that hospital emergency rooms have to treat you even if you have no insurance and no ability to pay. If it's not a true emergency, they do not have to treat you but most emergency rooms will anyway because it's hard to determine if you have a serious emergency until a doctor examines you and performs any necessary diagnostic tests.
Inpatient Treatment
Medicaid pays for inpatient treatment as well as outpatient treatment -- if you qualify. If you don't qualify for Medicaid and don't have other insurance, hospitals will often admit you anyway and bill you later. Hospitals often have funds to help cover the cost of treatment for uninsured patients. Contact the financial services department at your local hospital for more information.
Prescription Medications
Many pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance plans that provide free medications for people in need if they have no health insurance and have low incomes. Contact the company that makes the medication you need and ask if they have such a program. Usually, you must provide proof of your income and your doctor must fill out a form confirming that you need the medication. In addition, doctors can often give you samples of medication at no cost to you if you just ask them.
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