Get Health Care for Free
Access to affordable health care is a top concern for both families as well as those who are single. The inability to pay for treatment stops many people from seeking health care for chronic, transient and even emergent conditions. Since failure to treat minor health problems can lead to major troubles, access to suitable care is critical. You may be able to get free health care depending on factors such as financial need, residence and health condition.
Instructions
1. Gather supporting residence and financial documentation. Free health care programs have strict qualification rules that must be met prior to program acceptance. Waiting until the last minute to provide necessary documentation can delay access to the care you need. Although specific guidelines will be issued by each provider, certain documents are more requested than others. Making copies of current tax returns, pay stubs and state identification for each household member will place you ahead in the hunt for free health care.
2. Assess your overall health condition. Acceptance into some free health care programs is dependent on your current health status or disease progression. For example, some clinics provide free health care to pregnant women. Other clinics provide free health care to those diagnosed with HIV. Knowing your status makes searching for applicable free health care much easier.
3. Apply for government-supported health care programs. Programs like Medicaid and Health Choice provide free health care for those meeting age, income, residence and health condition requirements. Several divisions may exist within each program increasing your possibility of acceptance. For example, Medicaid assistance is divided into sub-groups including pregnant women, children and the blind. Assistance may also be available to cover medical costs associated with past bills if you're accepted into certain programs. Contact your local Department of Social Services for updated acceptance standards and procedures.
4. Visit free clinics in your area. Many communities have designated clinics to provide free health care to community members. These types of clinics usually operate on a limited schedule such as every other Friday afternoon, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Some free clinics may only accept doctor referrals or be available by appointment-only. Since there may also be residency and income requirements, call ahead for details. State operated health departments and community supported health centers often provide these services.
5. Attend free health fairs. Take advantage of periodic health screenings offered by both public and private health agencies. Blood pressure checks, flu shots and cholesterol screenings are among the many areas routinely handled in these free events. Referrals to treat problematic findings may even by free. Health fairs are usually scheduled weeks in advance and located at well-known community locations. Frequent community bulletin boards and newspapers to learn about these events.
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