How to Get Free Advice for Your Medical Questions

Whether you have been recently laid off, are looking to cut costs, do not currently have health insurance or simply want to be as well-informed as possible, it is important to know your options for finding high-quality and easily accessible advice on medical questions. For the uninsured, a routine health consultation can be prohibitively expensive. Even for those who have health insurance, co-pays and scheduling difficulties may discourage you from consulting physicians for answers to your medical questions. However, if you are seriously concerned about your own health or that of a loved one, consulting a licensed medical practitioner remains the safest and most responsible course of action.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult reputable, web-based resources such as WebMD.com and Healthline.com. Investigate the resources available through your local libraries and bookstores. Ask staff for help in finding medical encyclopedias and web-based resources available through local universities or hospitals. No matter where you are, online resources provide detailed information about which symptoms may be indicative of various diseases.

• 2

  Ask specific questions on interactive websites such as Freeonlinemedicaladvice.com, where you can contact physicians and nurses "on call." Many hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, have a "symptom checker" function on their websites, which can provide you with additional information about your health condition. Your own doctor or practitioners at your local hospital may be available by e-mail to field questions.

• 3

  Investigate whether community health clinics are currently operating in your area. Such clinics typically offer care with sliding-scale fees based upon your financial resources. You may qualify for free or low-cost medical care. Check online or consult your phone book for listings of local community health clinics. Your local Planned Parenthood office is also a source of free or low-cost advice on a variety of issues including reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases.

• 4

  Check with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which provides federally funded care for those unable to pay for their own health care. To find a local office and to determine whether you may be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits, go to HHS.gov (see link in Resources). The DHHS employs nurses who can give free advice. Plus it offers free or low-cost medical appointments and can assist in accessing dental and prenatal care.