How to Get Medical Care Without Insurance

Finding yourself in need of medical care, and without insurance can be distressing and frightening. It is also not uncommon. According to Enotes.com there are nearly 40 million Americans without health insurance. This problem has escalated so much that it has become a major political issue. The uninsured group once consisted mostly of the poor and unemployed. But health costs escalated. Employers declined to cover insurance. Those who are uninsured now include significant numbers of lower and middle-income families. A person finding herself in this position should explore all sources of possible help.

Instructions

• 1

  Check to see if you are entitled to Medicaid assistance. If you fall within certain categories, you may be entitled to have at at least some of your medical costs met. Rules tend to vary between states. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is a good source of up-to-date information on Medicaid eligibility. If you need medical care for children, the Children's Health Insurance Programs Reauthorization Act 2009 extended coverage to include millions of uninsured children.

• 2

  Go to the Emergency Room if you need urgent care. As a result of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, hospitals are not allowed to turn away emergencies. In addition, the Hill Burton Act obliged hospitals that had received federal funding for construction programs to offer some free treatment to patients who cannot afford to pay. It is always worth asking at the billing room of the hospital, or at your local doctor's office.

• 3

  Research clinics in your area that offer free treatment or care. In the case of mental illness, some mental health boards offer free treatment. Check by inputting your location on the health center government website. If you have a chronic or serious condition you may find that a charity may have been set up to assist people with this condition.