What to Do If You Are In Pain & Have No Health Insurance?

Millions of Americans do not have health insurance, and when disaster strikes, they don't know where to turn. The health care industry in the United States can be confusing to navigate and the paperwork can be complicated. For those needing emergency assistance, there are options available for all situations.

Urgent Care

• Locate an urgent care office in your area. Urgent care centers will take any type of walk-ins, from people who have been badly injured to those needing a simple checkup. The advantage of an urgent care clinic is that the fees are quite a bit lower than emergency rooms, yet the doctors and nurses are just as qualified as hospital workers.

Emergency Room

• Go to an emergency room if you are in a life-threatening situation, such as a heart attack or animal bite, and need assistance immediately. Alternatively, you can dial 911 and they will transport you to the hospital. By law, emergency rooms must treat a patient, even if she cannot pay afterward. Many people without health insurance go to emergency rooms for non-emergency visits, because they believe they will be turned away at a walk-in clinic.

Low-income Clinics

• If you are a low-income individual, and you need non-emergency medical attention, contact your nearest low-income health clinic. There are walk-in clinics in Wal-mart and some CVS locations that will treat almost any illness. The prices are very nominal for the service they provide, and they are run by trained nurses and doctors who are often unpaid volunteers.