The Medical Survival Guide - How To Get Free and Low Cost Medicine and Medical Care (working title)
A Guide For Consumers of all AgesWe can provide material for a 150 to 250 page book
based on the publisher's needs
Introduction
The Problem
What The Government Is Doing To Solve The Problem
What's Ailing You - Definitions
How to Interpret Your Bood Test Results
Basic Steps To Take If You Can't Afford Medical Treatment
The Senior Crisis Supplemental Insurance
Medicare
Medicare Prescription Programs...What's What
Medigap
Military Benefits
Medicaid
Understanding Your Medical Problem
State-by-State Sources...A to W
HIV/AIDS
Free Medicine From Manufacturers
The Medicine Programs
Low-Cost Health Insurance...If You Qualify
State Programs for Adults and Children
The Hill-Burton Act
Participating in Clinical Trials
Natural Medicines
Free Health-Related Publications
Planned Parenthood
Rotacare Clinics
Free and Low-Cost Hospital Treatment
Free and Low-Cost Dental Treatment
Free and Low-Cost Eye Care
National Eye Care Program
Free and Low-Cost Prescription Medication
Free Medical Clinics State by State
Toll-Free Source Directory
FREE HOME HEALTH CARE
FREE PLASTIC SURGERY (see below)
FREE AND LOW-COST HOME HEALTH CARE
FREE EMERGENCY AIR TRANSPORTATION (see below)
FINANCIAL AID FOR EYE CARE (see below)
Introduction
in January 2005, the number of people without health insurance in the United States hit an all-time high of 45.6 million. 7.6 percent of this total had incomes of $75,000 or more annually (classified by health experts as "semi-rich")., some indication that not only the unrich are having problems paying for health care, but the semi-rich as well As the work force goes through drastic changes, more and more Americans lose their health insurace due to layoffs and other economic changes. Even those who have health insurance from their jobs are finding the co-pays and limitations hard to fit into their budget.
There are working families and individuals who spend $300-$400 out of pocket for a simple visit to the emergency room or a doctor's office, over $1,000 a day for a hospital room and basic treatment, hundreds of dollars for an x-ray and an additional $200 or more for a radiologist to interpret the x-ray. It's not uncommon to pay $5 for a simple aspirin and if you're not insured, that $5 comes out of your pocket. One of the authors is a diabetic and his insulin cost alone amounts to $465 a month. Thankfully, he's fully insured.
A recent study in Colorado revealed the most commonly cited reason for not having health insurance is "cannot afford it," reported by 83% of respondents without health insurance. Twelve percent reported not qualifying due to a pre-existing condition, 9% do not know how to get insurance, 8% state they can not get insurance because they were unemployed and 7% state they choose not to have coverage. Forty percent of respondents surveyed have children age 17 and under in their household. Seven percent of these respondents state that one or more children in their household has no health insurance. More people with low incomes (14%) report having one or more uninsured children than those with higher incomes (2%). Almost half of the respondents without health insurance themselves report that at least one of their children also has no health insurance.
The average cost for a one day stay in a New York hospital for a normal vaginal birth is $2,000-$3,000. If, however, things don't go as planned, the cost can be significantly higher. Like hospital charges, provider fees vary greatly by region. Midwives in private practice in New York City, for example, charge about $4,000 for professional services, which includes care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Labs fees generally are separate, as are special tests like amniocenteses and sonograms. In Pennsylvania alone, there were over 250,000 hospitalizations in which diabetes was listed as the diagnosis. 12% of patients were hospitalized for an average of 6.5 days and charged an average of $16,176 for their hospital stay. 24% of those hospitalized had no medical insurance.
In this guide to obtaining free and low-cost medical care, treatment and free or low-cost prescription medication, we'll explain the programs available for those who can't afford to pay for coverage. There are programs in every state that provide free coverage at hundreds of hospitals and clinics. These are facilities who have agreed to provide coverage in exchange for a reasonable co-pay and receiving funds from the government for expenses and expansion of facilities. . Almost every state has a program that helps people deal with medical emergencies and medical schools that provide free and low-cost dental and eye care...among other things. The public health system in the United States is available for free treatment, free innoculations and free examinations. Just walk into any of these facilities, explain your situation and help is on the way - free or at low-cost. In the Source section of this book, we've listed state-by-state, the hospitals and clinics that provide care under the Hill-Burton Act. There are over 1,000 contacts listed in this book providing all types of medical care and prescription information.
We also list over 900 prescription drugs along with information on who to contact to see if they qualify for free medication. This section alone takes up 40-45 book pages. Here's one of the state listings:
Indiana
What Is Covered: Most FDA-approved prescription drugs and insulin.
Who Is Eligible; Indiana resident for at least 90 days and age 65 or older. May not have insurance that includes a prescription drug benefit. Must have a monthly income, which is less than $940 for individuals or less than $1,266 for couples.
Who Must Apply: Patient
How To Apply: HoosierRX, P.O. Box 6224, Indianapolis, IN 46206
Notes: Benefit is in the form of a refund for prescription costs based on monthly income. Applications can be obtained from pharmacies, Area Agency on Aging, Social Security Office, the Office of Family and Children, calling the HoosierRx toll-free number (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Here is one of the manufacturer's listing:
(67)Veralan
(67) Schwartz Pharma Inc
PO Box 2038, Milwaukee WI 53201
((I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Keeping Your Health Insurance...Something You Ought To Know: COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) Department of Labor 202-219-8776 http://www.dol.gov/dol/pwba/public/pubs/cobra99.pdf
If you recently ended a job (within 60 days) and had health insurance, your former employer is obligated to offer you COBRA insurance for 18 months after your resignation. You must pay the monthly premium for it, but by law it is your right to be covered by the health insurance policy you started with.
These are only short samples of some subjects covered in this book, not in any particular order.
If you're a cancer patient...
You can fly to any recognized treatment center around the country - absolutely free - in the empty seats on corporate jets. Corporate Angel Network (I'll update the number closer to publication date). is a national public charity that works directly with patients and families to coordinate any travel needs with the flight plans of their members, some of nation's largest corporations. Since 1981, they've arranged more than 20,000 flights with cancer patients aboard. (http://corpangelnetwork.org)
Free Plastic Surgery for Domestic Violence Victims
Domestic violence is a pattern of coercion that can include repeated battering and injury, psychological abuse, sexual assault, progressive social isolation, deprivation and intimidation. Some facts: Over five million women a year are affected by domestic violence in the United States; over one million victims require medical attention. In this country, a woman is beaten every nine seconds by an intimate or former partner and 75 percent of women who are in an abusive relationship receive battering to their face and head area.
Women are more often victims of domestic violence than victims of burglary, muggings or other physical crime combined. Women who leave their batterers are at 75 percent greater risk of severe injury or death than those who stay. 42 percent of murdered women in the United States are killed by their intimate partners
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) through its Educational and Research Foundation, is the first surgical group to take a firm stand against domestic violence. Through surgery, counseling, and support, the AAFPRS is helping victims to break out of the cycle of abuse, enhance their self-esteem and begin to rebuild their lives. In 1994, the AAFPRS teamed up with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) the umbrella group for a majority of shelters in the United States to develop FACE TO FACE: The National Domestic Violence Project.
The AAFPRS works hand-in-hand with shelters nationwide in making sure that the individual is helped emotionally as well as physically. After the psychological healing has begun (with the help of professional counseling) and the victim is safely away from the violent relationship, surgery is performed to repair damaged facial features and to hopefully alleviate the painful memories of past abuse.
The AAFPRS is leading the medical community in the fight against domestic violence by helping to empower individuals who have been physically abused. Participating AAFPRS surgeons offer complimentary consultation and surgery to survivors of domestic violence.
The AAFPRS and NCADV offer a 24-hour toll-free number (I'll update the number closer to publication date). for victims of domestic violence who are burdened with physical scars or injuries located on the head, face, and neck. During the initial call, survivors are screened to determine if their injuries are a result of domestic violence, if they are out of the abusive relationship, and to obtain a brief description of the injuries sustained.
The survivor is given the name of a domestic violence shelter in their local area and advised to set up an appointment with a domestic violence counselor at the program. There are two purposes for this appointment: to receive verification from an independent source that the injuries are due to domestic violence, and to ensure that all participants are attending a local domestic violence program. It is anticipated that the individuals requesting services will have been out of the violent situation for at least one-year.
The shelter counselor then contacts the AAFPRS domestic violence coordinator to confirm that the individual has begun the inner healing process and is out of the abusive relationship. The next step is a referral to an AAFPRS local surgeon who will provide complimentary consultation and surgery.
The process is simple no forms are required just the heartfelt desire of individuals to empower their own lives, make the changes that are necessary to free themselves from harmful situations and to move away from the emotional and physical effects of abuse.
The AAFPRS is the world's largest association of facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons with more than 2,600 members whose cosmetic and reconstructive surgery focuses on the face, head and neck. Academy fellows are board-certified and subscribe to a code of ethics.
Partial funding for this program is provided by Physician's Choice of Arizona, Inc. and Allergan. The program would also like to thank LifeCell Corporation for their donation of the product Alloderm, for use by patients in this program.
Financial Aid for Eye Care
Many state and national resources regularly provide aid to people with vision problems. The National Eye Institute, which supports eye research, does not help individuals pay for eye care. However, if you are in need of financial aid to assess or treat an eye problem, you might contact one or more of the programs listed below. You can also contact a social worker at a local hospital or other community agency. Social workers often are knowledgeable about community resources that can help people facing financial and medical problems.
EyeCare America - National Eye Care Project, coordinated by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), provides free and low-cost eye exams for U.S. citizens 65 and older who have not had access to an ophthalmologist in the past three years. (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Website: http://www.aao.org/public/pi/service/necp.html
VISION USA, coordinated by the American Optometric Association (AOA), provides free eye care to uninsured, low-income workers and their families. Screening for the program takes place only during January of each year, with exams provided later in the year. (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Lions Clubs International provides financial assistance to individuals for eye care through local clubs. There are Lions Clubs in most localities, and services vary from club to club. Check your telephone
book for the telephone number and address of your local club. The telephone number for the national office is (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Celebrate Sight - Coordinated by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is a program offering free examinations and treatment for glaucoma to people who do not have medical insurance. Telephone: (I'll update the number closer to publication date). Website: http://www.aao.org/public/glaucoma/gl_2001.html
Mission Cataract USA, coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeons' Association, is a program providing free cataract surgery to people of all ages who have no other means to pay. Surgeries are scheduled annually on one day, usually in May. Telephone: (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Knights Templar Eye Foundation provides assistance for eye surgery for people who are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources. Mailing address: 5097 North Elston Avenue, Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60630-2460. Telephone: (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Sight for Students, a Vision Service Plan (VSP) program in partnership with The Entertainment Industry Foundation, provides eye exams and glasses to children 18 years and younger whose families cannot afford vision care. Telephone: (I'll update the number closer to publication date). . Website: http://www.sightforstudents.org/.
New Eyes for the Needy provides vouchers for the purchase of new prescription eyeglasses. Mailing address: 549 Millburn Avenue, P.O. Box 332, Short Hills, NJ 07078-0332. Telephone: ((I'll update the number closer to publication date).
The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is the Federal Government's principal agency for conducting and supporting research on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of eye diseases and disorders of the visual system.
For additional information, contact:
National Eye Institute
2020 Vision Place
Bethesda, MD 20892-3655
((I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Sample of free or low-cost medical clinic listing. We list clinics in all 50 states
Oregon: White Bird - Medical Clinic (1400 Mill St Eugene OR 97401, Contact: Alicia Ulmer, Telephone: (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Days/Hours: M,W,F 9-noon, 1-5; Tu 1-5; Th 9-12, 2-5
Fees: yes, sliding scale, medical card, OHP, no childcare, Eligibility: Open, with emphasis on low-income people without insurance.
Description: Provides low-cost and free medical treatment for those with medical problems and severe financial need. Also does well-child and gynecological exams. Lab testing and medications also provided on a low-cost basis. Free services and special clinics available for homeless and impoverished people. Hospital admissions, specialist care and diagnostic services are arranged for clinic clients when feasible. Weekly optometrist/optician clinics for those in need of vision exams and eyeglasses.
Florida: Shepherd's Hope Clinic (4851 South Apopka-Vineyard Road, Orlando FL 32819, Telephone: (I'll update the number closer to publication date).
Patients who are eligible for services through Shepherd's Hope have income at or below 150% of the poverty level, are uninsured and not eligible for government assisted health care programs. For example, a family of four with a monthly income of approximately $2,300 per month would meet the income test. Utilizing these criteria, Shepherd's Hope has provided over 22,000 free medical visits in the past six years. Shepherd's Hope has seven locations in the state.
Sample of one state program (we cover all 50 state programs)
The New York State Family Health Plus is a public health insurance program for adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who do not have health insurance - either on their own or through their employers - but have incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid. Family Health Plus is available to single adults, couples without children, and parents with limited income who are residents of New York State and are United States citizens or fall under one of many immigration categories.
Family Health Plus provides comprehensive health insurance coverage. When you choose a health plan, you will have a regular doctor, get regular checkups and see specialists, if needed. Coverage includes:
physician services; inpatient and outpatient hospital care; prescription drugs and smoking cessation products; lab tests and x-rays; vision, speech and hearing services; rehabilitative services (some limits apply); durable medical equipment; emergency room and emergency ambulance services; drug, alcohol and mental health treatment (some limits apply); diabetic supplies and equipment; radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hemodialysis; and dental services (if offered by the health plan).
Health care in the Family Health Plus program is provided through managed care plans. You must select a participating health plan when you apply for Family Health Plus. Every effort will be made to help you pick a plan that includes your current physician. When you choose a health plan, you will have a regular doctor, get regular check-ups and see specialists if needed.
There is no monthly premium for families whose income is less than 1.6 times the poverty level. That's about $460 a week for a three-person family, about $560 a week for a family of four. Families with somewhat
higher incomes pay a monthly premium of $9 or $15 a month per child, depending on their income and family size. For larger families, the monthly fee is capped at three children. If the family's income is more than 2.5 times the poverty level, they pay the full monthly premium charged by the health plan. There are no co-payments for services under Child Health Plus, so you don't have to pay anything when your child receives care through these plans.
Florida KidCare is our state's children's health insurance program for uninsured children under age 19. It is made up of four parts: MediKids, Healthy Kids, the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Network for children with special health care needs and Medicaid for children. When you apply for the insurance, Florida KidCare will check which program your child may be eligible for based on age and family income.
An application will be valid for 120 days after Florida KidCare receives it. If your children do not get enrolled in MediKids, Healthy Kids, or the Children's Medical Services Network within the 120 days, Florida KidCare will notify you and you will need to re-apply. An application that is older than 120 days may still be used to determine if your children are eligible for Medicaid.
Some Florida KidCare programs may have limited space, and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. When MediKids, Healthy Kids and the Children's Medical Services Network are full, enrollment for these programs will close. Medicaid is always open for children who qualify.
If enrollment for MediKids, Healthy Kids and the Children's Medical Services Network is closed, Florida KidCare will check to see if your children might be eligible for Medicaid. You will receive more information if your children are eligible for Medicaid. If your children are not eligible for Medicaid, you will need to re-apply when MediKids, Healthy Kids, and the Children's Medical Services Network are open again.
You can apply for Medicaid for children in two ways:
At Department of Children and Families (DCF) service centers (to locate your closest DCF service center go to: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/route1.shtml), or
To apply for Family Health Plus, you will need to have a personal interview where you will complete an application, provide proof of certain information, and select a health plan. Enrollment facilitators will be located near your home or work, to help you apply, ease the enrollment process and answer your questions. Many facilitators are available during weekend and evening hours at locations around the State. Local social services districts can also help you apply. Enrollment facilitators and local social service districts will make an appointment with you to help you complete an application. Before you sign an application, you must meet with an enrollment facilitator or with staff from your local social services district. Your application cannot be processed without a personal interview.
In choosing a health plan, you should think about the doctors you want, the services you and your family need, and the health plans available to you. Make sure the doctor you want to see is in the health plan you
choose. After you join a plan, you must use the hospitals, clinics and doctors that work with the plan. Unless your doctors are in the health plan you choose, you won't be able to see your former doctors, or use the clinics and hospitals you do now. The following health plans are approved to accept enrollments into the FHPlus program.
