The adult uninsured person may not qualify for public assistance due to income nor qualify for an individual policy due to health status. There are steps to take if you find yourself in this position.  There are resources available to people caught in the middle.  This section of the guide will help you navigate how to receive healthcare if you remain uninsured.

Generally, using a doctor’s group composed of General Practitioners or Family Practitioners is less expensive than seeing an Internal Medicine Physician.  Call around your community and ask what the doctor charges for an office visit.  Laboratory charges are separate and can run up your bill.  Ask for a cash discount as some practices will give a discount to those paying for a visit in cash.

Community Health Centers may be able to assist you.  These are federally funded clinics that serve the entire community and offer care on a sliding fee scale.  Go to www.ask.hrsa.gov/pc and put in your address and you will be shown centers closest to your home. You may also find a center at www.gaphc.org.

If you are given a prescription, always ask for samples.  Often the doctor can furnish you with some of the medication prescribed.  If the medicine prescribed is an expensive one and you are taking a maintenance dose, you may wish to ask the doctor to write your prescription for the lowest cost or generic product.

Walgreen Drug Stores http://www.walgreens.com/ have clinics at many of their locations.  If you have lost your employment as of March of this year, this chain is offering free visits through December 2009 at their Take Care Clinics.  For more information on these clinics and to find one near you go to www.walgreens.com

Utilize Publix http://www.publix.com/ for free antibiotics for many of the most prescribed ones.  Usually your doctor’s office will know which one.

Many of the Drug Companies offer assistance with more expensive medications. A list of the programs is available through the Partnership for Prescription assistance at www.pparx.org.

The Cancer State Aid Program provides cancer treatment to uninsured, low income cancer patients.  Information can be found at www.health.state.ga.us/programs/cancer.stateaid.

Assistance for a variety of health problems can be found by contacting the foundation that represents a particular health problem. Some prominent examples include:

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org

American Heart Association
www.americanheart.org

American Lung Foundation
www.lungusa.org

Komen Foundation (Breast Cancer)
www.komencenralga.org

National Kidney Foundation
www.kidney.org

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