Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Alternatives To Not Having Health Insurance

By Jordan FeRoss

There are people that reside in the great state of Texas that still cannot get or find health insurance. It is very important to have health insurance in Texas for various reasons. However, there's no need to despair. There are alternative resources that you can use to get some kind of help with your health care.

Texas has a great regional clinic system for people experiencing injuries or illness that isn't emergencies and most accept patients without health insurance. These clinics offer high-quality medical care at discounted rates (often a sliding scale based on income), making them an affordable alternative to a hospital emergency room or doctor's office. Online searches will yield the names and locations of Texas' regional clinics, for those lacking health insurance in Texas.

People without health insurance in Texas may be able to qualify for special assistance if they are admitted to the hospital. There are many non-profit organizations that provide help with hospital bills to those in need. Since most hospitals are also non-profit organizations, many of them are able to work with you to lower your bill and make payment arrangements that are manageable for your budget.

There are other hospitals that have programs that provide financial assistance. In addition to that, the federal government has mandates that can help you get rid of your hospital debt. Even though you will receive a bill for services rendered, you will still need to attempt to make a payment towards it. The hospitals have a financial aid department with counselors and advocates that can assist you. They will be more than happy to adjust your bill or implement a payment plan for you. By not having health insurance in Texas, it is crucial that you try to implement some type of plan to pay off the hospital debt.

The cost of prescription drugs is skyrocketing for everyone, but for people without health insurance in Texas, it can be completely prohibitive. For those struggling to pay for their prescriptions, one quick cost-saving measure is to request generic drugs from your physician. Many commonly-prescribed drugs can be very cost effective as more drugstores and drug companies work together to help patients keep costs down. Much like hospital costs, there are also government programs available to those without health insurance in Texas and the Internet is a great place to start the search for more information.

And, as mentioned earlier, even drug companies are helping defray prescription costs, with programs to help people without insurance get the medications they need at an affordable price. Pfizer and Merck are two pharmaceutical firms committed to assisting people lower their spending on medications. It is very difficult to live without health insurance in Texas, but with a little perseverance and resourcefulness, it's not impossible to get the care and attention you need, when you need it, often at a discounted rate.

For veterans without health insurance in Texas, medical help is usually available at a VA hospital. You will need to contact your local Veteran's Administration office to get more details, but usually veterans who served in active duty and received an honorable or general discharge are eligible for free medical services, at least for urgent problems.

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