Free or cheap medical care
Friday, October 9th, 2009
By: Kerry Grens
kgrens@whyy.org
The unemployment rate remains high and people continue to lose health insurance coverage from their jobs. A company in Plymouth Meeting that deals with insurance has produced a guidebook for getting cheap or free health care.
Listen:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Marty Rosen knows the insurance industry well — he was an executive at Aetna before starting up his business, Health Advocate. He says there are myriad resources for people who get laid off and lose their insurance. But many people aren't aware of it. For example, if a person needs medical care, but can't afford the bill — negotiate.
Rosen: One of the tenets which might or not be surprising is just ask. Sixty-one percent of individuals who have asked a doctor or a provider for a discount have actually gotten it.
There are a number of free and discounted methods of accessing medications, check-ups, and even insurance. Abbie Leibowitz is the co-founder of Health Advocate. He says, for example, there are discounted benefits for people who belong to certain organizations
Leibowitz: You might be a solo proprietor and belong to a chamber of commerce. There could be an alumni association at your college that you went to that may offer a discounted health benefit program.
Rosen: A number of the pharmaceutical companies are actually offering free pharmaceuticals. Pfizer is doing it. J and J is doing it. In fact some of the retail pharmacy chains through their walk-in clinics are offering free services again for individuals if they quality.
Leibowitz and Rosen compiled their strategies on getting free or cheap medical care and insurance in a recently published book.
Listen to more from Abbie Leibowitz and Marty Rosen on Getting benefits from insurers.
The Healthcare Survival Guide is a great resource that provides quick access to—and little-known secrets about—affordable healthcare insurance and medical services, as well as other specific cost-saving tips and referrals to free services all in one place. To download it for free, go to the website http://www.healthcaresurvivalguide.com and click on “Get the Book”. The book is listed as a PDF document on that page under “View the Book.” Please call us if you have any issues accessing the information: 866.939.3435. Thank you for your interest in The Healthcare Survival Guide.
Came to this web site looking for more information about medical care benefits but i was disapponted to hear the same information I heard on the radion this morning. Can you please give me more information about free or cheap health insurance?.
Thank you
Gus.
Augustine,
Note the three links to more info in the gray box at the top of the right sidebar above. They have quite a bit of information that should get you started.
When I came to this e address, I thought I would find some specifics. I did not. Is there a publication which I should be aware of for persons who do not have health insurance?
Judith,
You'll find some good info if you follow the links in the box above titled "Find cheap or free medical care," The first link is to a book on the subject.