Patients Without Health Insurance: What Ohio Doctors Are Doing to Help
Posted Feb 19 2009 6:08pm
Tough times are resulting in many people being laid off from their jobs, and losing their health insurance as a result. They may be unable to afford COBRA, but still need health care. In the Columbus Dispatch, an article highlights several actions Ohio doctors are taking to help their patients without insurance. Despite their generosity, it is important to regain insurance as soon as possible: do so before insurers will no longer be required to cover any pre-existing conditions you may have.
Some doctors are creating monthly payment plans that charge as little as $5 for those in dire straits and lacking Ohio health insurance. If they have some rate flexibility, they are charging the lowest amount possible to the uninsured. A lot of medical professionals give poorer patients free samples of prescription medication, although the economy is causing drug manufacturers to cut back on that practice as well. Meanwhile, prescriptions of generic drugs are more common, because they are far more affordable for uninsured patients.
The article also states that medical practices are assisting patients in applying for government assistance programs, such as those for children’s health insurance.
Some doctors are creating monthly payment plans that charge as little as $5 for those in dire straits and lacking Ohio health insurance. If they have some rate flexibility, they are charging the lowest amount possible to the uninsured. A lot of medical professionals give poorer patients free samples of prescription medication, although the economy is causing drug manufacturers to cut back on that practice as well. Meanwhile, prescriptions of generic drugs are more common, because they are far more affordable for uninsured patients.
The article also states that medical practices are assisting patients in applying for government assistance programs, such as those for children’s health insurance.
(Photo credit: Lauren Nelson under CC 2.0)