Sunday, February 1, 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.

If you don't have health insurance in Texas and you are admitted in the hospital as an inpatient, there are avenues available where you can get assistance with your hospital bills. Keep in mind that you will have hospital bills, even with no health insurance. Depending on what kind of hospital you go to, there are some that are non-profit that can assist in clearing some of the debt. Hospitals that are non-profit based can do that because of what they stand for and because of their tax bracket.

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.

Prescription drugs can be quite expensive and a large concern if you are without health insurance in Texas, or anywhere else for that matter. You will want to check out the special programs that are designed exclusively to help with prescription drug expenses. You can find more information about these programs online. Of course, by choosing generic drugs whenever possible you may be able to afford the cost on your own.

Not having health insurance in Texas is not a total loss. You may be able to get prescription drugs for free or at a discount rate. There are programs that are sponsored by some of the major drug companies in order to get what you need. Pfizer and Merck are two of the companies that will help people without health insurance get what they need.

Finally, veterans without health insurance in Texas can often receive low-cost or free medical services through their Veteran's Administration. You will need to fully understand the benefits to which you are entitled and what your financial responsibilities are for your care, but this is a terrific resource for quality care. Most active-duty veterans who received an honorable or general discharge are eligible for these benefits.

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