Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Why Not Have Health Insurance

By Jordan FeRoss

Right now, there are many people who do not have adequate health insurance in Texas. This issue should be of concern to both the people of Texas and its legislators, who must recognize the need for all of the state's residents to be insured. In the meantime, there are resources available to the uninsured seeking resources and help to find affordable healthcare for themselves and their families.

There are local clinics in that people without health insurance Texas may be able to visit when they need care. These local clinics provide quality care at a discounted fee. These are great places that treat people without insurance just as well as those who have coverage. Most of the time the fees charged by these clinics is based on the patient's ability to pay. There are several good online resources available to find more information on these local health clinics in Texas.

There are several non-profit organizations who assist people with their emergency healthcare costs or hospital admissions when they cannot afford them. For people without health insurance in Texas, the assistance may be what stands between them and opting out of life-saving treatments. In addition to several independent charities, many hospitals are non-profit organizations willing to work with financially challenged patients on payment plans to make sizable hospital bills more manageable and less of a burden.

For those investigating resources from the hospitals where they've received care, in-house social workers can be a wealth of information for patients on what special financing programs are offered. And, with financial counselors and specialized advocates, hospitals often prove to be the best friend to people without health insurance in Texas; working with patients to reduce their bills and discuss and arrange payment plans. There are also governmental agencies that work hospitals directly on behalf of patients without health insurance in Texas. No matter the route taken, there are extra steps to working with the hospital to pay off outstanding debt to them but it's far more preferable to ignoring the bills because they are overwhelming.

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.

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.

If you are a veteran and don't have health insurance in Texas, you may be able to get medical care by going to one of the VA's medical facilities. The requirements for this are if you served on active duty and received either a general or honorable discharge. You will have to contact the VA facility in your area to get additional information.

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