Don’t Have Health Insurance? Here’s How to Go About Medical Treatment
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Don’t Have Health Insurance? Here’s How to Go About Medical Treatment

March 11, 20253 min read

Meds

Good to Know:

  • You can still receive medical care without health insurance.
  • You may qualify for a government-sponsored health insurance plan.
  • Your local community may also have low-cost healthcare options where you can receive care.

 

Nearly 9% of Americans in 2020 did not have health insurance, according to the United States Census Bureau. Another poll found that, among those without health insurance in 2017, 50% had no usual source of care, and 24% postponed seeking care because of the medical costs. 

Seeking medical treatment is already stressful—doing so without health insurance can be even more so. But if you or your family are ever without health insurance, you can still receive healthcare. There are several options available to ensure you don’t go without necessary medical care, and mitigate costs along the way.

Medicaid

One of the most well-known options for people without health insurance is Medicaid. Medicaid is public health insurance for low-income individuals or families. This includes elderly people, pregnant people, and people with disabilities. Families with children can also enroll in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to ensure every family member has health insurance. Medicaid, along with Medicare, is overseen by the federal government; however, each state decides how it will measure eligibility for Medicaid. 

Did You Know? Medicaid and Medicare were created by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.

Medicaid does not have an open enrollment period, which means you can apply to enroll anytime. You can check your state’s requirements to see if you or your family will qualify by going to healthcare.gov and selecting your state. You can apply for Medicaid through the Health Insurance Marketplace or through your state’s Medicaid agency. Not sure of your eligibility? Apply anyway—healthcare.gov says you may still qualify for your state’s program. 

Quick Statistics: 80 million Americans receive health insurance coverage through Medicaid.

Each state chooses what types of health services will be covered through Medicaid. Some of the most common services offered include diagnostic services, dental care, prescription drugs, and rehabilitation and physical therapy. 

Community Health Clinics

Community health clinics, also called federally qualified health centers, can be an effective way to receive primary care. These clinics provide health care to millions of Americans, many of whom are uninsured or on public health insurance plans such as Medicaid. 

Community health clinics offer numerous services, including:

  • Basic medical care, including preventive care
  • Behavioral health services
  • Dental care
  • Diagnosis and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension
  • Prenatal and pediatric care
  • Radiology and imaging services
  • Vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccinations 

Quick Statistics: 58% of community health clinic patients come from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Community health clinics are open to everyone, regardless of health insurance status or ability to pay. In fact, 91% of patients at community health clinics are low-income, with almost 70% being at or below the federal poverty level. These health clinics will often charge on a sliding scale, taking each patient’s situation into account. Some clinics may even offer some health services for free. According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, the average visit is less than one-sixth the cost of a trip to the emergency room.

Urgent Care Clinics

Urgent care centers are another good option for those without health insurance. These clinics allow you to receive medical care without an appointment, and some may offer reduced rates to those without health insurance. Many of these clinics also have extended hours, staying open past regular business hours and often staying open on the weekends. If you plan to seek treatment at an urgent care center, we suggest looking them up online or contacting them directly to learn their hours.

Fast Facts: The average cost of an urgent care visit is roughly $100-$150 per patient.

Many health care concerns can be addressed by urgent care clinics, such as:

  • Back pain
  • Bug bites
  • Common cold
  • Cuts and burns
  • Flu
  • Earaches
  • Low-grade fever
  • Migraines
  • Minor sprains, sprains, or broken bones
  • Seasonal allergies
  • Urinary tract infections

Fast Facts: Urgent care centers see patients on a first-come, first-served basis, and the average wait time is less than 30 minutes.

Emergency Rooms

It’s true that emergency rooms will treat you regardless of your health insurance status. However, you’ll still need to pay for your visit, and emergency room visits can be extremely expensive.

Fast Facts: an emergency room visit can cost up to three times more than a visit to an urgent care clinic.

In some cases, patients will choose to go to the emergency room when a visit to an urgent care clinic could have been just as effective. The resulting medical bills may be higher than patients can pay, especially if they are from low-income households. When possible, we suggest seeking care at a community health clinic or an urgent care center, and saving the emergency room for when it’s absolutely necessary. 

When to Go to the Emergency Room

When deciding between emergency rooms and urgent care, time and severity are your wisest deciding factors. If someone could die or become permanently disabled if they don’t receive immediate care, go to the emergency room. Here are some examples of health concerns that require emergency care.

  • Broken bones
  • Choking or stopped breathing
  • Deep wounds, severe burns, or heavy bleeding
  • Head or neck injury
  • High fever
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures that last 3-5 minutes
  • Severe chest pressure or pain, or other symptoms of a heart attack
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Stroke symptoms: weakness or drooping on one side of the body; difficulty seeing, walking, moving, or speaking; sudden loss of balance or coordination 

Regardless of where you seek medical care, we suggest mentioning your insurance status before making an appointment when possible. Some clinics will offer reduced fees for patients without health insurance, or they may offer financial assistance to help pay medical bills. Also, if a provider recommends prescription medication, ask if generic medication is available. Branded medications are often more expensive, despite having the same active ingredients and, in many cases, being just as effective.

You don’t have to go without medical care if you don’t have health insurance. You can find cost-effective options to ensure you and your loved ones receive the necessary care you need.

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