What to do if you don't have health insurance: approximately one in every three African-American women has no health insurance. But even without coverage, you can still receive medical care when you need it. Here are some of your best options

1. FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS

These not-for-profit clinics get money from the government to treat members of the community who have no health insurance and therefore use Medicaid. "These clinics often fill up, but they are obligated to treat patients," says Rhonda Hagler, a New Jersey physician who runs a private practice. Locate a center near you by visiting cms.hhs.gov/center/fqhc.asp.

2. PARISH NURSING CENTERS

Many churches and synagogues have community outreach health centers at which nurses give free health-care services. Keep in mind that these programs are provided by the church and may come with a little proselytizing as well. Find the best option available to you by searching the Internet using the key words parish nursing or by calling your local churches and temples.

3. CHARITY-CARE AND REDUCED-PAYMENT PLANS

"Some doctors have charity-care programs based on your income," says Hagler. "Call the doctors you're interested in seeing and ask if they offer it. If they don't, ask them if they know anyone in the area who does." Take note: High-earning specialists are less likely to offer free care than internists.

And even the M.D.'s who don't offer charity care may be willing to help in other ways. "Doctors will reduce the cost and let you spread out your payments over a period of time," Hagler says. "As long as you're willing to pay something, they'll often work with you."

4. MINICLINICS

Housed within large chain stores like Wal-Mart, these small health centers treat patients with common ailments (strep throat, sinus infection, bronchitis and so forth) at an affordable cost. The rates for treatments at CVS Minute-Clinics, for example, range between $28 and $110. While some doctors argue against the quickly spreading phenomenon because these clinics are mostly run by nurse practitioners instead of doctors, other health experts like Patricia Carroll, R.N., author of What Nurses Know and Doctors Don't Have Time to Tell You (Perigee), say that miniclinics are as efficient as any other center providing health-care services. "Nurse practitioners are completely qualified to give care in a setting like that," she explains. "R.N.'s have seen as many patients as a doctor and do a great deal of clinical work."

 

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