Things You'll Need:
- cell phone
- yellow pages
- online connection
- pen and paper
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Step 1
Some physicians may not accept patients without insurance. You must be flexible with the choices that are made for doctors, dentists, laboratory work, outpatient services, and prescriptions.
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Step 2
If you live near a medical school, see if they have an outpatient clinic. If they do, ask how to become a new patient. Medical schools generally have lower rates than a physician who is already in practice. The young doctors have just learned the newest knowledge in their field. However, since they are new, they are supervised by experienced professionals. Many medical schools will treat patients without health insurance.
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Step 3
If you do not live near a medical school, look in the yellow pages for physicians who live near you. Include a general practitioner, a dentist, an orthodontist if you have children, and a specialist if you have a serious health condition. Call the offices and ask to speak to the office manager. Ask for their policy of accepting new patients who do not have health insurance, as well as the amount of the office visit charge. Ask if they are accepting new patients at the present time and, if so, the length of time until the first appointment. Write down all of this information to start your list.
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Step 4
Take your list of available physicians and check their education and experience online. A doctor who is educated at an American university probably has a better education than one who graduated from a third-world university. The reason why it is so difficult to get into American medical schools is because they are among the best in the world.
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Step 5
Analyze your list. Compare education, experience, and the office visit cost. If you do not have a car, then prune your list to those doctors and dentists who are on or near a bus route. Finally, decide which doctors you would prefer to depend on for your medical and dental care.
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Step 6
Set aside the money for the initial office visit, then make the appointment. It is not uncommon to have to wait 4 - 6 weeks for a new patient appointment. You will not want to wait this long when you are sick, so get established now. Then, when you are sick or injured, you will be able to get scheduled quickly for a regular appointment as an already established patient.
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Step 7
As you are leaving the initial appointment, ask the office personnel if they can recommend a low-cost laboratory for blood work, etc. They routinely work with patients who are struggling financially and may be able to offer suggestions. If they are not able to suggest anyone, then check out the schools which teach students how to be lab technicians. Sometimes they work with the public and should have lower fees. Again, these students are supervised and, since they are being allowed to work with the public, they are probably very near graduation. This method will allow you to obtain laboratory work without health insurance.
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Step 8
As far as dental care, if you have just the occasional cavity, choose to get care at a dental school. The fees are lower and all of the work is done in a supervised setting. If you do not live near a dental school, ask the dentist if he offers a payment plan. Many dentists are willing to do so if you can make a down payment for their services. Choose medical and dental professionals who put the patient before the health insurance industry.
Comments
missforty said
on 8/16/2009 Also try your county health clinic, they often have sliding scale rates according to your income of lack thereof
lighthouse1958 said
on 8/11/2009 Good tips on getting medical care without health insurance. 5* and rec.
joycetmann said
on 7/21/2009 Great tips on getting medical care without health insurance. 5*
Marilynda said
on 6/6/2009 I had to get health coverage when I lost my job. It's so expensive. Your article offers some good tips for getting medical care without health coverage. 5*
dorigillman said
on 6/2/2009 good ideas. i had to get health insurance on my own at one time, too.