Surviving Without Health Insurance

The number of people in the U.S. who have no medical benefits has risen to 52 million in the past couple of years, largely because of the cost increases in medical insurance coverage.  Since 1958,  medical benefits in the U.S. have primarily been covered by an employer, but this is no longer true for many individuals and families.  Currently, thousands of employers are struggling to meet the escalating costs of insurance premiums, and because the costs have risen as much as 50% between 2003 and 2010, many employers have been forced to transfer up to 63% of the financial burden to their employees, or drop their benefits altogether. So what is the answer for people who are underinsured or not insured at all?

There are still programs that can help, but many of the clinics in these programs are on the chopping block because of substantial state budget cuts  and fewer private donations.  Some of these facilities are so financially strapped that they have had to resort to turning people away.  Most clinics are run by volunteers and\or low paid staff and really need extra support right now to stay afloat.  The national Association of Free Clinics is an organization who advocates for over 1,200 free clinics and their concerns throughout the U.S.   To donate please visit http://tinyurl.com/7gosnrj.

If you have lost your job and can’t afford cobra payments, or are on a low income and have no health benefits, you can still find free or low cost clinics throughout the U.S.  For information on where to find a clinic near you, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at http://tinyurl.com/76xdoq4.

You may also find other resources to help pay medical expenses and other financial assistance from the Need Help Paying Bills web site at http://tinyurl.com/6vlmpgn.