Why Not Have Health Insurance
Unfortunately, there are still many people without any health insurance in Texas. Obviously, this is a problem and everyone in Texas needs insurance. The good news is that there are many resources available to help people find the health insurance they need.
Texas has a great regional clinic system for people experiencing injuries or illness that isn’t emergencies and most accept patients without health insurance. These clinics offer high-quality medical care at discounted rates (often a sliding scale based on income), making them an affordable alternative to a hospital emergency room or doctor’s office. Online searches will yield the names and locations of Texas’ regional clinics, for those lacking health insurance in Texas.
People without health insurance in Texas may be able to qualify for special assistance if they are admitted to the hospital. There are many non-profit organizations that provide help with hospital bills to those in need. Since most hospitals are also non-profit organizations, many of them are able to work with you to lower your bill and make payment arrangements that are manageable for your budget.
There are other hospitals that have programs that provide financial assistance. In addition to that, the federal government has mandates that can help you get rid of your hospital debt. Even though you will receive a bill for services rendered, you will still need to attempt to make a payment towards it. The hospitals have a financial aid department with counselors and advocates that can assist you. They will be more than happy to adjust your bill or implement a payment plan for you. By not having health insurance in Texas, it is crucial that you try to implement some type of plan to pay off the hospital debt.
The cost of prescription drugs is skyrocketing for everyone, but for people without health insurance in Texas, it can be completely prohibitive. For those struggling to pay for their prescriptions, one quick cost-saving measure is to request generic drugs from your physician. Many commonly-prescribed drugs can be very cost effective as more drugstores and drug companies work together to help patients keep costs down. Much like hospital costs, there are also government programs available to those without health insurance in Texas and the Internet is a great place to start the search for more information.
Not having health insurance in Texas is not a total loss. You may be able to get prescription drugs for free or at a discount rate. There are programs that are sponsored by some of the major drug companies in order to get what you need. Pfizer and Merck are two of the companies that will help people without health insurance get what they need.
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.
