Current Health Articles for Free Drug Card Users
Health Care Too Expensive?
by health care author Mark Thevenot
If you want to protect yourself and your family without going broke, you will need to be
pro-active when it comes to health care. Despite the extremely high cost of most medical
care, access to free or discounted care is there for those willing to make a small effort to
find it. Here are 6 tips to get you started.
1) Rx Discount Program - Prescription costs can be reduced substantially without buying
insurance. There are discount purchasing groups that allow you to join them and
receive their negotiated pricing on most prescription medications. One such group is
UNA. There is no obligation or fee to register and it takes less than a minute to receive a
personalized printable discount card which you simply bring to your druggist. He will
save your discount group # in your file and you will then receive a reduced group price
on all covered prescriptions. Discounts can be as much as 75% on some prescriptions.
Go to www.superrxcard.com or www.drugcardplus.com and print your own free
drug card in less than 10 seconds. There are no gimmicks attached to this one and over
60,000 pharmacies participate in this group. According to Wellness.com - April 2006:
"Hands down, the finest prescription assistance program in the United States…"
2) Free Medical Q&A - Informational resources are abundant and free. If you have
symptoms you want to confidentially discuss with a real doctor or if you want to research
any disease or medication, here are a few good resources: www.webmd.com , www.
afraidtoask.com and www.yournetdoctor.com .
3) Doctor and Hospital Ratings - before you select a doctor or hospital for surgery, you
might want to know if you are making the right choice. There are research groups that
independently research doctors and hospitals and rate them based on criteria which are
designed to determine whether they have met the nationally recognized standards for
excellence. One such group has made their data base of research on over 600,000
doctors and hospitals available to the public. Got to: www.healthgrades.com to see how
your doctor and hospital rate.
4) Health Insurance - Given up on buying health insurance? Do a little more research.
There might possibly be some good coverage available that is within your budget. Try
www.insureme.com or www.healthinsuranceinfo.net before throwing in the towel.
5) Free Eyeglasses - If you are a student or have children and cannot afford eyeglasses
for them, there is a program available that may qualify you for a free eye examination
and free glasses. To see if you qualify, go to: www.sightforstudents.org and apply
6) Free Medical and Dental Clinics - Nearly every zip code has a medical facility nearby
that will give anyone, without insurance or money, medical care. Most of these receive $
aid from governmental agencies or charitable organizations. How do I locate one? Just
call any doctor or medical facility and ask them or visit www.ask.hrsa.gov/pc/ . This
webpage will allow you to search for a clinic by zip code that will give you medical care,
even if you do not have insurance or money. Another site that will help you locate free
medical care is www.freemedicalcamp.com