A Free Clinic has become a savior in the life of needy people. Free Community health clinics provide free or low-cost medical care to persons who have low income and no health insurance. There are a lot of people who cannot afford the expense of their medical treatment. Because of the ignorance of the treatment, simple diseases turn deadly. But, there is nothing to worry about anymore. The service of these clinics is free, or sometimes they charge a very minimal cost.
Basic Information About The Free Clinic
Every state across the nation has a branch of the free clinic, where you can seek a medical checkup conveniently. If ever these medical clinics require the payment of the treatment, it will be based on your ability to pay. Moreover, you can even get lots of advantages if you already have insurance. The most favorable part about these health centers is: that there is no age limit to undergo any medical treatment. All ages people including adults, children, and senior citizens can attain the service.
The low-cost health clinic always stands by your side, even if you do not have health insurance or the limit of the insurance is expired. Apart from the treatment and surgeries, free health clinics even provide help with medicines to poor families.
It is worth mentioning that the free medical clinic serves even those who have developed a long-term chronic disease. It covers several health care categories, such as dental care, eye checkup, etc. In some cases, the centers allow the patients to pay a certain amount of a particular treatment bill according to their income. If anyhow, you barely have any means of income, these free health care clinics treat you free of cost. But, if you have an earning that is below the marginal level; you need to pay the bill a minimum percentage of the total bill.
When Free Clinics And Low-Cost Clinics Are Available?
The availability of free clinics and low-cost clinic relies upon the specific center. Some of them are available daily from day tonight. On the other side, few of the clinics are available for 1 or 2 particular days of the week. For the service, you need to take an appointment before the checkup schedule and bring all your necessary documents along with your past medical records. To get further detail about medical care, contact your local health care camp or center.
Type of Services That The Free Community Clinic Provides
In major situations, the free community clinic serves a wide range of nursing at free or low cost to needy patients. The type of treatment is not the same in every health care clinic. It differs from one to another. For example, a specific free health clinic can serve you with free or low-cost dental care that others may not. Seldom, do some free medical care clinics enable the patients to attain the facility of emergency care. One thing that must note carefully: always ask for detail about each individual service. Inquire whether it is free or you have to pay a little.
Apart from that, there are several non-profit agencies, assistance programs or medical companies, etc that can stretch their hands of support to the low-income dwellers. These sources offer their help and assistance even to disabled people. The list that these free clinics promise to provide includes:
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Primary Care
This is the most common service that the free health clinic permits the patients to seek. Under this service, you can treat your less threatening common diseases like cough, fever, stomach ailments, etc. Moreover, free health care clinics allow patients to undergo free blood tests or other general physical tests. Some of the clinics even provide patients with minor gynecological issues. Most of the free clinics allow the patients to avail of immunization or vaccination shots. In severe health conditions, when these clinics are unable to treat your problem, they will refer you to another health care clinic for better treatment.
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Dental Services
Few free medical clinics offer free dental care to patients. A range of treatments is allotted towards them. The most basic service of these dental care programs is routine checkups and medical help. Keeping it aside, you can get the services of tooth extracting, tooth cleaning, cavity filling, sealing, root canal, treatment, fluoride treatment, etc. You can also get the facility of free X-ray tests. The treatments or services that these dental clinics lack include whitening of the teeth, crowning or bridgework, braces, implantation, and extraction o the wisdom teeth. Though, few of the clinics offer these services too.
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Eyecare
As the above-mentioned fact, the categories of treatment vary. Some of the low-cost clinic grants eye care services. Besides, general eye checkups, these free clinics allow the patients to take the facilities of minor eye surgeries. Several non-profit agencies assist low-income patients with free eye exams and glasses programs. After the doctors of the same agency check you up with certain eye powers, it offers you to get your eyeglasses. In rare conditions, they even enable you to have contact lenses, but it is occasional. Some primary eye tests and exams are also served to the patients by these eye care assistance programs.
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Grant Medicine Bills
Only those who have a nil income or uncertain earnings are eligible for this particular free health care. Few private drug companies permit very low income and helpless people especially children, senior citizens, and disabled patients to buy medicines free of cost. They do not even need to pay a single penny of their medical bills. Whereas, the patient whose income is below marginal needs to pay the minimum percentage of the bill.
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Mental Health Care
It is not common in every free health care clinic, but a number of those centers offer mental health care services. The basic treatment option of the clinic is counseling. It also serves mentally ill patients with several psychiatry therapies. But, the service is only for moderate ill patients. If they diagnose patients with a serious mental condition, they will suggest other references instead of handling the situation.
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Service For Uninsured Patients
It is a favorite part of the free medical clinic. Besides the insured patients, it is a clinic for people with no health insurance as well. Or, some of the insurance policies do not cover all the treatment facilities. For instance, it may happen that your health insurance does not allow you to go for a simple eye test or a critical test. In those circumstances, the free medical clinics serve you with better quality treatment.
Arrangement Of The Funds To Run Free Clinic
The free community clinics gain support from several charitable organizations. Usually, these non-profit organizations do not always seek the help of the government for raising their funds. Though in some conditions, the organizations receive a little number of government funds. Most top businesses and non-profit foundations produce money to build healthcare funds. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical agencies often offer their aid in the form of free medicine supply for the welfare of the poor inhabitant’s health. Some fundraiser programs and charity programs are gathering money and used for the clinic and also making arrangements for some medicines. You can find a clinic and many other resources as well.
The nurses and the physicians of the free clinics are extremely generous and treat you with their best effort. The free health clinics are equipped with all sorts of modern medical facilities. Hence, make sure to avail of their service for leading a disease-free life.
FAQs
NAFC (National Association For Continence) says there are more than 1,400 free clinics in the U.S. Approximately 2 million people visited one of these clinics in the past year. Hospitals and private medical groups are often visited by those with the means. Federally Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs, offer sliding scale rates for services to clients who are not able to pay for them due to their income, but no patient is denied health services because of their inability to pay.
Nearly 100 million Americans receive health care from six major federal programs. Private health care providers are significantly influenced by the collective effects of these programs.
Medicare (elderly)
Medicaid (low income)
SCHIP (children)
VHA (veterans)
TRICARE (individuals in the military and their dependents)
IHS (native Americans)
The Medicaid program and the CHIP program. Millions of Americans receive free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid and CHIP, which includes low-income individuals, families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and disabled individuals.
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