As unemployment and underemployment rates continue to rise, so too do those who rely on the social safety nets of public health care. State government, businesses, and families are all under financial strain and affected by the economic recession. More and more people have to choose food and shelter over medical care, leaving many at risk. At the same time, healthcare coverage rates for those who are insured are also on the rise. To alleviate the squeeze, healthcare alternatives are emerging to help those most affected to cope.

I. Clinical Care

Search Engines

Free Medical Clinics/Camps (http://www.freemedicalcamps.com/index.php) is a website that provides information and locations for free and reduced cost medical and dental clinics, organized by state and city. Where available, it provides the address, phone number, list of services, and mission of the clinic. Not all clinics listed provide full service medical care or are available to everyone. Some medical clinics provide dental services, obstetrical and gynecological care, and “specialty” medical care, while others do not. At the same time, some clinics limit their services to treatment for the homeless, local community residents, or are specific to HIV treatment. Other clinics are open to the public at large. While most clinics listed are free of charge, some charge a small fee per visit, but are significantly less than a regularly priced doctor’s visit.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has developed federally-funded health centers that offer care to those with and without health insurance. Those receiving care pay based on their income. These health centers provide checkups, treatment for the ill, complete pregnancy care, immunizations and checkups for children, dental care, prescription drugs for families, and mental health and substance abuse care. Health centers are located in most cities and many rural areas, and can be found on the HRSA’s website (http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/) by entering your address. Search results will list health center locations as well as each center’s contact information.

Walgreen’s Take Care Recovery Plan

While free/reduced-cost clinics open up some much needed relief to the growing number of unemployed and uninsured, some of the eligibility requirements of healthcare clinical programs are becoming more rigorous due to the increase in unemployment and under-employment, and many in need of assistance are still not eligible. Walgreen’s recently announced that its in-store clinics will provide free healthcare this year for patients (and their families) who lose their jobs on or after March 31, 2009, and are thus uninsured. The Take Care Recovery Plan provides most services for the treatment of illnesses and injuries currently provided at Take Care Clinics, including treatment for common family illnesses such as colds, cough, flu, upper respiratory conditions and minor skin conditions.

The program is available to adults over the age of 19 who have lost their jobs on or after March 31, 2009, and are or will be receiving federal or state unemployment benefits. The plan extends to a terminated individual’s spouse or domestic partner, and children (between 18 months and 18 years of age) of the terminated individual and/or the individual’s spouse or same sex domestic partner. However, the Take Care Recovery Plan only applies if at least one of the above listed family members visited a Walgreen’s Take Care Clinic as a patient prior to the date of the terminated individual’s loss of employment.

II. Prescription Benefits

Pfizer

Pfizer Inc. has announced that it will launch a new program geared toward helping eligible unemployed individuals and their families, who have lost their health insurance, continue treatment and maintain access to their Pfizer medication. The MAINTAIN™ program (Medicines Assistance for Those who Are in Need) was generated and proposed by Pfizer employees moved by friends, families, and neighbors struggling to cover healthcare expenses after losing their jobs.

The program applies to individuals who have become unemployed since January 1, 2009, regardless of income, and is designed to help the unemployed and their families, who are currently taking Pfizer medicines to continue free treatment for up to one year. The eligibility requirements stipulate that the individual must have been prescribed and taking a Pfizer medicine for at least 3 months prior to becoming unemployed and enrolling in the program, lack prescription drug coverage, and can attest to financial hardship. Those who qualify will receive their Pfizer medicines for free for up to 12 months or until they become re-insured (whichever comes first). For additional information visit http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Programs/programdetails.aspx?p=116

MAINTAIN™ is expected to be fully operational beginning July 1, 2009. However, those in need of immediate assistance can call 1-866-706-2400.

Merck Co. Inc

The pharmaceutical company Merck Co, Inc. is now offering a program called the Merck Patient Assistance Program, which provides medicine free of charge for eligible individuals, primarily the uninsured, who could not afford needed medicines otherwise. Individuals who do not meet the insurance criteria to qualify may still be eligible for the Program if they attest that they have special circumstances of financial and medical hardship, and their income meets the program criteria. The program requires provides medicines for up to one year free of charge for eligible individuals, and an individual may reapply as many times needed. A partial list of covered medications may be found at http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/patientassistance/whats_covered.html.

For those who do not qualify for the Merck Patient Assistance Program, Merck also offers the Merck Prescription Discount Program to the uninsured. This program offers savings of between 15-20% off of Merck medicines, regardless of age or income. Further information on Merck assistance programs can be found at http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/home.html.

Walmart $4 Prescription Program

Wal-Mart/SAM’S pharmacy departments are now offering $4 prescription medications. The program offers over 360 generic versions of brand name medications, at a cost of $4 per 30-day supply, and $10 per 90-day supply. Accessible to both the insured and the uninsured, available medications represent up to 95 percent of the prescriptions written in the majority of therapeutic categories, including: allergies, asthma, cold & flu, diabetes, mental health, and antibiotics. The most recent addition to the program is women’s health medicines, although some specific medications may cost the participant $9 for a 30-day supply and $24 for a 90-day supply.

The program’s coverage of generic medicines should not be a deterrent for those who have been prescribed a brand name medication since patients may request a generic version (where available) to take advantage of the program’s discount. This prescription program is available at Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies nationwide. A list of available medications can be found at http://i.walmartimages.com/i/if/hmp/fusion/customer_list.pdf (en Espanol - http://i.walmartimages.com/i/if/hmp/fusion/customer_list_spanish.pdf). Details and exceptions to the program can be found at http://i.walmartimages.com/i/if/hmp/fusion/customer_list_details.pdf (en Espanol - http://i.walmartimages.com/i/if/hmp/fusion/customer_list_details_spanish.pdf)

Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a program sponsored by pharmaceutical research companies to help low-income, uninsured, and underinsured patients get free or low-cost medicines through the public or private program that best suits them. The program brings together pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help those who qualify. The PPA helps uninsured and financially struggling patients who lack prescription coverage get access to prescription assistance programs that offer medicines for free or reduced costs. The PPA website allows users to search by state or pharmaceutical company to find out what patient assistance programs are offered, as well as co-payment programs that provide financial assistance for certain health care costs to patients who qualify financially and medically. https://www.pparx.org/prescription_assistance_programs

More than 40 of the assistance programs offered through the program focus on the medication and health care needs of children. Parents, guardians and others can visit their website to find public and private programs that may provide help for their children at http://kids.pparx.org/.

PPA also offers a free and low-cost health clinic finder online that allows you to search for a free or reduced cost clinic in your area by entering your zip code:

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)

The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR) currently provides direct financial support to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries, who must financially and medically qualify to access pharmaceutical co-payment assistance. The program offers personal service to all patients through the use of call counselors who personally guiding patients through the enrollment process. The program currently assists patients who are financially and medically qualified and are being treated for the following diseases: breast, lung, lymphoma, prostate, kidney, colon, pancreatic, head/neck cancers, malignant brain tumor, sarcoma, diabetes, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome (and other pre-leukemia diseases), osteoporosis, pain, hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis, selected autoimmune disorders and CIA/CIN. Go to http://www.copays.org/ for more information and to enroll electronically.

III. Dental Care

Millions of Americans still do not have access to affordable dental care. Dental hygiene maintenance is crucial because any untreated dental problem will affect the whole body, causing other, bigger health problems. In the current economy, previous gains in government funding for Medicare and Medicaid dental care services are depleting as state lawmakers are contending with shrinking budgets and rising unemployment rates. Even those who have managed to hold on to healthcare benefits have had to do so at the expense of dental coverage. While not as prevalent as general healthcare initiatives, efforts are being made by those in the dental community to provide much needed services to those low-income families who are currently unable to afford dental care.  

Dental and Hygiene Schools

Dental and dental-hygiene school clinics give patients affordable access to quality care. All care is delivered by students who work under the close supervision of the school’s faculty. Although it may take extra time for procedures to be completed, getting treatment at a dental school can save money – particularly when extensive dental work is needed. Additionally, because graduating students taking their state boards for certification are often in need of patients to keep up their skills, dental school treatment can potentially save patients money. A complete list of accredited dental schools can be found at the American Dental Association’s website here: http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/programs/search_ddsdmd_us.asp; as well as accredited dental hygienist institutions: http://www.adha.org/careerinfo/dir_education.htm.

Dental Outreach Programs

Dental schools with public outreach programs provide participating fourth-year dentistry, dental hygiene undergraduates, and graduate residents practical dental experience while bringing comprehensive oral health care to thousands of traditionally underserved patients. The American Dental Education Association has received a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to create academic-community partnerships that will improve the lives of children who lack access to dental care. The University of Illinois Chicago, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, The University of Southern California, and Howard University are operating as safety-net providers for the poor and underserved, and children in these communities will be reached through the dental schools' efforts to partner with community resources. The project's goal is to implement community-based outreach programs that provide dental screening and treatment for vulnerable children.

Give Kids A Smile® is a program started by the American Dental Association designed to provide education, preventative and restorative care to low-income children who do not have access to care. The program aims to mobilize the nation’s dental professionals in a campaign to provide necessary care nationwide to children and adolescents from low-income families. It is an annual centerpiece to National Children's Dental Health Month and is observed every year on the first Friday in February, during which thousands of the nation's dentists and their dental team members provide free oral health care services to children from low-income families across the country. Throughout the year, however, communities of doctors involved with Give Kids A Smile® hold their own free dental health service days and spend the day performing free screening and cleanings for low income children (and some adults). These events are often announced on Dental Health Magazine’s website at http://worldental.org/tag/free-dental-care/.

For the contact information of your state dental association or local state dental society, and to find out if there is a program in your area, visit http://givekidsasmile.ada.org/findGKAS.asp. While they cannot promise that free care will be available for your child, they can direct you to dental clinics closest to your area, where help may be available. In some cases, a fee may be involved depending on your ability to pay.