Mobile Medical Unit for the Homeless in Toledo

When we got a call at the library, asking if there was a medical van at Main library on Saturdays, I only knew about Food for Thought, a volunteer group that distributed food and sometimes clothes to the poor outside the library on Saturday mornings.  But I learned that they now partner with another volunteer group, LifeLine Toledo, which runs the big purple medical bus.  Every Saturday, nurses staff the bus and check vitals and blood pressure, and recommend further care.  Once a month, the Black Bag Project has a doctor aboard the big purple bus to provide more in-depth care and a sort of triage to decide who may be in need of immediate medical care.  The LifeLine bus goes to Main library from 9 till 11:30 on Saturday mornings, and at other times per their webpage schedule.

There is no national directory that I know of for mobile medical units that serve the poor this way.  In 211 directories, the closest I could find for a heading would be medical social work for the homeless.  You could google "mobile medical unit" (the common name for this sort of medical service) and the name of your city or county. 

Financial Help for Injured Dancers, and Other Health Care Help for Artists

In looking for stuff for artists, I ran across an interesting benefit for dancers in the New York City area.  The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, a part of New York University Langone Medical Center, provides consultation for dancers and dance companies that help prevent injuries.  However, they also provide some access to financial assistance to injured dancers who need treatment.  There is charity care for New York state residents who need treatment at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, Tisch Hospital and Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.  But there is also a special fund for the treatment of uninsured, underinsured, and otherwise needy dancers who need medical care.

If you are a performing artist in medical need, or in need of medical insurance, check out this page by HITE (Health Information Tool for Empowerment) which lists several organizations who help medically needy performing artists. Also, check out this roundup of performing artist's health assistance.

Financial Aid for Poor People to Pay for Hospital Care

How much aid can you get if you need hospitalization, and don't have much income?  That depends on where you live. According to insure.com,   The Emergency Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 provides that hospitals that accept Medicare must provide screening, emergency care and appropriate transfers, regardless of your insurance coverage.  However, they do not include a right to ongoing care.  What if you need to stay in a hospital?

There is the Hill-Burton Act, passed in the 1940s that requires hospitals that have received federal loans to give free or reduced cost to indigents.  There are about 170 facilities still under that legal obligation.  More on how to apply for assistance--if you are a patient at one of them, and indigent-- is here.

Then there's state law.  Various states have laws that cover, or help defray, the cost of hospital stays for people living below or near the poverty line (This is the level by size of household for 2013).  In Ohio, the Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) is open for Ohio residents that live at or below the poverty level.  You have up to three years from the time you are notified to apply for this aid.  Here's a sample application form. You apply at the hospital where you received treatment.  For more in-depth information, see this FAQ section by the Ohio Hospital Association. Here's more information from Human Arc.  Remember that this ONLY covers the cost of the hospital, not doctors, the pharmacy, etc. 

What if you don't live in Ohio?  Here's a website by Community Catalyst, an advocacy group for medical consumers, with a state-by-state rundown of "free" and "charity" care and the laws around them.

Watch Out for Fake Obamacare--Scams to Look Out For

You may have seen them on TV--official-sounding ads that have patriotic music, and pictures of the U.S. capitol, etc.--saying that the health reform act is the law, and so on.  That's true, and on October 1st, 2013 through March 31st, 2014, people will have their first crack at signing up for health care insurance on the state or federal exchanges.  But already, the fraudsters are coming out to feast.  So watch out. 

What should you look for?  For one thing, make sure that what's being offered is actually a comprehensive health insurance program.  Some programs that are medical discount plans--offering discounts on medical treatment or procedures--are NOT health insurance programs, and are not eligible for subsidies that can make real health insurance plans more affordable.  If you want to know what's available at the medical exchanges in your state, you have to wait for October 1, which is the first day you can sign up for coverage under the exchanges.  And where can you look?  Use this link to find the health exchange for your state.  For people in states that have opted out of forming their own exchange, the federal exchange will be used.

Also, watch out for people contacting you and demanding information.  Some frauds are using "Obamacare" as a way to fish around for personal information that they are using to commit identity theft.   If someone contacts you and demands things like your Social Security number, just hang up.  Like nearly ALL federal programs, you need to contact the government.  They don't call you.  And you can't even rely on caller ID, since some frauds have found out how to fake that.  If someone has called you, and you are afraid you may have given someone information that threatens you with ID theft, call the Federal Trade Commission's hotline for identity theft at 1‑877‑438‑4338. 

And finding out about the federal program should NOT cost you any money.  If someone offers to help you for a fee, hang up.  There's free information 24/7 at the federal healthcare number: 1-800-318-2596.  For TTY, it's 1-855-889-4325.  Eventually, there will be state navigators to help people around (as of September, 2013, they are still being trained).  But the toll-free numbers are a good source of information.  Here's another page with tips on avoiding fraud.

Respite for Homeless People Who Need to Recover Their Health

Nowadays, hospitals don't keep people for long periods of time--they patch you up and ship you home to recover.  But what if you don't have a home?  En route to looking up other stuff, I found out that there are places around the country where the homeless rest and recover--when they are not sick enough to be in a hospital, but not well enough to go back on the streets.

They are respite homeless providers, and while there are just a few dozen in the U.S, they are gaining in numbers.  The National Health Care for the Homeless, an advocacy group in the U.S. and Canada, has a listing of all the homeless respite centers that they could identify in North America, along with a list of the qualifications--and disqualifications--to be a patient at each facility. 

If you are homeless, or know anyone who is homeless and needs medical help, here's a directory of agencies that receive funds to give medical care to the homeless.  They also link to a directory of public health care facilities that are free or sliding scale, and that can be searched by address, city or county.

Another Way to Raise Funds for Medical Care

In our last entry, we discussed the the "soup movement,"  a way of raising money for art projects that don't fall under a 501c3 umbrella and without the legal paperwork of nonprofits in the U.S., either.  Today we will discuss another avenue for raising money for other things that are charitable, or require charity, but aren't  501c3's (501c3 being the IRS designation for charitable nonprofits).  It's the for-profit website Give Forward, which creates crowdfunding for individuals that need it.

If you go to their website, they will give you short instructions on how to create a website to campaign for funds.  They can be for any cause--vet bills, medical bills, etc.  In fact, they have a short list of possible alternative resources listed on the bottom of their front page.  They stay in business by charging 7% on each transaction, which covers credit card charges, Paypal expenses, etc.  Fundraisers get their funds released to them if they are over or near their fundraising goal.  For this reason, Give Forward suggests that you set a modest, obtainable goal at the beginning, although it can be altered.  There is also an end date, and Give Forward will process and give the donated funds within 10 days of that date.

If you need to raise funds for a medical need, Give Forward could be a way to spread beyond your immediate community and the exhausting crush of car wash/spaghetti dinners/other fundraisers that take lots of manpower.  It's worth considering.  Here's some other tips and help on fundraising for an individual's health needs.

Financial Help for Kidney Patients

The costs of care for kidney disease--long running and chronic--can be financially debilitating.  There are some sources of help.

One is the American Kidney Fund, which has a patient assistance program that helps with the expense of insurance premiums, medicine and treatment-related expenses.

Another is the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America, which runs several programs.  One is for small emergency grants (no more than $100 per year) for unexpected emergency expenses. The patient's social worker should contact the foundation at 212.629.9770 or 800.633.6628.  There are also scholarship and career development-related funds.  

You can also see if your state has a kidney assistance program at this site, which list state government programs for kidney patients.

The National Kidney Foundation lists some other resources.  Also, check the right-hand side of the page to find your local or state kidney organization, which may have local resources.

If there are other costs for drugs for which you have no insurance, remember that the Partnership for Prescription Assistance can inform you about prescription drugs that the uninsured may be eligible to receive.  See their site or call 1-888-477-2669 to find out if you are eligible. 

Where to Find Travel Resources When You Need Medical Help

When you're suffering a serious illness or medical crisis, money is tight enough.  When you or a loved one has to travel far away to get treatment, it's tougher.  Fortunately, there are lots of sources of help for long-distance travel.  However, there are some caveats: you generally have to be medically stable enough to travel, be somewhat able to move around (ambulatory), and be able to travel in an unpressurized airplane.  That's because many of the charity services use volunteer pilots with small planes.  This is not always true, but be prepared for the possibility, and ask if this will be the case when you contact one of the charities below. 

Air Charity Travel works to arrange free flights, when possible, within a 600 mile range, and low-cost flights for flights beyond that range.  You can request a flight from their website.

Patient Travel works to arrange free or low-cost travel in case of medical emergency and runs the national patient travel helpline (1-800-296-1217).  They will work with you to find appropriate travel options for those in need.

Wings of Mercy works to arrange free medical air travel for those in need.  Call 888-786-3729 for more information.

Air Care Alliance works to create free medical air travel for those whose trip is less than 500 miles by arranging with volunteer pilots.  Call 1-800-296-1217.

Especially for children with medical needs, there's American Airline's Miles for Kids, a program in which frequent fliers donate their miles to pay for medical transportation for needy children.  Call 1-800-882-8880.

Where to Get Vaccine Coverage if You're a Grownup

For children without insurance, the feds have programs to help fill the vaccination gap.  But what about grownups?  The new health care law helps some insured adults and children; health care plans will be required to cover several child and adult vaccinations.  And Medicare covers all or part of the cost of vaccinations for flu, pneumonia and hepatitis B for its over-65 recipients. 

The drug manufacturer Merck also has a program to provide certain vaccines to uninsured adults (19 or older) who live in the United States and have restricted incomes.  The vaccines include the one for HPV (a virus responsible for cervical cancer), pneumonia, hepatitis B, and others.  See this page for more information on how to apply.

Another Source of Financial Help for Chronic Diseases

We've covered lots of sources of financial help in health care, and specifically sources of help dealing with cancer.  Now there's another source of possible help for severe, chronic illnesses, including several types of cancer--The Chronic Disease Fund.  It's a non-profit that helps those who suffer from several specific diseases--each administered from a separate fund--deal with the sorts of crushing costs that may not be covered by insurance, other drug programs,  transportation to and from medical treatments if they are far away, among others.  The list of diseases they cover is listed here, but since each one comes from a different fund, they may not have funds to cover a new patient with a particular condition. Those diseases for which they are not accepting new patients have an asterisk next to them. To see if you qualify, see the application process.  Besides this, they have a service called Navidebt which works with their patients to deal with the medical debt that you have already incurred.

Free Counseling for Medicare Patients and Their Families

One of the things we found on the Needymeds site that we covered in the last post was this tasty tidbit: the feds provide funding to states to create counseling for people on Medicare and their families.  How do you find access to that counseling in your state?  You go to this map of all the state health insurance assistance (SHIP) programs for each of the states.  The assistance may vary:  it may include telephone counseling, or regular sites that schedule sessions. It may include speakers that can be recruited by  But if you are eligible for Medicare, you are eligible for this counseling.  You can learn about Part D (Medicare drug prescription), alternate health plans, and long-care insurance.  And you would be hearing it from a volunteer who has no interest in selling you a product--a rare opportunity in insurance.  For more information about Medicare, of course, you can see the Medicare web page.    To explore all your health care options and possible providers, you can try this interactive government website.  Input your information, like age, circumstances (like pre-existing conditions, or whether you have insurance right now), and where you live, and they can pop out a list of possible providers and their costs.

Sources of Scholarships for the Disabled and Discounts on MRI/CAT Scans, Courtesy of Needymeds

As a freebie hawk, I have long had a link from No Free Money to Needymeds, a site loaded with information on prescription assistance programs for the uninsured.  I always made sure the link was still alive, but didn't look at it too closely recently.  And what I was missing!

For one thing, they now have a link to scholarships for people diagnosed with various conditions  illnesses.  I was taken aback when they listed "acne," (no, there AREN'T scholarships for acne sufferers), but it does list over 200 scholarships for people with other conditions, like burn sufferers and those with mobility disabilities.  There are listings that end up with zilch hits, but altogether, it's a worthwhile place to look if you have a disability or diagnosis.  They also have a listing of financial aid for people with various diagnosis and conditions.  Both are worth looking into.

If you are in need of a CAT Scan or MRI, they also offer deep discounts for uninsured and underinsured people, or those with a high deductable --with savings of between 50% and 75%, with over 2,500 providers around the country.  For these great aids and more, see the left-hand side of the Needymeds page, and see what both of us have been missing.

 

Raising Money for Individuals Who are Transplant Patients or Have Catastrophic Injuries

We previously had an article on raising money for individuals in medical need.  Another source of help for patients who have two particular medical needs: either the need for organ transplants or a catastrophic injury involving the brain or spinal cord, is the nonprofit organization HelpHopeLive.

If you fall into either of these categories and are in financial need, HelpHopeLive will figure out your financial need, and work with you to come up with a fundraising campaign, with a free website.  The contributions will go to the organization, thus making them tax-deductible for the people and organizations that give, and qualify an employee's contribution to be matched by their employer, if they work for an employer who does this.  HelpHopeLive then gives out contributions to the patients on a weekly basis.  They may also give grants to patients if a fundraising campaign will not meet that patient's needs.    To apply, see their application page or call toll-free at  800.642.8399.  HelpHopeLive is a respected and highly ranked charity--entirely legit.

Finding a Place to Get a Free Skin Cancer Screening

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer: in 2009, more than 61,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with skin cancer.  There are outward indications and symptoms that you should look out for.  And there are opportunities to get skin cancer screenings free of charge.

Every year, the Skin Cancer Foundation sponsors a Road to Healthy Skin Tour across the United States.  Its 2013 schedule is not done yet, but here's the link that will feature stops across the country for free skin exams.  However, the American Academy of Dermatology already has events across the country for 2013 listed on its site.  Besides these, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery has a list of doctors who do skin exams on a voluntary basis year-rounds--there may be one near you.  And, of course, you can check for a public health clinic near you if none of these other options are available.

Ohio Prescription Discount Now for All Ohioans. And Other Ways to Get Prescription Drugs if You Aren't Insured

Ohio's Best Rx plan, a prescription discount plan once reserved for those 65 and over or the disabled, is not extended to everybody.  There are additional discounts for those making less than 300% of the poverty level.  This is NOT drug insurance, merely a discount, but if you are uninsured or underinsured, you can put in your zip code and the name of your medicine, and get a cost, and see if it's worth your while. 

For people with low to moderate incomes and no insurance, some pharmaceutical companies have their own programs that may make prescription drugs within reach.  Rx for Ohio works to make eligible Ohioans aware of programs for free or deeply discounted drugs, and give them the tools to make those contacts.  Just click on this page and start.  Input the name of your drug, answer 10 questions to determine your eligibility, and if you qualify for any program, they will link you to the applications that you can print out. 

If you're from anywhere else in the U.S., try the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.  It is a nationwide  program that makes people aware of prescription drug programs from manufacturers.  You can check out their webpage, or call 1-888-477-2669 for more information. 

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students in Health and Behavioral Research

When we think of federal scholarships, we think of the Department of Education.  And while a lot are there, some nuggets remain in other parts of the fed.  The Department of Health and Human Services is one of these.  A whole list of their goodies, including education loan forgiveness, loan programs and service repayment programs are here. 

But don't we all want scholarships, the kind you just get and don't have to repay?  Here's a couple; the first is a program for students in health, allied health, and veterinary programs, and it's for disadvantaged students.  What does that mean? According to HHS, it means:

"one who comes from an environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and abilities required to enroll in and graduate from a health professions school, or from a program providing education or training in an allied health profession; or comes from a family with an annual income below a level based on low income thresholds according to family size published by the U.S. Bureau of Census, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted by the Secretary, HHS, for use in health professions and nursing programs.”  In other words, poor people. 

The trick in finding this scholarship is that while the money comes from the federal government, you don't apply there.  Grants are given to accredited schools, and you apply for the money there.  So the trick is to find out if a school that you are attending, or want to attend, has this grant.  See the financial aid page of the school you are attending to see if they offer this. 

The second is a grant for undergrad students in biomedical,behavioral, and social science health-related research from disadvantagedbackgrounds, and you apply directly from the National Institute of Health.  It's a biggie (up to $20,000 a year in student expenses), but highly competitive (only 15 are given a year), and it's aimed at people who have a strong desire to do research.  The FAQ, including the definition of disadvantaged, is here.  And the form to certify your financial need is here. 

Free Medical Care in Northwest Ohio, via the National Guard

**This blog posting refers to a special event, but if you want access to health care in northwest Ohio, see this link to options in health care costs.**


Guardcare, a service of the Ohio National Guard, will be providing free medical checkups, including dental exams and screenings, blood tests, vaccinations,lead testing for children and pap smears, August 20th and 21st at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, 635 N. Erie.  It's for all Ohio residents regardless of income, without an appointment.  For more information, call 419-213-4113. 

How did this come about?  The National Guard has been authorized to do work in medically underserved areas as part of their military readiness program for their medical personnel.  In Ohio, this means that the Guard has chosen two underserved area each year in the state during the summer months to provide free medical service.  This year, it was Lucas County, and was done in partnership with local health officials and providers. 

Ohio is not the only state where the National Guard has done free work in underserved areas.  It's part of the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) that gives reserves real experience in health care by providing services to communities, mostly in engineering, medical and dental work.  Here's a sample of IRT projects that have been done around the country.  Besides these examples, state National Guards may have projects of their own. 

Yet Another Place to Find Low-Cost Medical Help..and Good News on the Contraception Front

Some health bits and pieces have come out early this week that might be of use.  One is my discovery of an online directory of privately run free clinics.  Just put in your address and town, and they will give a list of free clinics within a 10, 25, or 100 mile distance.  This is in addition to the online listing of public health care clinics that receive funding from the federal government.  The public one is a bit better, because it describes the clinic's services better, while the free clinic directory just has addresses, contact information and directions.  But both or either can help you out in a pinch.

Some excellent news from the feds: the Department of Health and Human Services has announced guidelines for preventative women's health care that insurance companies will be required to provide to their clients without copay.  They include: contraceptives (yay!), breastfeeding support, HIV testing and counseling, and more.  This does not take effect right away--it becomes the rule for plans that start on or after August 1, 2012.  Also, there is an interim rule that would allow religious employers to not cover contraception if it violated their religious beliefs. 

Don't Ask Any Old Guys About Financial Help for Medicine. Ask These Guys

Yesterday, I went to a library conference, and heard something that dismayed me.  Where do young people go on the internet to get questions answered?  I was horrified that they went to the library websites NEVER.  Instead, they went to places like ask.com, or similar sites which just throw the question open to whomever wanders by and answers it.  Which is like staggering into the biggest bar on earth, and asking all the barflies what to do.  From what the speaker at the conference said, if two of the barflies (oh, excuse me, RESPONDENTS) agreed on an answer, the young person figured that had to be the truth.  And since one in five Americans believe that the sun revolves around the earth--and not the other way around--that young person asking the question could end up hip deep in trouble and ignorance.

So, suppose you need help in finding financial assistance for a disease or a medical condition.  There is a more reliable place to find an answer, and it's the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthfinder.gov.  It has links to places to go for health careYou can go to the upper right hand corner of the page and type in your question, or you can go straight to popular requests.  It will almost always have something about money, and on this particular day, the most popular request was prescription assistance.  Under "financial assistance," a load of good stuff came out--like this information on insurance coverage for cancer patients. Or this sheet on information on financial help for amputees from the Amputee Coalition of America.  Often, the link goes to an organization outside the National Institute for Health to directly to private organizations that deal with a condition or disease, so it serves as a springboard for even more information and support.  And finally, this National Institute of Health all-purpose health financial aid site.

Two quick notes: when putting in your search on this page DON'T use the words grant or grants, since this will pull up grant opportunities for researchers.  Use "financial assistance." Also, don't be surprised if there is not anything for a particular condition, and you are directed to the general page for assistance for the disabled.  Sometimes no financial assistance has been found for people suffering from a particular condition, unless a group interested them as scraped up the money, or has lobbied Congress to create laws and funding to help.

Roundup of Some Financial Aid for Cancer Patients and Their Families

The following are some private organizations that offer financial aid for cancer victims and their families. Check out their websites for more information on qualifications.  As noted, some offer information about aid from other organizations.

• Breast Cancer Society Inc. (Mesa, AZ)—financial help for victims of breast cancer.
• The National Cancer Institute's searchable database of financial help.
• Melanoma Research Foundation has a page listing resources for melanoma patients, including financial assistance, travel and drug assistance.
• Sarcoma Alliance not only outlines the financial help they give to sarcoma patients with direct expenses, but lists other sources of financial aid for cancer patients.
• The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation provides links to information on cancer, but also information on aid for travel, lodging, and wish granting organizations for adults and children from several different organizations.
• Partners for a Cure Foundation offers grants to individuals with cancer who need financial help.
• Cancer Care offers financial help for cancer patients in need, including a program to help prostate cancer patients with co-payments for medical treatment.  Call 1-800-813-HOPE for more information.
• Cancer Fund of America sends personal care products to cancer patients free of charge, like bed pads, room supplies, nutrition drinks, etc.
• The Jeremy Foundation  offers financial help for families of child cancer victims that need financial help.
• One devastating aftereffect of cancer treatment may be infertility.  Verna’s Purse, a program of ReproTech, offers financial assistance in preserving eggs or sperm of cancer patients who fear that medical treatment might leave them unable to have a child after their treatment.