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Are You Uninsured?
Resources for the Uninsured SCI/D Person
The lack of health insurance has become a serious concern
within the U.S. An analysis of the 2000 census reports revealed that 81%
or 13 million Americans have incomes too high to qualify for State Medicaid.
Studies reveal that the uninsured person accesses health care less frequently,
has more untreated medical problems, are less likely to receive preventive
care and more likely to be hospitalized for preventable medical conditions.
1
Avoid secondary complications – Seek medical care
Access to appropriate health care is very important for the
person with SCI. The aboveidentified problems can be direct contributors
to intensifying the risk for secondary complications that are consistent
with SCI. It will be particularly important that you become an advocate
for yourself in a persistent effort to obtain the medical care that is vital
to preserving the integrity of your paralyzed body and achieving a good
quality of health.
There are charitable and patient assistance programs for which
you may be eligible. Several of the prescription assistance programs include
pharmaceutical companies that produce some of the medications commonly used
for SCI persons. Each pharmaceutical company has its own application form
that must be obtained, filled out and submitted by your physician. To be
considered for all assistance programs, you should be prepared to:
- Show proof of no insurance coverage
- Show proof of no prescription coverage
- Provide detailed financial information
- Demonstrate being under the care of a licensed physician
The following resources may provide assistance:
- Community Free Clinics: Volunteers
in Health Care (Toll-free 1-877-844-8442) for
list of network of clinics or call your local Department of Health and Social
Services to locate a free clinic in your community
- Charity Doctors: Call local Department of Health and Social Services or
County Medical Society for a list of names
- Community Health Centers: County or
city health departments: State or local listing in telephone directory;
may offer subsidized or free programs for residents of a particular geographic
area
- Easter Seals :
Ph: 1-800-221-6827 to locate your
state office
- Prescription Assistance Programs:
- Catholic Charities:
local listing in telephone directory
- Shriners Hospitals for Children:
Ph: 1-800-237-5055
* Contact any Shrine Club
- University Medical Centers:
State or local listing in telephone directory;
inquire about research protocols, ‘sliding fee’ programs
- Rural Information Center Health Service (RICHS):
E-mail: ric@nal.usda.gov Ph: 1-800-633-7701 – has database of information,
including funding resources and other needs for special populations
- Vocational Rehabilitation:
Phone Numbers for State Vocational Rehab
Services listed at or go to
State Government listing (Blue pages) in telephone directory – If your long
range goals include returning to gainful employment, this can be an entry-way
to resources for health care
1 Fact Sheet re: Uninsured. Families. USA, May 2001
1 Millions of Low Income Left Uninsured. Health Care Safety Net, July 19, 2001 |
Insurance
Guide
