How Can I Get Help To Pay For Health Care?

There are few in America that really know how to take advantage of the current health care system. Some of the best health care services are free or cost very little and are even available to millionaires but hardly anyone knows they exist.

Sam Donaldson had cancer surgery done under a free government program and he’s a millionaire. We’ve done an undercover survey asking if doctors knew about the free drug programs available for people making $40,000 or more and over 94% had no idea they were there. If doctors, who prescribe the medication, aren’t aware, it proves you have to take care of yourself in this land of the so-called “best health care in the world.”

There are thousands and thousands of free programs available for people of any income level. It’s well documented that there are 6 million families eligible for free health care for their kids that don’t apply. Four million seniors are eligible for an extra $1,000 to pay their health premiums, but don’t apply. Over 29 million are eligible for free exams and don’t take advantage of them. Here are some of the major programs you and your family can immediately take advantage of. If you are looking for thousands more like this, see our book, Free Health Care at http://www.lesko.com/health/ or 1-800-955-POWER.

Get Health Information Better Than Your Doctor…
… Want to find out the latest information on your health condition? All you need to do is pick up the phone or go online to get the most up-to-date information from the government’s team of health professionals. The latest cures and treatments to any condition are changing every day and it is impossible for people in the medical profession to keep up on the latest developments in any health-related area. There is plenty of free help available from government sponsored and non-profit organizations. They can even tell you what will be in the medical journals next year because they are involved in the research today. So, don’t settle for second best when you can get the best. Here is where you can go:

Self-Help Groups Teach You How To Beat The System…
… They are certainly cheaper than a doctor visit, because they’re free, and are probably a lot easier and friendlier. In addition to offering advice on treatment options, they can be a great source for learning the system and how to get the most from it. They can tell you about free services and even money programs that people in the system would never consider. Here are some sources for finding a self-help group near you. If you cannot find a relevant group below, contact a relevant group or association in the section above on how to get good health information. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Free Health Care When You Have No Insurance Coverage…
… Over 3,700 government supported healthcare centers around the country offer everything from mental health to dental services near you. Contact the Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Dept. HHS at http://www.ask.hrsa.gov/Primary.cfm or call 888-275-4772.

Another database of over 500 free clinics around the country is available from The Free Clinic Foundation of America, 1240 Third Street S.W, Roanoke, VA 24016, 540-344-8242, www.freeclinic.net.

$2,000 Worth Of Free Prescription Drugs…
Make over $40,000 and get everything except Viagra. Drug companies do not want everybody to know this, but they will give certain people who cannot afford their medications their drugs free of charge. Your doctor needs to write a note to the drug companies stating that you cannot afford the prescriptions. Your doctor will also need to fill out a form, and then the company will ship the medications to your doctor’s office. To receive a listing of drug companies, check out the website at www.phrma.org or contact Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, 1100 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20005; 800-PMA-INFO.

Non-Profits Will Pay For Health Expenses…
… There are thousands of non-profit organizations that provide help and even financial assistance to individuals and families who are suffering with most any illness or condition you can think of. You can get:

You will have to look at more than just one place to find this kind of help. You can look for relevant organizations by researching National Health Information Center, P.O. Box 1133, Washington, DC 20013, 800-336-4797, www.health.gov/nhic.

There is also a database of over 400 non-profit and government organizations that was set up to help families that have special needs when they are stuck with a health-related problem. It says it’s for kids, but many of the organizations help anyone in need. There are groups that will give out grants like $400 to pay rent, $500 to pay for child care, $800 to spend on camp, or $750 to buy health products. Go to www.bravekids.org and take a look.

$50,000 Worth Of Free Mammograms/Breast, Cervical Cancer Tests And Treatments…
… An estimated 2 million American women will be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer this decade and screening could prevent up to 30% of these deaths for women over 40. The government’s Centers for Disease Control will spend about $145 million a year to maintain a state-by-state program to establish greater access to screening and follow-up services. Each state runs their program a little differently. Contact your county office of public health or your state Department of Health. You can also contact the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS K-64, Atlanta, GA 30341; 770-488-4751; 888-842-6355; www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/contacts.htm, the American Center Society at 800-ACS-2345; YMCA’s Encore Plus Program at 800-95-EPLUS or the National Cancer Institute at 800-4-CANCER; www.nci.nih.gov.

$30,000 Worth Of Free Hospital Care…
… Don’t have money for your gall bladder surgery? What about that hospital visit you had two months ago? You might not have to pay a cent. Call the Hill-Burton Hotline. Under this program, certain hospitals and other health care facilities provide free or low-cost medical care to patients who cannot afford to pay. You may qualify even if your income is up to double the Poverty Income Guidelines. For more information, contact Hill-Burton Hotline, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11-19, Rockville, MD 20857; 800-638-0742; 800-492-0359 (in MD); www.hrsa.gov.

$10,000 To Care For Grandma And Grandpa…
… Does your mom need Meals on Wheels? Is she having trouble paying her bills? Need a new roof on the house? Need extra spending money? Grandma needs free legal help to divorce grandpa? Want to know what programs exist for seniors? All these questions and more can be found by contacting the Eldercare Hotline at 800-677-1116. They can hook up seniors with all the resources available to them, and all it takes is a phone call. For more info contact the Administration on Aging, Washington, DC 20201; 202 619-0724; www.eldercare.gov.

Emergency Rooms Have To Take You…
… Emergency rooms are now required to provide an initial screening to assess a patient’s condition, which is designed to stop the automatic transfer of people unable to pay. Emergency rooms must also treat emergency situations until they are stabilized, then they can refer you to other hospitals or clinics for further treatment. If you feel you have been denied service, contact Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21244; 410-786-3000; www.cms.hhs.gov.

Free Care By The Best Doctors In The World…
… Bob Dole and Sam Donaldson knew where to go to get treatment - The National Institutes of Health (NIH). Each year, close to 75,000 patients receive free medical care by some of the best doctors in the world. To see if your diagnosis is currently being studied, you can contact the Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Patient Recruitment, 6100 Executive Blvd., Suite 3C01, MSC 754, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-496-2563; 800-411-1222; www.cc.nih.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of Communications, Building 1, Room 344, 1 Center Dr., MCS 0188, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-496-4000; www.nih.gov; or to search a database of research programs, contact CRISP, Office of Reports and Analysis, Office of Extramural Research, 6700 Rockledge Dr., Room 3210, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-435-0656; http://crisp.cit.nih.gov.

$5,000 Worth Of Free Health Care For Kids…
… Make up to $38,657 and get free health care for your kids. Almost every state now has a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPS), which extends medical coverage to many children who may not be covered. Contact your state Department of Health to see what version of the CHIPS program is offered in your area; or call a new government hotline to help locate free health care for kids at 877-KIDS-NOW (toll-free 877-543-7669); www.insurekidsnow.gov.

Get And Extra $1,000 For Mom, Dad Or Grandparents…
… Even if you’re not a senior check into this for your mom, dad or grandparents or anyone else because each year over 3 million eligible seniors and people with disabilities fail to apply for a little-known program that will give them over $1,000 extra in their Social Security check. That’s how much the government deducts for Medicare Part B payments. The program is called Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries Plan, or Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Plan. To learn more contact your local Social Security Office at 800-772-1213. You can also contact the Medicare Hotline and request the publication Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare; contact Medicare Hotline at 800-MEDICARE or online at www.medicare.gov.

See If You Qualify For Your State Health Care Programs…
… Every state has a number of health care programs that are paid for by federal and state government funding. Most of the programs have income requirements, but the maximum income can go up to $40,000 or more for a family. Every state has a number of programs to protect people in financial trouble. There are programs to help pay for food, help pay for day care, and help pay for medical. For more information see http://www.cbpp.org/1-14-04tanf.htm.

Free Help To Fight The Health Care System…
… You can call government offices and advocacy groups that will do your fighting for you or give you the needed weapons to do your own fighting. Before you call a lawyer, call these free offices: Your state Insurance Commissioner will help you learn your legal rights regarding insurance. Your state Medical Board will review your complaint and help resolve disputes. Your state HMO Board will also resolve disputes. You can also contact the Patient Advocate Foundation, 700 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Suite 200, Newport News, VA 23606; 800-532-5274; www.patientadvocate.org, or the Health Insurance Partnership program at Families USA http://www.healthassistancepartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=
Program_Locator&JServSessionIdr004=h23z93ghj1.app8b.

$2,000 To Pay Your Dental Bills…
… There are close to 60 dental schools in the country that offer quality care at a fraction of the cost of private dentists. I used them for years. An $800 crown can cost you only $200. Sure you get a senior student, but you also get a professor who is better then most private practitioners. Most also offer payment plans. For a school near you go to: http://www.datreview.com/dentalschools.htm?source=overture.

Free Dental Care For Kids…
… Many dentists will provide free dental care. According to an American Dental Association survey, “75% of its members provide charitable care.” You can find info on free kids dental services offered in your state at www.prnewswire.com/mnr/ada/10357. Just click on your state and see. Or contact the American Dental Association, 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-2678; 312-440-2500.

$20,000 Worth Of Free Alcohol And Drug Treatment…
… The state of Georgia provides outpatient counseling services, short-term residential programs, and even school student assistance programs. There are also non-profit organizations that offer free treatment to people, like the Center for Drug-Free Living in Orlando, Florida. A friend of mine received one- and two-week resident treatments for free in Maryland. So if you need help, keep looking for local free stuff or contact National Drug and Treatment Routing Service, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 600 Executive Blvd., Willco Bldg., Bethesda, MD 20892; 800-662-HELP; www.niaaa.nih.gov; or National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, 11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852; 800-729-6686; www.health.org.

Free Preventive Health Services For Seniors…
… A report from the U.S. Congress estimates that over 29 million seniors don't take advantage of free preventive health services like flu shots, tetanus shots, pap smear, mammography, vaginal cancer screenings, colorectal cancer screening/colonoscopy, osteoporosis - bone mass measurement, prostate cancer test, and glaucoma test. They are all covered under the Medicare laws, but most doctors are not aware of this. Tell you senior friends to check it out at: www.medicare.gov or 800-633-4227.

Ask Lesko…
This week’s question was submitted by Gerri:

I would like to know if there's a certain age limit to get money. If you are 65 can you still get grants?

Answer: There better not be a law against old people getting government grants because I’m 61 and I still want my grants! It is actually against the law to discriminate because of age. So if there is a government grant offered for anything, like starting a business or going to school, they cannot discriminate because of your age. If they do, you call your state government capitol operator at 411 in your state capitol and they will investigate for free and even sue the people for you. But contrary to this, there are a lot of grant programs only for seniors, like getting a $7,000 grant to fix up your home or getting an extra $1,000 to pay for your health premiums. It sounds like they discriminate because they are only for seniors, but that really isn’t the case. I’ll never completely understand WHY the government does things. I just try to show people what is really going on so they can take advantage of the reality that exists.

Send your grant questions to Dixiestjohn@earthlink.net. If your question is included in our newsletter, you’ll receive a free copy of my bestseller, “Gobs and Gobs of Free Stuff”.

See Me Live In Baltimore on January 29th….
… and get your grant questions answered in person! Learn the facts about how to apply for and get a grant. Reserve your seat at www.howtogetagrant.com/grseminar1/.

Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving…
… The Gift of a Debt-Free New Year! For a limited time, you can send your friend or relative (or even yourself!) an autographed copy of the bestselling, Free Money to Pay Your Bills, personally autographed by Matthew Lesko with your custom greeting. Order today for the holidays by going to www.howtogetagrant.com/giftbills1/.