If you can’t afford a health plan and don’t qualify for coverage, you can still get low-cost health care at a nearby community health center. How much you’ll be asked to pay depends entirely on your income. The health services provided by community health centers include child vaccinations, parental care, general primary care, and referrals for specialized care.
2. Free Blood Pressure Screenings
Based on American Heart Association estimates, nearly 50% of Americans suffer from high blood pressure. Thankfully, you can get blood pressure screenings for free at many pharmacies across the country – and we’re not talking about those free-standing machines where you do it yourself and hope for the best. You’ll be screen by somebody who is qualified to read your blood pressure and explain the results.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 76,665 people were diagnosed with some type of melanoma in 2014. Since early detection saves lives, the American Academy of Dermatology offers free skin cancer screenings at locations around the country as part of its “SPOTme” program.
4. Free Dental Care
If money is keeping you from cleanings and care, check out the free and low-cost dental care treatments available in every state. The programs include cleanings, checkups, caps, braces, dentures, fluoride treatments, extractions, and dental implants.
While there is some debate about the effectiveness of mammograms, they can help to decrease breast cancer-related deaths in women aged 40-74, and especially over those over the age of 50. The National Breast Cancer Foundation partners with medical facilities across the country to provide free mammograms and follow-up treatments to those in need.
6. Free Pap Tests
Cervical cancer, like all cancers, is deadly, but only half as many are dying from it nowadays. This reduction coincides with widespread cervical cancer screening, which can help identify pre-cancerous cells before they have a chance to become cancer. The CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast and cervical cancer screenings to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women across America.
As with many ailments, early detection can be critical to successful HIV treatment. The American Healthcare Foundation offers free walk-in HIV testing at many clinics across the US.
8. Free Advice on Medication
Your pharmacist can provide you with insight about whatever prescription drugs you may be taking, including potential interactions with other prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications as well.
Prescription drugs can cost a small fortune, but some stores, including Publix, offer free generic versions of certain prescription drugs, including antibiotics, high blood pressure medication, allergy medication, and diabetes medication. Make sure to ask your pharmacist if a drug you’re taking is available for free.
10. Free Nutritional Counseling
Medicare and most insurance plans have waived all patient responsibility – no copay/no deductibles for nutrition counseling. Are you making good use of these free services? Medicare estimates that less than one percent of all Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible are taking advantage of them.
Source: rd
Images: depositphotos
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