Assistance programs help low-income individuals find access to medical care.
Low-income adults do not have to worry about getting sick, nor do they need to neglect their medical needs, as there are programs available that provide free health care services. These programs help fill a gap where an underserved population may not get the care and medical attention they need.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a program that provides health insurance to individuals and families with low incomes. Medicaid is managed by each state individually, but receives funding through the federal government and resources within each state. Some states call the Medicare program by different names -- for example, MassHealth in Massachusetts, the Oregon Health Plan in Oregon and Medi-Cal in California are all Medicaid programs. To be eligible for Medicaid, individuals must meet the income guidelines and have a limited amount of resources.
Medicare
Medicare is a social insurance health care program that provides coverage for individuals who are 65 years old or older. Those who are under the age of 65 and are disabled, or individuals who have permanent kidney failure, may also qualify for Medicare. While there is a premium for Medicare Parts B, C and D, Medicare Part A does not charge participants a premium if they paid Medicare taxes. Medicare Part A helps cover hospice care services, home health services and inpatient care at a hospital, skilled nursing facility or religious non-medical health care facility.
Community Health Clinics
Many counties and major cities in the United States have health clinics that are fee-based on a sliding scale, where fees are determined by an individual's or household's income. Consequently, qualifying low-income individuals who are uninsured may receive health care services free of charge or for a greatly reduced fee. Clinics that use sliding-scale fees include rural health clinics, safety net clinics and private clinics that provide preventative services and screenings.
Prescription Assistance Programs
Pharmaceutical companies and nonprofit agencies offer prescription assistance programs to individuals who meet the income guidelines and do not have prescription drug coverage. To participate in a prescription assistance program, an individual must give the program proof of income. The program will request that the individual's doctor submit a form that states he prescribed the medication to the individual requesting assistance.
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