Free medical care for the unemployed/uninsured
Posted
Apr 10 2009, 12:39 PM
by
Joan Melcher
Rating:
Free medical care in the good ole U.S.A.? Could it be that Congress finally passed a national health care bill?
Don’t get too excited. It's Walgreens that's offering free medical care for unemployed, uninsured workers through its recently unveiled Take Care Recovery Plan.
Under the plan, people who are laid off and don’t have insurance, and their uninsured family members, can receive free treatment during 2009 for minor ailments at Take Care clinics in 342 locations across the country.
But there is a catch or two.
Michelle Andrews reports at U.S. News & World Report that to be eligible, an unemployed worker or a member of his or her immediate family had to have visited a Take Care clinic prior to the job loss.
Here are some other stipulations for getting free care:
- You must be 19 or older.
- You must have lost your job on or after March 31, 2009.
- You must be able to verify you are receiving or will receive unemployment benefits within 21 days of the date you apply for care.
- You cannot have health care coverage of any type.
Immediate family members also are eligible if they are not covered under any health care plan.
The program covers a range of ailments that in-store clinics often treat, such as ear and sinus infections, cuts and burns, and cold and flu ailments. (Fees for these services normally start at $59.) Services not covered include physicals, wellness exams and vaccinations.
Andrews did not miss the clear enticement this program offers to workers worried about job loss. “This is corporate do-goodism with an eye firmly on the bottom line. If you think you may be laid off anytime soon -- and who doesn't, these days? -- this is a none-too-subtle push to get you to visit a Take Care clinic for that tetanus booster or wart evaluation you've been putting off.”
Jaan-Matti’s, who lives in Europe, left a comment that put things in another perspective: “How is it possible that you have to pay for medical care in the first place? … You’re unemployed and you don’t have insurance. Bye. How wrong is that?”
David Brook responded, noting that it “may not be completely accurate that people in Europe pay nothing for their health care.”
Rich S. wrote about his unemployment: “This does nothing for those of us laid off prior to their start date. When I was laid off I received a cheery letter from my insurance company telling me that for just under $1,000 per month I could continue coverage. That was only about 75% of my monthly unemployment.”
Rich may want to look into the recently passed stimulus bill. Under one of the bill's provisions, the unemployed will get help in paying health insurance. The government will now pick up 65% of the total cost of COBRA premiums for the first nine months of unemployment.
Related reading:
Your 5-minute guide to health insurance
A survival guide for the uninsured
How to buy your own health coverage
How the stimulus bill affects you
