Handling the Cost of Physician Services If You Do Not Have Insurance

If you do not have insurance that covers physician services, you should be thinking of how to get the services for free or at a reduced rate.
Sources of Free Care
There are various establishments that provide free physician services. These include schools, job sites, medical university centers, and community centers.
Many schools have health centers where any member of that establishment can go in and get a checkup for free. While some of these centers do not provide very comprehensive care, they provide decent enough care that might be sufficient for the needs of the individual.
A lot of employers also have health centers at their job sites. Some employers who do not provide health insurance for their workers do provide a facility for employees to get routine care and immunizations. These centers can handle some of the basic healthcare needs and follow-up care.
While medical university centers do not routinely provide free services, they are involved in medical studies and are always looking for volunteers. As part of getting involved in a study, you will be given a thorough physical exam and workup, for free. It is important to note, however, that this is not recommended as a way to get routine care, since this method provides no continuity of care—when the study is over, you have to move on or find another study. Also, medical studies, while a necessary part of medicine, carry risks. Be sure you thoroughly understand what you are getting into and are fully informed of the risks involved.
Community centers and churches often hold health fairs where physicians perform various services for free to the community. Again,while this might be a good short-term solution especially for those who have not been to a doctor in a while and might be worried about a condition but do not know where to start, it is still necessary to establish a long-term relationship with a physician or health center.
Physician Services at Reduced Fees
In trying to save on the cost of physician services, it is always good to remember that specialists charge more than generalists, so the more specialized the physician, the greater the chance of the fees being on the high side. To any extent possible, stay with PCPs, especially general and family physicians, because they cost less than internists. So first call around and inquire about their rates. Also inquire about payment plans. If you are afraid that the doctor might not agree to a plan ahead of time, visit the doctor and get the help you need. After that, tell him or her you can’t pay but would like to arrange for a payment plan. As long as you stick to the plan, you are not going to be sent to a credit collector. However, do this only when you are really desperate and need to see a doctor.
It is important to be able to communicate openly and trustingly with your physician, and this includes talking to him or her about the cost of any medical intervention. For those who are embarrassed to talkto their doctor about the cost of treatment, it may be comforting to know that the American Medical Association states the following in its Fundamental Elements of the Patient-Physician Relationship:
The patient has the right to receive information from physicians and to discuss the benefits, risks, and costs of appropriate treatment alternatives. Patients should receive guidance from their physicians as to the optimal course of action. Patients are also entitled to obtain copies or summaries of their medical records, to have their questions answered, to be advised of potential conflicts of interest that their physicians might have, and to receive independent professional opinions.