问帖: 在美国如果没有医疗保险,得了大病(如癌症)怎么办?
答: 首先得问一下,是你的雇主没有提供医保计划给雇员还是你无法负担?
如果以前你没买医疗保险,你现在可能还来得及.问问雇主的人事部(HR)人员何时为公司的open enrollment period.来得及的话,抓紧时间参加一个计划.具体的指导参见:
- Private health plans
- Types of health plans
- Other things to know about health insurance
- How to manage your health insurance
如果你负担不起医疗保险,你可以做:
1.查电话号码(in the government pages of your phone book or on the Internet),打电话到当地的社会服务部门(local Social Services Department).你可能有资格申请到Medicaid或其它的为低收入者提供的医疗计划(other programs for low-income).
2.打电话到当地的公共卫生部门(local Public Health Department),那里的社工人员(social worker)会帮你找找当地的health care programs---ask what public health services are offered in your community.他们会提供你居住区各医院可能有的免费或低收费计划,如:" free clinics","charity care" or "indigent care" programs.如果他们不是非常清楚各医院的具体计划,请别放弃,直接打电话到医院问,ask to speak with a social worker. Hospital social workers are usually the most knowledgeable about sources of support in your community.
3.如果你附近有医学院的教学医院---teaching hospital(相当于国内的医学院附属医院),那里有不少free-treatment programs,可以直接打电话到医院询问.
4.某些医院接收联邦政府拨发的Hill-Burton funds的资助.这些医院必须给无法支付医疗费用的患者(特别是癌症患者)提供一些免费的服务.Approximately 300 hospitals take part in this program. Call (800) 638-0742 or visit their Web site, www.hrsa.gov/hillburton, for a listing of Hill-Burton-obligated facilities, eligibility criteria, and frequently asked questions about the program.
5.如果你得了乳癌或宫颈癌(breast or cervical cancer),在"the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act of 2000"法规下,你可能享有更多的帮助.For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/index.htm or call (888) 842-6355 或者contacting the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). They have information about how to get free mammograms, Pap smears, and treatment.
以下两个网页也有很多详细的信息:
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the American Cancer Society.
从American Cancer Society 我摘出一些有用的链接:
Government-funded health plans
Financial issues: Getting help with living expenses
6.参加一个低收入的处方药计划: 问问你的医生,他们知道一些便宜的处方药计划,some drugstores and discount stores now offer certain generic drugs at very low prices. Most of the time, these do not include cancer drugs -- although some offer tamoxifen in their programs. Even people with insurance may be able to lower their co-payments and save money by getting some of their medicines at very low cost (often $4 to $10 for each refill).
其它的帮助,See the section "Financial issues: Getting help with living expenses" for ideas on help with non-medical expenses.
注:以上链接的信息来自: Health Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Cancer Patient
