Most families simply forgo a trip to the doctor and hope the ailment goes away. However, there is help. You can get your health care for a lot less than you think you can and in some cases completely free.

Before I share the resources that can help, check your monthly budget and find out if you can afford at least catastrophic health insurance. If you cannot, do not despair.

Here are a few resources that you can contact to find out how to receive free check-ups and health care.

• Free vision and eye health exams and glasses. Apply through Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Lion’s Club or United Way.
• HRSA (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health and Resources Services Administration. HRSA supported health care centers let you pay only what you can afford and it is based on your income, even if you do not have health insurance.  Go to their website to find a clinic near you. http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/
• The American Foundation for Vision Awareness (AFVA) http://www.opt.indiana.edu/students/org/afva.htm
• California Children’s Services

Children’s Medical Services Branch Office MS 8100
Phone 916-327-1400   Fax 916-327-1106  
Genetically Handicapped Persons Program MS 8105
Phone 800-639-0597   Fax  916-327-1112  
Newborn Hearing Screening Program MS 8103
Phone 877-388-5301   Fax 916-323-8104      Email nhsp3@dhs.ca.gov This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• California Optometric Association
• Central American Medical Outreach http://www.camo.org/ Phone 504-662-2118 or 504-662-3570 Email camohon@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
•  Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Phone 800-994-6610  Fax 630-792-5636

The following agencies you will need to type their names in Google as there are hundreds around the country and no one office is centralized.

• Pregnancy Resource Center Free Health Clinic
• County Health Services Agency
• Venereal Disease Clinic
• AIDS Program
• Blood Pressure Clinic

 The American Cancer Society Phone: 800-ACS-2345 or 866-228-4327 for TTY

• The American Heart Association Phone:  800-AHA-USA-1 or 800-242-8721
• The American Lung Association Phone: 212-315-8700

Side bar:  If bill collectors from overdue medical bills that you cannot afford are harassing you, there is a way to help either lower the bill, or in a very urgent and final effort, stop the harassing calls permanently. 

The first thing to do is call up the medical provider and ask them for a discount. Work out a deal where you agree to pay so much per month ($10 – $25) in exchange for a lowered bill. Medical offices do not want many defaults on their hands.

It costs their company a lot of money in administration fees as well as collection agency fees. Most will lower your bill by 25% – 75%. I used to work in medical billing and I know from personal experience.

If that does not work and you are already in collections, write the collection agency and tell them very firmly that they may not contact you ever again and you do not want to hear from them ever again via certified mail with signature return on it.

They will not bother you anymore after that. I have that on good authority directly from an attorney I spoke with today for this article. However, that will result in problems with your credit rating, so try to get the bill lowered and work out a payment plan.