Free Hospital Care a Little Known Option for Uninsured |
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Written by U.S. Insurance News
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Monday, 03 November 2003 |
According to a study done by Community Catalyst, many uninsured Americans who must undergo expensive hospital visits are alerted to the possibility of receiving free care.
BOSTON – According to a study done by Community Catalyst, many uninsured Americans who must undergo expensive hospital visits are alerted to the possibility of receiving free care.
"What we found was hospital billing offices unwilling or unable to articulate free care policies, even though many working people and families with no insurance, or inadequate insurance, need free care," Susan T. Sherry, Community Catalyst's Deputy Director, said. "Without it, the results can be delayed medical care, personal bankruptcy, even liens on houses."
Community Catalyst is a nonprofit organization dealing in the advocacy to provide high quality and affordable health care for all Americans. The organization works towards this goal by increasing consumer and community participations in decisions that affect the nation’s health care system.
This study involved interviews in nine markets across the country: Nassau and Suffolk counties in New York; Columbus, Ohio; Washington, DC; Chicago, Ill.; Marion and Polk counties in Oregon; Portland, Ore.; Champaign County in Illinois; Alexandria, Va; and Hartford, Conn. Community Catalyst partnered with a community-based organization in each of these locations.
Some of the key findings included: only in a very small amount of cases were written free care policies or application materials available, the majority of hospitals had no signs explaining the information, individuals who had limited English proficiency found it most difficult to get information, care for the uninsured was available at most of the hospitals but free care was not, and many people who thought they were receiving free care were eventually stuck with the hospital bills.
"In this economy, with job losses mounting, any of us could find ourselves needing hospital free care -- because when you're sick and don't have health coverage, the bills start piling up, for hospital care, the lab, your doctor, and prescription drugs. The results can be devastating, and very harmful," Sherry said.
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