Cover The Uninsured

The Situation

Forty-six million Americans are uninsured. Nine million of them are children. More than eight out of 10 are in working families. They are our friends, neighbors and colleagues--forced to gamble every day that they won't get sick or injured.

Living without health insurance is a risk no one should have to take.
The Response

Cover the Uninsured, a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and demand solutions from our nation's leaders.

We know that reaching the goal of affordable and stable health care will require changes in public policy. Through Cover the Uninsured, we are working to build and sustain broad-based support for change.

This includes raising awareness and building support among policy-makers, health care professionals, grassroots advocates, faith leaders, the business community and active citizens through Cover the Uninsured Week and reaching out to enroll eligible uninsured families in public health coverage programs during the annual Back-to-School Campaign.

And our work is making a difference.

Thanks in large part to thousands of individuals and organizations working in their communities, concern about access to affordable health coverage is high among American voters. Broad-based coalitions from across the country and our nation's governors have joined together in the fight. In February 2009, President Obama and Congress reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to cover more than 4 million more children.

The time for change is now.

2009 is the year to build upon this momentum to increase awareness about the issue, amplify diverse voices on behalf of the uninsured, and demand solutions from our nation's leaders.

UPDATE:

IMPORTANT UPDATE: As part of the economic stimulus package, if you were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, and your annual income does not exceed $125,000 for an individual or $250,000 for a family, you may qualify for subsidies to cover 65 percent of the cost of health insurance premiums under COBRA for as long as nine months.

Walgreens Offers Free Care

If you've lost your job this year, then Walgreens is doing something to make the hard times, a tad more bearable. They are offering free health care for those who are unemployed and uninsured until the end of 2009. You'll receive free treatments at their in-store take care centers located 35 market cities around the country. Walgreens runs 341 of these in-store clinics.

While it doesn't provide services that are considered routine such as vaccinations, check-ups and injections, they do focus on urgent care needs and treatments. Spouses and children are also available for free care but you must present proof of unemployment. Free services will only be offered from 11am to 3pm Monday through Friday.

Please contact your local Walgreens to find out more information and specific instructions on where and how you can get treated.

God Bless

HRSA

Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers provide

1. checkups when you're well
2. treatment when you're sick
3. complete care when you're pregnant
4. immunizations and checkups for your children
5. dental care and prescription drugs for your family
6. mental health and substance abuse care if you need it

Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas. Type in your address and click the 'Find Health Centers' button to find health centers near you.

Please contact the health center to schedule an appointment or find out if the health center may provide services even closer to you.