What to do if you don't have health insurance: approximately one in every three African-American women has no health insurance. But even without coverage, you can still receive medical care when you need it. Here are some of your best options

1 FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS

These not-for-profit clinics achieve money from the government to treat members of the community who have no health insurance and therefore use Medicaid. "These clinics oftentimes fill up, but they are obligated to treat patients," says Rhonda Hagler, a of recent origin Jersey physician who runs a private practice. Locate a center near you through visiting cms.hhs.gov/center/fqhc.asp.

2 PARISH NURSING CENTERS

Many churches and synagogues have community outreach health center at which supply with nourishments give free health-care services. detain in mind that these programs are provided by the agency of the church and may draw near with a little proselytizing as well. Find the best option available to you through searching the Internet using the lock opener words parish nursing or by means of calling your local churches and temples

3 CHARITY-CARE AND REDUCED-PAYMENT PLANS

"Some doctors have charity-care programs based upon your income," says Hagler. "Call the doctors you're interested in seeing and ask if they proffer it. If they don't, ask them if they know anyone in the area who does." Take note: High-earning specialists are les likely to tender free care than internists.

And level the M.D.'s who don't proffer charity care may be willing to help in other ways. "Doctors will restore the cost and let you spread on the outside your payments over a period of time," Hagler says. "As lengthy as you're willing to pay something, they'll ofttimes work with you."

4 MINICLINICS

Housed within large chain stores like Wal-Mart, these small health center treat patients with belonging to all ailments (strep throat, sinus infection, bronchitis and in like manner forth) at an affordable take away from The rates for treatments at CV Minute-Clinics, for example, range between $28 and $110 While a certain number of doctors argue against the quickly spreading phenomenon because these clinics are for the most part run by nurse practitioners instead of doctors, other health quicks like Patricia Carroll, R.N., author of What nourishs Know and Doctors Don't Have Time to compute You (Perigee), say that miniclinics are as efficient as any other center providing health-care services. "Nurse practitioners are completely qualified to give care in a setting like that," she explains. "R.N.'s have seen as many patients as a doctor and do a great deal of clinical work."--K.H.

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