Health care is a grave concern for most American’s today. With the rising costs of everyday living, most American’s are not able to buy health insurance or at the very least, under-insured. How can we cope with the rising costs of health care?

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.

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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.

1. Free vision and eye health exams and glasses. Apply through Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Lion’s Club or United Way.
2. HRSA
3. California Children’s Services
   Children’s Medical Services Branch Office MS 8100
   Phone 916–327-1400Fax 916–327-1106
   Genetically Handicapped Persons Program MS 8105
   Phone 800–639-0597Fax 916–327-1112
   Newborn Hearing Screening Program MS 8103
   Phone 877–388-5301Fax 916–323-8104 Email nhsp3@dhs.ca.gov
4. California Optometric Association
5. Central American Medical Outreach Phone 504–662-2118 or 504–662-3570 Email camohon@yahoo.com
6. 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

1. The American Cancer Society Phone: 800-ACS-2345 or 866–228-4327 for TTY
2. The American Heart Association Phone: 800-AHA-USA-1 or 800–242-8721
3. 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.

Jaci Rae is known as The Queen of More Green. For more advice and money saving tips, please go too: The Queen of Green or Shop For A Day where you will also find free gifts from Procter and Gamble.