Where do people without health insurance get tested for diabetes?

7 comments

1. Nemesis on September 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

   A fasting blood sugar is not necessarily sufficient to diagnose diabetes, though it is true that someone starting with that test is being reasonable as it could reveal a clear-cut problem.
   IF someone actually has diabetes, which is a serious disease be it Type I or Type II, he really needs a proper diagnosis.
   Check this out:
   "Health Centers provide health and dental care to people of all ages, whether or not they have health insurance or the money to pay for health care.
   Find the Health Center closest to you

   Hill-Burton Free & Reduced Cost Care at hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities are required to provide a specific amount of free or below cost health care to people unable to pay. Eligibility is based on the size of your family and your income. You apply for Hill-Burton care at the facility where you were or will be treated.
   More about Hill-Burton and find facilities in your State"
   http://www.hrsa.gov/help/default.htm

   Also look for walk-in clinics or "low cost" ones associated with SOME Walmarts, drug stores, grocery stores, med schools, nursing programs, or county hospitals. Appropriate examination and testing should NOT be that much via a clinic.

   IF someone has a very good primary care doc, try calling his office to find out if the patient pays in full at the time of visit what the charge will be–typically doctors can reduce the charge by 30-50% of what what they normally charge because they don’t have to waste time and money playing with idiotic insurers.

   You may also live someplace where SimpleCare http://simplecare.com/ is offered. There are some docs not part of that who also won’t take insurance.

   You may also be able to get some diabetic screening through a lab that will visit through a grocery store or such and offer reduced testing of a wide variety of things WITHOUT a doctor’s order and for a greatly reduced amount–but you pay CASH on the spot.

   If none of this seems to work for where you are–ask a pharmacist what he knows of locally or a fire fighter. In the US, the bulk of fire fighters’ time is spent on MEDICAL–most places seem to require them to be EMTs at the least and they know useful things as well. Just don’t do it via 911.

   Those with diabetes find it very hard to find insurance. If they’re successful, premiums are MUCH higher.

   Just a thought if you want to consider a way to reform the system so docs, not insurers, are in control again:
   http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.html

   Good luck helping your friend.

2. cyndi on September 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

   At my local hospital they have little seminars for its residents.They give free tests and minimal fee testing for different things every month.
   Major hospitals also has a sliding scale fee for their clinics.
   Make sure you go soon,as diabetes is a serious problem.
   Hope this helps

3. Tim W on September 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

   Go to the county hospital, tell them you have no money or insurance. Often they have a program where you pay what you can afford, for people in that situation.

4. Pearl on September 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

   If I had a friend with a blood sugar machine I’d get them to test me. It only takes 2 seconds.

5. Antonio R on September 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

   the only think and the list expensive is to buy the miter in
   the pharmacy cont er and they even show how to use.

6. Diane Y on September 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

   Go to a county hospital clinic and they will be able to help you, they do a finanical on you and you pay what you can afford and if you have diabetes, they will set you up for test strips, meters and medication. Win Win Situation….good luck

7. schwartzbarney on September 2, 2010 at 2:42 am

   Check with your local health clinic.

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