Health policy changes in Washington are expected to result in millions of Americans losing their Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage. Over the next decade, the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is expected to slash nearly $1 trillion in spending from Medicaid, the state-federal program for people with low incomes and disabilities. Additionally, 1.2 million fewer people have signed up for Obamacare plans compared with last year. According to a January poll from KFF, a health information nonprofit, two-thirds of the public say they are somewhat or very worried about affording health care, more than express the same worries about utilities, food, housing, or gas.
Experts recommend exhausting every available option for health coverage before going uninsured. Even a high-deductible plan can protect patients from medical bankruptcy, according to Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation. Doctors and health policy researchers say that any health coverage is the best protection against major medical debt.
Strategies for accessing affordable care
Patients should discuss costs with their doctors, as some hospitals and providers offer cheaper cash pay options with negotiable prices. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and community clinics offer routine and non-emergency care on a sliding scale for low-income residents and the uninsured, serving 52 million patients annually according to the National Association of Community Health Centers. Planned Parenthood also accepts uninsured patients for services including STI testing, birth control, and postpartum care.
Local health departments offer free vaccinations, family planning services, and testing for infections, as well as more advanced services like dental care and mental health programs. The CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides free or low-cost screenings to low-income women in all states and territories.
For prescription drugs, patients should shop around using comparison tools like GoodRx and WellRx. Walmart, Target, and Costco sell 90-day prescriptions of generic drugs for $10. Many drugmakers offer patient assistance programs, coupons, and rebates. States also offer drug assistance programs. Patients with specific diagnoses should check with disease-specific foundations and organizations like the American Cancer Society or Susan G. Komen for assistance offsetting costs.
Consumers should be cautious of plans that look like insurance but lack guaranteed protection against big bills. Red flags include too-good-to-be-true monthly payments, no coverage for preexisting conditions, morality clauses, or lack of coverage for mental health counseling required in ACA plans.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/uninsured-health-care-low-cost-discounts-options-advice-5-things/