{"id":11529,"date":"2020-05-20T14:18:47","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T18:18:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=11529"},"modified":"2020-07-02T13:28:49","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T17:28:49","slug":"no-health-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/no-health-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"No health insurance? Try these 2020 resources"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2018, <\/span>9%<\/span><\/a> of Americans were uninsured. Two years and a pandemic later, millions of unemployment claims are flooding the Department of Labor\u2019s desk. Since nearly half of Americans had an employer-sponsored health plan, we can expect the number of uninsured patients to rise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although some states still enforce it, there\u2019s no longer a tax penalty by the federal government for not having health insurance. But the risk of no health insurance is far greater than financial woes. It puts your health at risk, too. In 2019, <\/span>1 in 3 families<\/span><\/a> in the United States skipped medical care because of cost. Treatment and medication adherence are essential in treating an illness before it becomes a chronic disease, which is the <\/span>leading cause of death and disability<\/span><\/a> in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what do you do if you have no health insurance? First, you should consider <\/span>short-term health coverage options<\/span><\/a> and low-income programs like Medicaid or the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). However, it\u2019s still possible to get health care and medication at a discounted rate without health insurance. Here are the resources to get the help you need.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What to do when you\u2019ve lost health insurance<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Getting health care without insurance<\/span><\/h2>\n

Fortunately, not having health insurance does not mean you cannot receive health care. Under the <\/span>Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act<\/span><\/a>, nearly all hospitals must provide care to patients who need emergency medical treatment regardless of their insurance status. But what if it\u2019s not an emergency? Some urgent care centers and walk-in clinics have the right to turn patients down from non-emergency services if they aren\u2019t able to afford it. However, it\u2019s of utmost importance to prioritize your health over your wallet. There are many ways to find low-cost or free health centers and get discounted (or even free) vaccinations and medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/b><\/p>\n