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[Simone]

Having read certain posts, and some PM's I have received.  I seem to think there is a need to open up a forum dedicated to finding health care.

The problem seems to be lack of Insurance, and finding a doctor that is willing to see you for cash.  This should not be a problem, however providers sometimes do not want to take on the responsibility of a self pay patient in their private practice. 

So where does one go for health care if you live in Monroe and you don't have insurance.  What about preventative care?  Lets cover that

Women need to have Pap Smears, Pelvic exams and Mammography.  Pap Smears at minimal should be once a year.  If you have had Dysplasia or actual cancer cells, you should have one every six months for at least two years if the cancer cells do not return usually you can go back to annual exams. 

I called around, there is nothing in Monroe, yes they do offer free (or low cost can't really get a straight answer)  Mammograms at Mercy Memorial once a year, (they have a health fair in September/October)   as long as you have a base line Mammogram.  The problem is not everyone does.

Depending on your family history, every Woman should have a baseline Mammogram done between the age of 35 to 40, then after the age of 40 at least one every one to two years to look for changes.  That is the best technology for a cancer where early detection mean everything when we are talking survival rates. 

I am still looking, but what I have found so far is the clinics at Henry Ford Hospitals. 

Here is the link to their services and the cost to have Pap Smears, Pelvic exams and mammography

http://www.henryfordhealth.org/body.cfm?id=47778

So if you have not had these screenings in awhile, I think this would be your best bet.  You can get a Pap Smear that includes the lab for $85.00  Pelvic and Breast Exam add $73.00 and if you need that baseline Mammogram the cost is $172.00  These prices are for the uninsured. 

Women, by spending this money up front can not only save your life, it can save your home and your family.  By early detection some cancers are very treatable in their early stage.

You will notice that the link to Henry Ford also has prices for other procedures like colonoscopies and even the cost of child birth.

Someone also had mentioned that they were having problems with strep throat and having to scrounge for antibiotics.  In Monroe the only place I could find that does see the uninsured is the Urgent Care on Stewart Rd.  Their cost to see a doctor for something like anti biotics is $100.00, if you can take a generic first generation antibiotic or the only second generation you can find is Cipro then you can get it filled at most chain stores for about five bucks.  Just be careful with Walgreen's.  They charge a $20.00 membership fee, when others like WalMart charge five bucks, but you don't have to become a member. 

Keep in mind too, if you need something like stitches or a simple fracture to be set, they can do that at the urgent care,  it will be cheaper than going to the ER.

Here is their link and what they will do there.
http://www.monroeurgentcare.com/


So if anyone knows of any doctors that are willing to accept self pay patients, or of any health fairs going on.  Please post them.  We have a lot of people that cannot get insurance, a lot of people doing without and a lot of people that will be losing their insurance. 

I know WalGreens have been opening Clinics within their pharmacies for simple health care, like if you need an antibiotic it's a $45.00 fee, there are none in SE Michigan or Toledo. 

So I am still looking for Clinics that are on the lines of the Walgreen Clinics, I have not been able to find any in the Metro area. There are some free clinics, I will post about them at a later date. 

[Jim Richards]

Ever heard the old adage, something is better than nothing?
I may be on the wrong thread for this, but I don't want to get caught up in the huge debate between the left and the right wingers.

Just throwing this out there because I have read posters and others criticizing Britain's Health Care System as an example of why Obama's plan should not be approved. Nothing is perfect, but they seem to appreciate what they have. And the article does say that some people still have private insurance if they can afford it, I guess.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090814/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_us_health_care

[eriemermaid]

I know someone who needs a dentist Simone.  Can you check on dentists too?  Thanks

[calico]

For those with out health insurance, try the family medical clinic in Carleton.  They have dental services there also.

http://www.familymedical.org/ 

[Simone]

I know someone who needs a dentist Simone.  Can you check on dentists too?  Thanks

Any Dentist will take self pay, or are you looking for low cost, free or one that will take payments.

Low cost or free, check the dental schools, U of M, if Wayne State still has theirs, check there.  I don't know if there are any others in the area.  Thats usually your best bet.

I know dentist don't like to pull teeth but sometimes thats all people can afford.  If you have an infection you need to get it taken care of.  This is one of the causes of heart infections.  So it's serious, not just painful!

I know Dr. Eighmey used to accept payments, however I don't know if he still does.  He also would pull a tooth if that's all you could afford.  There are probably dentist in Detroit or Toledo that will pull teeth, just look in the poor areas.

[Simone]

Here is another resource, and I think this is how one could get care at the clinic that calico listed.

Monroe County Health Plan, its not insurance but they say they provide basic health care a little to no cost. For people who do not qualify for Medicaid and meet the income requirements.

There are two plans, one is for individuals without children.  The other seems to be a family plan.  To learn more, or to find out how to enroll here is the link:

http://www.communityhealthplans.org/ihp/healthplans.asp?plan=monroe

[Collegekid]

For those with out health insurance, try the family medical clinic in Carleton.  They have dental services there also.

http://www.familymedical.org/ 

They have an office in Bedford as well.

[eriemermaid]

Thanks Simone, I copied down that site and will give it to her next time I see her.

[alwayssmile]

I use to go to the clinic in Carelton. Not very pleased with the service at all. I had strep throat, and was unable to talk or swallow. I went to go see the doctor, and I guess she was a believer of 'self healing' and thought medication was not the right way to go. I was so upset, because not only did I wait 45 minutes to be seen, and only got to see the doctor for 2 minutes- if that... and I got NOTHING out of it.

Pap smears can be done at the Health Department - free of charge. I'm not sure why no one has mentioned that. They offer other free services as well. You can get alot of shots there for free. They work off of donations given.

[Simone]

Interesting, when I called the health dept and inquired about a pap, I was told they only do that for women under 21 years of age.

That is one of the first places I checked when I started my quest.  I was told the same thing, the cut off age is 21.  I don't know why but that is what they said, and I believe it is in writing on there web site.

[Simone]

I use to go to the clinic in Carelton. Not very pleased with the service at all. I had strep throat, and was unable to talk or swallow. I went to go see the doctor, and I guess she was a believer of 'self healing' and thought medication was not the right way to go. I was so upset, because not only did I wait 45 minutes to be seen, and only got to see the doctor for 2 minutes- if that... and I got NOTHING out of it.

Pap smears can be done at the Health Department - free of charge. I'm not sure why no one has mentioned that. They offer other free services as well. You can get a lot of shots there for free. They work off of donations given.

Unfortunately at clinics, especially ones that are free or low cost you are going to have a wait time.  Actually, 45 minutes is not that bad.  I wait at least that long at my physician's office, in the waiting room. Then they herd you to another place and take your vitals. Then they herd you to an exam room where the med tech ask basic questions, and sometimes start writing the scripts if that is what I am there for.  Then I have waited as long as an hour for the doctor to come in.  That is unusual, but in the 20 years I have been going there, it has happened a few times. 

It is not any better at other offices I have gone to.  Doctors work fee for service, and where I live you have few independent physicians offices. most are owned by companies.  Fee for service means the more people you see, the more money you make.  So they book every ten minutes and its not unusual for them to add two additional per hour.  This is common in large areas and if you want to see a good physician. 


As for the lack of prescribing antibiotics, yes there are some conservative docs out there that are afraid of hurting your immune system.  However; if it is a clinic that serves the uninsured they should ere on the side of giving you the script for a broad spectrum.  However; most doctors don't know what the payer source is.  This is when people need to be vocal and say "I can't come back I have no money" to get their attention.

One last little story, years ago I went to a new gyno because he was next door to where I worked, and he was one of the best.  I had my appointment, a brief consult with the doc in his office because I have POD, then I peed in a cup, let them poke my finger to do a iron test.  They gave be a paper gown and got me ready in the stirrups. 

I waited, and waited.  Finally I hear voices up and down the hallway and doors shutting. sounding kind of empty.  I poked my head out of the exam room, shouted down the hall.  Well I was not alone, but the doctor had left because of an emergency.  They had forgot about me.  No Harm, this is not where the story is going.

After I got dressed, I was rescheduling my appointment, and they asked me for my copay, I refused to pay it, argued with them that how could they even think of charging me, or my insurance company.  I left.. called my insurance company and filed a complaint.  Also telling them they never did anything other than what I have already listed. 

Then a month or so later, I got a EOB where my insurance company, not only paid for the doctor consult, but a pap, pelvic, breast exam, and the labs.  I went ballistic, not to long after that I was receiving threat notices that they were going to turn me over to collections over my copay.  So I did a letter writing campaign.  To United Health Care, and the insurance commissioner, and the State Attorney's office.  Sending a copy of the letter, to the physicians office.  All the time being right next door to their office.. lol

I ended up getting the insurance company to threaten to take him off their panel, and a then a letter from the physicians office stating that I did not owe them for that copay (in case it later turned up on my credit report) I did this not because I was angry about being left in the stirrups, I did it because he was committing fraud, and Insurance companies only pay for so many pap smears a year. 

anyway.. There is a cottage industry where people like me, hire themselves out to other people to help settle cases with health providers.  So many people are over charged and end up between the insurance company and the providers.  With huge medical bills.  Most people get intimidated and pay the bill, when they are not the ones that should be paying. 

Most bankruptcies in this country is because of Medical bills, and the majority of people who have these types of bankruptcies, have health insurance. 

I will stop now.. I type 90 WMP on a bad day! I am on STARBUCKS!!!!

[alwayssmile]

That is one of the first places I checked when I started my quest.  I was told the same thing, the cut off age is 21.  I don't know why but that is what they said, and I believe it is in writing on there web site.

I have a friend who is 21 and goes there. Do you think once she turns 22 they stop? Why would they do something like that? I've seen grown woman with maybe 3+ kids in there, and she has everything taken care of for free.

[adria]

Well, if there are clinics at Henry Ford and you can get transportation, than go there.  Monroe has crap health care.  Especially for the big diseases, like cancer.   I've been going for six years to Josephine Ford Cancer Center Downriver and it is wonderful!

[Paula Wethington]

Good discussion topic.

Here are the Monroe on a Budget archives on medical bills. I post about special clinics, health fairs, health co-ops and any other headlines or public service announcements that I find. http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/category/medical-bills/

Julie's List is a free and low-cost information database for southeast Michigan and her vast collection of resources does include Monroe County.
http://julieslist.homestead.com/