NeedyMeds.org

NeedyMeds.org is a website that pulls together information about lower cost options for medical care and prescriptions. It is a great resource for the uninsured, underinsured and those that simply cannot pay for routine medical care or medications. You can find a lot of information on the site, but the two things I found most valuable are the clinic search and drug search.
Low-Cost or Free Medical Clinics

Thousands of clinics nationwide provide routine medical care free or on a sliding fee scale based on your ability to pay. Locating a clinic near you is easy when you use NeedyMeds clinic search.

You can search for all clinics within a certain distance of your zip code or use the map to find all clinics in your state. Basic contact information a very summarized description of their payment requirements are listed. You’ll contact the clinic to schedule an appointment and can confirm the financial component in that call as well.

For the most part these are family practice-type clinics that can serve most any basic need, although I did see at least one dentist in my area. If you have a specialized medical condition, I’d recommend contacting the clinic anyway and discussing whether it is a fit for you or not.

What to Expect At a Reduced-Fee Clinic

Friends of mine have used some of the free clinics in my area. They have all appreciated the valuable service and felt like they received quality medical attention. In one case, the doctor would have liked to do an x-ray, but the patient could not afford it so they tried an alternate treatment first; in the case, the doctor’s time was free, but there was some fee for additional services, like x-rays, that my friend could not afford. That to say, the doctors are sensitive to their patients’ financial situations and talk through options and their associated cost before making decisions.

In all the instances where people I know have used reduced-fee clinics they were given an adequate supply of prescription samples so that they did not need to treat the condition while avoiding the cost of a pharmacy.

Physicians in these clinics are often donating their time, but are held to the same accountability standards that physicians anywhere are in terms of patient privacy and quality of care.
Prescription Drug Assistance

Prescription medication can be very expensive, especially for those that have a chronic condition and regularly take multiple pills. As the name suggests, NeedyMeds.org, helps you identify ways to get medications for less.

NeedyMeds maintains a directory of free or lower-price prescription medications options, which is as comprehensive a anything I’ve seen on the web. Search their directory either by drug name or medical condition, then drill into the specific medication you’ve been prescribed. Options for free samples, coupons, trial offers, co-pay assistance and on-going prescription assistance appear with a quick summary of the program or option along with links to the application form. I have informed you of a variety of prescription coupons and free samples over time, but it looks like most of those are captured on NeedyMeds website.

Some of the applications require your physician’s authorization while others don’t. If the application process for these money-saving programs is overwhelming, then use NeedyMeds to find a local organization that might assist you in completing the forms.