Anybody know of low cost health care in AZ?!
Question: I have a sister in AZ who has diabetes, high BP, retinal detachment, and something going on with her woman parts. She is 48, menopausal, and has no health insurance. Her medications are making she and her hubby quite short on $. He doesn't have med. through work. Disability does'nt help. He makes too much for public assistance. Any ideas?
Answers: I have a sister in AZ who has diabetes, high BP, retinal detachment, and something going on with her woman parts. She is 48, menopausal, and has no health insurance. Her medications are making she and her hubby quite short on $. He doesn't have med. through work. Disability does'nt help. He makes too much for public assistance. Any ideas?
I feel for your sister--I share many of her ailments and have had no insurance most of my life. Not knowing what PART of AZ she lives in, I'll throw out some ideas and pray something will help.
First, to meds, if she is in Maricopa County there is a card EVERY resident is entitled to. Don't know if it will help with her meds, but check and see:
http://www.maricopa.gov/public_health/Ho...
There are other programs as well. Check here:
http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/Tx/jsp/h...
http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/
http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/page...
http://www.needymeds.com/indices/discoun...
Also remember that Wal-Mart offers $4 and $9 prescriptions. If she's not on insulin, metformin probably can suffice for her and that IS a $4 prescription. Also some other pharmacies meet or beat the price--Fry's actually fills for a bit less than that on metformin.
As to BP, there is a good chance that lisinopril will fill the bill and that is ALSO a $4 prescription. If she needs something not on that list, she could contact Costco and see what her prescription would cost there. In AZ at least you don't seem to have to be a member to use THEIR pharmacy and they DO have good prices.
If there are even more problems and more ridiculous prices, I found that CanadaDrugs.com is legit. I've used them for YEARS--real meds, decent prices compared to the US.
I found the best deal I believe on diabetes supplies:
http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com...
Now as to other issues, again, not sure WHERE she is, but things to check include:
"ASU Downtown Health Center is Public
Jahna Berry
The Arizona Republic
September 20, 2007 -- Arizona State University has a health center at its downtown Phoenix campus that is open to the public.
The facility, which is located on the ground floor of the nursing school building at 500 N. Third Street, is the only ASU health center that's open to the public, says Denise Link an associate dean at the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation.
Typically university's health centers usually only serve students and university workers, she added.
Patients who come to the center can get many routine health screenings, medical tests, vaccinations, prescriptions and other out patient services, Link said.
The center offers same-day appointments, but it doesn't offer emergency or trauma care.
In general, "You talk to anyone and they are having a tough time seeing a health care provider at all," Link said, adding that she wants the public to use the health center as a resource. "We have a strong emphasis on patient care."
The center has been open since Dec. 22, 2006 and is staffed by four nurse practitioners and one social worker. Eventually, the center will allow students to train there."
http://nursing.asu.edu/news/pr/asuhc_pub...
ALSO:
"Phoenix Medical School Students Giving Back to Community
--------------------------------------...
First-year medical school student Sarah Whitley sees a patient at a clinic near downtown Phoenix.
By Al Bravo, College of Medicine-Phoenix
December 19, 2007
The inaugural class of first-year medical students at The University of Arizona's College of Medicine campus in Phoenix already are providing much-needed community service by working at a downtown clinic as part of the Commitment to Underserved People program, known as CUP.
The first-year students began studies at the downtown campus, known officially as The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix in partnership with Arizona State University, in August. Before enrolling these students, the campus served only third- and fourth-year students.
CUP, which was begun at the Tucson College of Medicine campus in 1979, allows medical students to serve in a clinic with fourth-year students and supervising doctors for valuable experience.
It also adds a much-needed resource in lower-income, predominantly minority areas. Students work in clinics in Southern Arizona under the CUP program and also provide health education at local shelters for teenagers, women at a correctional halfway house, middle school students and rural areas.
In Phoenix, medical students are working at the Wesley Community Center