| In most ?first world? countries like England, France, | | | | may be able to get the care you need at prices that |
| and Canada; every man, woman, and child receives | | | | are more affordable than what you are paying today, |
| basic health care from the government. This makes | | | | spend some time on the website of your local branch |
| the business of private health insurance redundant in | | | | of government. Many large cities and most states |
| those countries. However, in America things are a bit | | | | have all of the details of their eligibility requirements |
| different. In the United States, many citizens do not | | | | for family health insurance assistance programs |
| have health coverage at all due to the high cost of | | | | available online, and some even allow you to print the |
| medical care and the rates and premiums that the | | | | necessary paperwork for your application right off |
| private corporations offering health insurance charge | | | | the web. |
| their customers. This means that many people can | | | | Although the United States may not have the kind of |
| not afford to see doctors as often as they should | | | | comprehensive, government-run health coverage for |
| for routine care, do not get the prescriptions they | | | | all of its citizens that other countries have opted for, |
| need to be fully functional members of society, and | | | | in most places there are government sponsored |
| struggle to get back on their feet after the financial | | | | programs that help those who cannot afford to pay |
| blow of a necessary surgery or other emergency | | | | for their own medical care at market rates. Even |
| medical procedure. | | | | people who don?t qualify for this kind of subsidized |
| As a way to put an end to this situation, many | | | | care can take advantage of the free clinics that |
| places in America offer special assistance programs | | | | operate in most major metropolitan areas. Different |
| that help low income families get the health care | | | | clinics offer a wide variety of services that range |
| coverage they need. Families that are living below the | | | | from pregnancy testing to flu shots; so if you are |
| poverty line can often get health insurance at lower | | | | looking for a way to avoid paying steep hospital bills |
| than market rates through the health department of | | | | consider what the clinics in your area may be able to |
| a state, city, or county. Depending on the specifics | | | | offer you. The combination of subsidized family |
| of a given situation and the rules of a particular | | | | health insurance and free clinics means that almost |
| program, families that have income well above the | | | | every family in America can afford at least some |
| poverty line can qualify for at least some level of | | | | level of medical attention. |
| financial assistance. To find out if you and your family | | | | |