NEW YORK (AP) — Drugstore operator Walgreen will offer free clinic visits to the unemployed and uninsured for the rest of the year, providing tests and routine treatment for minor ailments through its walk-in clinics — though patients will still pay for prescriptions.
Walgreen said patients who lose their job and health insurance after March 31 will be able to get free treatment at its in-store Take Care clinics for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments. Typically those treatments cost $59 or more for patients with no insurance.Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Hal Rosenbluth, chairman of the Take Care Health Systems division, described the plan as something close to an experiment: He said Walgreen isn't sure of patient demand or how much providing the services might cost the company.
Free services will be offered only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walgreen said it will not offer free checkups, vaccinations or other injections because it is focusing on providing services patients might otherwise get at an urgent-care center or even an emergency room.
Patients must present proof they are unemployed, including a federal or state unemployment determination letter and an unemployment check stub. They will have to sign a form at the clinic saying they have lost their jobs and health benefits. If they find a new job or get new health insurance, they will no longer be eligible for free care.
Spouses and children are also eligible for free services if they don't have insurance of their own.
And The Associated Press release didn't give as much information as listener Sue (to the Cornbread show) wants you to know:
"They must have lost their jobs March 31st or after. They must have been a previous patient here before with a job and insurance and they need to call 1-866-TAKECARE before the visit to see if they qualify and will have to be able to prove when they lost their job and insurance."
Please don't call Sue at the Take Care Clinic, upset, if you feel misinformed. Please. Please. Please.
And as I said on Cornbread, PLEASE call your local store, restaurant, business, company BEFORE you plan on taking advantage of said offer. Participating locations always vary (employees vary too!).
I was equally as thrilled (because we will most likely be taking advantage of this for my oldest kiddo) to find out that for the time being, Target is doing a special promotion for their optical service. It could
end any time but will definitely end no later than April 29th..
Children 12 and under can get a free pair of glasses. They need to bring
in a valid prescription for glasses from their doctor and Target will
let the child pick from about 40 different frames. They will place their
best lenses in the frames which are non-glare and scratch resistant and
normally sell for $200.00. There are no income guidelines. Any child 12
or under is eligible.
You can find stores with optical departments at www.target.com to confirm they are participating before making a trip to their store.
3 comments:
Hi Sueann,
I'm sure Cornbread appreciates that you listen almost every morning & love their show.
Thanks for clarifying; however, I simply inserted the ASSOCIATED PRESS (maybe you should talk to them?) press release.
I also was VERY sure to add to the blurb this morning to the listeners to CHECK WITH THEIR LOCAL STORE. I re-iterated that every place is different, even every employee.
I do this for free. I am just offering info that I receive. I am not affiliated with Walgreens, nor am I paid by any company.
Thanks for the positive energy.
SueAnn you should probably call all the major news stations (national ones too) & tell them off too. Because tightwad momma shared EXACTLY what they did.
i Like this website. Thank you for doing this. To be able to come here free is awesome. Appreciate it. And big thanks to cornbread for sharing this great stuff.
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