Low-cost or free Health Care in Chicago

February 12, 2008 9:03 AM

I am searching for low to no cost health care in Chicago. I have no health insurance and some potentially serious health problems that, at least, require careful treatment. I'd like to have it taken care of, but I have no idea how to approach even finding a doctor or hospital that will treat me without overwhelming cost or confusion. Can anyone provide me with specific information regarding finding treatment?

I am a 25 year old male who has been dealing with a difficult prostate infections, or at least that is what i have been diagnosed as having in the past, I have taken antibiotics and the like which has helped but not ultimately ended the problem. This has been going on for about 3 years.

What I'd like, optimally, is to be able to find a competent physician that can treat me properly. However, as stated before I have neither health insurance nor money to pay for expensive medical procedures. Is there any hospital, doctor, or otherwise in Chicago that can provide this for me? How do I go about finding a specific doctor or hospital to go to? Do I just walk in the door and tell them whats going on?

throwaway email [e-mail]

Thanks in advance, seriously.

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)

I do not know if they treat the prostate. However, Chicago's Community Health program might be able to point you in the right direction if they could not see you.

Here is the description from their website:

CommunityHealth is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing quality free health care to uninsured people living in Chicago and the surrounding communities. Recognized as a leader among free clinics nationwide, both in budget and scope of services, CommunityHealth is the largest free clinic in Illinois and conducts more than 18,000 free visits each year.

Best of luck. If you do find low cost or free health care services somewhere within Chicago, please have the mods post an update because this is an issue that many more people struggle with, I'm sure.
posted by jeanmari at 10:00 AM on February 12, 2008

Try this site: http://www.caconline.org/default.asp?page=insurance

Be persistent and flexible-- lots of places may have long waits to be seen. Good luck!
posted by natness at 10:54 AM on February 12, 2008

The Cook County Bureau of Health Services coordinates the county's mostly charity care. They have outpatient clinics as well as hospitals. You may qualify for medicaid; check out the FQHCs in chicago. There are more if you google, but those contain the resources for what is probably the best sources of charity care in Chicago.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 12:19 PM on February 12, 2008

Get thee to Howard Brown. My GF was in the same boat as you and they've been taking great care of her since we discovered them.
posted by @homer at 1:12 PM on February 12, 2008 [1 favorite]

I just went to a Community Health center to get a TB test. I have insurance, so I just went since it showed up on google, but they were quick and unbelievably friendly, so second jeanmari's post
posted by sandmanwv at 7:10 PM on February 14, 2008