How can I help my friend?
February 23, 2010 9:54 PM Subscribe
My friend has no insurance and very limited funds, and is having some pretty funky health problems. He needs low-cost to no-cost medical attention in Oklahoma. Any ideas? So far, I've come up with this. Any ideas? I know that he *could* go to an ER, but being saddled with a $3000 dollar bill is not going to help him out of his financial problems anytime soon. Anyone been broke and sick in OK before?
I have a few connections, but at this point would prefer him to be checked out by a pro. He seems to have three unrelated problems: his teeth hurt, (gums swollen, and rampant canker sores) but has excellent oral hygiene, he has some weird, not-like-mrsa-i've-ever-seen sores from shaving nicks on his face and neck (not boils, more like scabby sores that aren't healing properly) and he's also showing symptoms of strep throat.
First off: any ideas? Secondly: where can he go in Oklahoma for low-cost treatment? I've tried searching teh internets and making phone calls and several clinics are not taking new patients... what do i do? Please help my friend!
I have a few connections, but at this point would prefer him to be checked out by a pro. He seems to have three unrelated problems: his teeth hurt, (gums swollen, and rampant canker sores) but has excellent oral hygiene, he has some weird, not-like-mrsa-i've-ever-seen sores from shaving nicks on his face and neck (not boils, more like scabby sores that aren't healing properly) and he's also showing symptoms of strep throat.
First off: any ideas? Secondly: where can he go in Oklahoma for low-cost treatment? I've tried searching teh internets and making phone calls and several clinics are not taking new patients... what do i do? Please help my friend!
Being here in Oklahoma, I can tell you this. If your friend has Native American lineage at all, the tribal resources available are very, very helpful.
There's also a Wal-Mart clinic in Duncan, Oklahoma which may be his best option for low cost. It's not cutting edge ER technology, but it's better than nothing.
Going down to Mexico may be a viable option if he needs any serious dental work done. If it comes down to actual dental work, I really can't think of any other option that isn't painfully expensive.
posted by Saydur at 10:29 PM on February 23, 2010
There's also a Wal-Mart clinic in Duncan, Oklahoma which may be his best option for low cost. It's not cutting edge ER technology, but it's better than nothing.
Going down to Mexico may be a viable option if he needs any serious dental work done. If it comes down to actual dental work, I really can't think of any other option that isn't painfully expensive.
posted by Saydur at 10:29 PM on February 23, 2010
Best answer: This site is filled with ads, but the free clinic I volunteer at (in another state) is listed, with mostly-accurate information, so perhaps it's a decent resource: Free Medical Camps.
You/your friend can find more information about how to access the services offered at public and charity hospitals (usually via the ER for first appointment) elsewhere on AskMe; they're typically required to offer care regardless of ability to pay, and will charge (or not) accordingly. I don't want to encourage dishonesty, but claiming to be temporarily homeless/couchsurfing may be the best way to get health care right away. I'd recommend that far sooner than the "wait and see what happens" approach.. Good luck to him. My parents (poor, uninsured, rural East Texan farmers) are in similar predicaments, and haven't had much luck finding health care they can actually afford in their part of the state.
posted by soviet sleepover at 10:39 PM on February 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
You/your friend can find more information about how to access the services offered at public and charity hospitals (usually via the ER for first appointment) elsewhere on AskMe; they're typically required to offer care regardless of ability to pay, and will charge (or not) accordingly. I don't want to encourage dishonesty, but claiming to be temporarily homeless/couchsurfing may be the best way to get health care right away. I'd recommend that far sooner than the "wait and see what happens" approach.. Good luck to him. My parents (poor, uninsured, rural East Texan farmers) are in similar predicaments, and haven't had much luck finding health care they can actually afford in their part of the state.
posted by soviet sleepover at 10:39 PM on February 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
three unrelated problems: his immune system isn't working.
posted by orthogonality at 1:35 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by orthogonality at 1:35 AM on February 24, 2010
I'm not a doctor and don't mean to pretend to be one, but thought I'd point out those "three unrelated problems" are awfully common to meth abusers. Just a thought.
posted by aquafortis at 2:28 AM on February 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by aquafortis at 2:28 AM on February 24, 2010 [2 favorites]
Best answer: What kind of price range is he looking to spend (if at all?) I was trying to work up an answer but I am very hazy on what his financial resources are, whether he works or is disabled, etc, etc, and I don't want to write a broadbrush answer. He can likely get good treatment for $100 at a regular doctor (and it is not impossible to find a regular doctor; in fact my doctor in OKC says they're losing business because many of their patients are losing insurance) -- but I can't tell from the question whether even $100 is too much.
posted by crapmatic at 5:10 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by crapmatic at 5:10 AM on February 24, 2010
For ongoing treatment and future needs, your friend should see if he could qualify for Insure Oklahoma, the state's subsidized insurance plan for small employers, self-employed, and unemployed people.
posted by Snerd at 5:33 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by Snerd at 5:33 AM on February 24, 2010
Swollen gums, canker sores, skin lesions, and sore throat can all result from deficiencies in various B vitamins. While you and your friend are working on procuring medical treatment, he could try taking a daily B complex supplement to see if it helps.
posted by purplemonkie at 7:18 AM on February 24, 2010
posted by purplemonkie at 7:18 AM on February 24, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by delmoi at 10:11 PM on February 23, 2010