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Recession Survival Guide

Seven ways to get the health care you need when times are tough

If you’ve recently lost your job due to the recession, you’re not alone: Nearly one in 10 Wisconsin residents is currently unemployed—the highest percentage in years—according to a recent report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In addition to losing their income, many folks have lost their health insurance, a situation that can be both stressful and scary. That’s why the Wisconsin Medical Society is here to help: As the state’s largest association of medical doctors, we care for you and your family in more ways than one.

This guide to staying afloat during hard times highlights a number of resources to help you and your loved ones get the health care you need, whether it’s doctor visits, prescription medications or immunizations.

If you’re a senior, be sure to check out our Health Resources for Seniors page as well.

Where to begin

1. Review your severance package.

If you were recently laid off from your job, you may have received a severance package. Examine it carefully if this is the case: It may contain health benefits or other resources that help you pay for medical care until you find a new job.

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2. Consider filing for unemployment.

Even if you are receiving severance pay or benefits from your former employer, you may be able to claim unemployment benefits from the government as well. Call the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development at 800.822.5246 to find out if you are eligible for these benefits and how to apply for them, or start the process online. Collecting unemployment can help ease financial strain, and signing up for it often speeds up the process of applying for other benefits, such as state-funded health care assistance. (Read more about these benefits below.)

Plus, on May 15, 2009, Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law a bill that expands unemployment insurance coverage for some Wisconsin residents. The bill calls for the extension of unemployment benefits to people who quit jobs to relocate with their spouses, take care of sick relatives or escape domestic violence. Stay tuned to this Web page for details about how to take advantage of this new resource.

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3. Find out if you’re eligible for COBRA.

If you were employed until recently, there’s a good chance you’re eligible for COBRA. COBRA is a federal law that requires that people who’ve lost or quit their jobs be able to continue the same health care coverage they obtained through their most recent employer for 18 months. COBRA also applies to spouses, former spouses and children of many people who’ve lost their jobs, as well as some people who’ve retired recently: Read the “Who is entitled to benefits” section of this COBRA FAQ from the Department of Labor to find out if you’re eligible. You can also contact a benefits advisor by calling 866.444.3272 (toll-free) for more information.

What’s more, thanks to the recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, many Americans who were recently laid off from their jobs will only have to pay 35 percent of their COBRA premiums. In the past, people obtaining health insurance through COBRA were responsible for up to 102 percent of their health plan’s premiums, making it too expensive for many, so be sure to find out if you’re eligible for this discount. It could make your health care much more affordable.

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4. See if you qualify for state or federal assistance.

ForwardHealth operates a number of state and federally funded programs designed to help people who have limited resources due to circumstances such as unemployment. These programs include:
  • Wisconsin Medicaid, a federal-state partnership that pays for medical services for people with limited incomes and/or disabilities.
  • Medicare, a federal health insurance program for all Americans who are 65 or older and some people with disabilities.
  • SeniorCare, a prescription drug program for Wisconsin residents who are 65 or older.
  • BadgerCare Plus, a health insurance program available to all Wisconsin children, regardless of family income. Some pregnant women, caretakers and young adults are also eligible. Call 800.291.3002 for details or visit the ForwardHealth website to find out if you’re eligible.
  • BadgerCare Plus Core Program, a brand-new health insurance program that covers low-income Wisconsin residents who don’t have dependent children. Call 800.291.3002 for details or visit the ForwardHealth website to find out if you’re eligible.
  • Wisconsin Well Woman Program, a program that provides mammograms, Pap smears and in some cases multiple sclerosis testing to women age 45 to 64 who have little or no health insurance and limited financial resources.
  • Wisconsin Family Planning Waiver, a program that provides contraception and other family-planning services to people with limited incomes.
  • Wisconsin Chronic Disease Program, a program that provides assistance to Wisconsin residents with chronic renal disease, hemophilia or adult cystic fibrosis.
To find out if you are eligible for these programs, visit ACCESS, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ online screening tool.

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5. Locate low-cost health clinics in your area.
Lists of free and low-cost clinics that will see you regardless of your insurance status or income are maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association. Services at these clinics include medical, dental and vision care—see clinic listing for specific details. Many of these clinics provide services on a sliding scale, meaning that the less money you make, the less they will charge you for their services.

In addition, the Free Clinics of the Great Lakes Region provides a directory of volunteer-based clinics in Wisconsin that provide health care services to the uninsured and/or medically underserved.

Both Wisconsin medical schools also partner with low-cost clinics that are open to patients in need. The MEDiC outreach program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health provides affordable medical services at a number of Madison-area clinics if you meet certain criteria. Call 608.265.4972 or visit the MEDiC website for more information.

Nonprofit community health centers such as the Access Community Health Centers in Madison provide affordable primary-care services and dental check-ups to people without insurance, too. Listings of low-cost or free clinics are also available at the websites of Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) and NeedyMeds.

In addition, a number of health care organizations (e.g., Aurora Health Care, Bellin Health, Meriter Health Services, Quick Care, Take Care Health) have opened clinics in retail settings (e.g., Target, Shopko, Walgreens, Wal-Mart) that provide low-cost diagnosis and treatment of common ailments, as well as physical exams, health screenings, vaccinations and other episodic services. Information on these clinics can be found on the websites of the retailers and health care organizations affiliated with the clinics.

Note: Fees, eligibility requirements, applications processes vary by clinic. Therefore, you should contact a clinic prior to visiting to get specific information on their fees, eligibility requirements and any necessary paperwork (e.g., application).

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6. Take advantage of free and reduced-cost prescription programs.

Many pharmacies operated by large retailers (e.g., Costco, Jewel-Osco, K-Mart Shopko, Sam’s Club, Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens) and drug companies offer discounted generic medications or prescription savings programs. Local, independently owned pharmacies may also offer such programs or price matching.

The majority of pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Abbott, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Wyeth) offer “prescription assistance programs,” discount programs and coupons to help patients pay for prescriptions. A number of pharmaceutical companies are even offering free medications for a limited time to patients that are unemployed. You can obtain information on such programs by contacting the pharmaceutical companies directly or visiting their websites.

Additionally, PPA, RxAssist and NeedyMeds provide free online resources to assist patients in finding a prescription assistance program that will provide them woth the medications they need for free or at a low cost. PPA also offers assistance via a toll-free phone number (888.477.2669). The call center accepts calls in English, Spanish and nearly 150 other languages. Patients can call and speak with trained representative that will assist them in determining their eligibility and guide them through the application process.

Note: Many companies provide patients with information on “prescription assistance programs” for free and help them apply for these programs. E-mails, ads and websites for companies that guarantee free or low-cost prescription drugs for a hefty fee upfront are scams. Information on these programs and applications for them are available for free. Visit this website developed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for information on this issue.

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The information provided in this document is provided for informational purposes only. The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) does not specifically endorse any of the programs, services, companies, organizations or facilities referenced in this document or in the links included in this document. The Society does not testify to, sponsor or endorse the accuracy of the information provided on externally linked pages. The absence of program, service, company, organization or facility from this document does not indicate that such program, service, company, organization or facility is not qualified to provide assistance.