Walgreens to offer free health care at Take Care clinics to unemployed, uninsured

[Fleshdancer]

I know there are many DUers without health insurance so I wanted to share this with you. This doesn't cover much, but it's better than nothing I suppose.

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/04/06/2009-04-06_drugstore_chain_walgreens_to_offer_free_.html


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.

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.

It's likely to generate more attention for the clinics, however. Rosenbluth said a typical Take Care patient tells eight other people about his or her experience. So far, about 30 percent of Take Care patients were new customers to Walgreen.

The program is expected to last through the end of 2009. Walgreen runs 341 Take Care clinics in 35 markets around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Cleveland.

[msongs]

1. but what if employees have a "religious objection" to helping poor people? nt

[Ilsa]

2. Yeah, I guess they don't have Jesus in their lives enough to prevent

themselves from being poor. We all know that Jesus was a wealthy man because he was such a good fellow, and therefore everyone who does exactly what he says will be wealthy also, right? :sarcasm:

[Ilsa]

3. I like the idea. Maybe some grants can help provide funding for this

sort of thing. But I hope the docs and ANPs don't get pressured to write up a bunch of unnecessary scripts to get filled at the W. drugstore with patient or public funding.

I have a Walgreens nearby. I don't get my scripts filled there, but I do buy other products, including makeup, there.

[BeFree]

4. Wow

Walgreens is gonna lose money on this deal. There are so many people out here who have no where else to turn, they will swamp Walgreens.

Seems Walgreens has a few folks at the top who actually aren't just in it for the profit? I may have to start shopping there..

The name is Wal GREEN, eh?

[walkaway]

5. I certainly helps but it doesn't include a regular checkup

we need to stop depending on give aways and start providing Health Care. It's great to get break at the clinic for select illness but how does that help with a person who neds to be tested for diabetes or cancer?

I don't expect Walgreens to save the world or anything but why not give yearly checkups instead or in addition to the rest

[Fleshdancer]

6. you just pinpointed my biggest pet peeve on how America deals with health

We concentrate on sick care, not health care. Regular checkups would indeed help get people ahead of the curve instead of just treating the symptoms once they start.