I am PISSED. It is nearly impossible to get a mammogram in Sarasota FL if you have no insurance.

[graywarrior]

&$&%$ (*^*#)v FUCK!

[wakeme2008]

1. How much does it cost and why do they not take CASH or Visa

:shrug:

[sam sarrha]

2. To Fascists poverty isa Vice...

[sidwill]

3. Just call every diagnostic imaging center you can

and ask them what their hardship rate is.

[lpbk2713]

4. The home of Katherine Harris

Somehow I see a connection here. :shrug:

(I hope you can find a way to get it done soon.)

[graywarrior]

5. You must meet certain guidelines to get a free one

And some agencies that offer free mammograms require that you come to their agency and apply but they are only open during work hours...then they tell you there is an age limit...after 49, you're out of luck.

The hospital needs a doctor order but the doctor won't give you one unless you make an office visit. The, I found out today that because it's been over a year since I last saw my doctor, he considers me no longer a patient.

Elizabeth Edwards!!!!!! CALL ME!!!!!!!!

[OzarkDem]

31. It should be age 50 to 64

If you're under 50, there are still other programs. Call your local American Cancer Society, too.

[orleans]

36. over a year and he no longer considers you a patient?

your doctor is a DICK!

[Madspirit]

6. That Sucks

Have you contacted The American Cancer Society? Maybe they could help with a recommendation.
Lee

[babylonsister]

7. I imagine you've tried these, but they 'claim' to provide the service:

http://smh.com/sections/services-procedures/srvc_health_community/clinic_commun_med.html

he mission of the Community Medical Clinic is to provide specialty care referral services to those residents of Sarasota County who truly demonstrate a financial need. Providing access to care for those individuals who are uninsured or underinsured, or those who do not have the financial resources to receive specialty care elsewhere is the primary goal.

Also,

http://www.co.sarasota.fl.us/latestNews/NewsDetail.aspx?C1ACC692B2=A699987B&E7DCD7AE=A3

Free health screenings and mammograms available

SARASOTA (TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2006) - Free health screenings for adults ages 18 and older will be available on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, 1750 – 17th Street in Sarasota. Residents can take advantage of free health screenings for vision, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI). Those who plan to attend are asked not to eat or drink anything except water after midnight for best results.

Mammograms will be available by appointment only for women over 50 years of age who also have no health insurance. Other eligibility restrictions may apply. For an appointment, call 941-861-1401. Mammography staff are bilingual in English and Spanish.

Volunteer health care providers, who are members of the Medical Reserve Corps of Sarasota County, will assist in providing the health screenings.

[graywarrior]

13. Thanks. I will call those numbers

[Merlot]

In California

I realize you're in Florida, and this may not be much help, but can you call a Planned Parent hood or Womens Clinic that can refer you? If you have a doctor, he/she should be able to refer you to someone. I believe there is a mobile van that does scans. There are also programs for low income/no insurance people.

Do some research and best of luck!

[Beaverhausen]

9. You posted what I was about to post

:hi:

Planned Parenthood rocks.

[graywarrior]

12. Planned Parenthood was supposed to schedule one for me but they never got back to me

After calling them 4 times, I gave up.

[bdamomma]

40. call them again and again

we are taking about your life here.

[BurtWorm]

8. They don't have free family/women's clinics?

Is it that Republican there?

[rzemanfl]

10. Call your health department. They have a program for women

who need mammograms and are without insurance. I work for a county health department in Florida, but not in the medical area. I am pretty sure your county health department can take care of this for you.

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Remember: The US Has The Best Health Care in the World.

Don't forget that ever, OK?

[havocmom]

27. Yeah, and if we went to single payer, universal coverage, it would be rationed

Shit-heads don't seem to grasp it ALREADY is rationed! If you aren't really well-heeled you have to have insurance and if you have insurance, the bean-counters tend to make the medical decisions....

Looks like rationing to me.

[iverglas]

34. damn right

I'm over 50 and I only get one per year, up here in Canada.

Actually, I could probably get my doctor to refer me to a private radiology clinic *and* go the breast clinic myself, and get two free mammograms ... but they might have me in their little computer and figure it out.


I actually don't want to make light, or play holier than thou. When we outside the US hear the aggregate figures for lack of health care coverage in the US, it can be a little smug-making. But when one hears a real story of a real live person's heartbreak (like the thread about a DU member's brother-in-law, dying what is in all likelihood a death that could have been prevented had he had access to the medications he needed), it's so sad - almost too sad to seem real.

I always remember the hitchhiker I picked up in Tennesee back in the 80s. An unemployed housepainter, on his way to visit his ill mother in another state. After admiring my brightly coloured money, he got curious. What's it like up there? he asked. Are you free to go anywhere you want? Well, I thought, here I am driving around in Tennesee ... but I said: It's really pretty much like here, except with free healthcare. He pondered a moment, and then said Ahhhh.

People really do get it viscerally. And I'm so pleased and gratified to see the change that has happened at DU in five years as people here have got it politically. The commitment to single public payer universal health coverage has swelled, and the knowledge and understanding of it has gained depth and breadth that is impressive.

If only your party got it as well.

I've seen this mentioned here before, and those who can may want to consider contributing:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/contribution/bb-index-bcs.htm
Graywarrior could try the link offered there:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/index.htm
for info about local services:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/nbccedp/contact.asp?contactId=114

Florida
Information about Getting Screened
To find out if you qualify for a free or low-cost mammogram and Pap test and where to get screened, call: 1 [phone]

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/bcc/index.html
Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
-- for "underinsured women 50 to 64 years of age, at or below 200% of poverty"

Still not much for the un/underinsured person just getting by ...

Best wishes to graywarrior.

[tyedyeto]

33. I only hope that you forgot the ...

:sarcasm: 'smiley'

For a 'free' or reduced cost mammogram where I live, I would have to take a day off work and drive about 40 miles - one way - to receive one. And then I would have to prove I'm poor (income bracket of less than about $12,000 per year) which I'm not (I make approx $15,000) so I wouldn't qualify anyway and would be missing a days work to go there.

Why even attempt these 'freebies'?

It sucks being just above the 'poverty' level.

[karlrschneider]

14. Your profile says you are in New Hampshire.

...

[LeftyMom]

18. She moved a few months ago.

Good on you for checking though.

[ChiciB1]

20. I'll Vouch For Her... She's Here Now!

We met a while back, but she's not a local YOKEL like I am! My husband is a Native Floridian AND most of the family is here, so I'm stuck!!

Personally... I WANT TO MOVE TO OREGON!!!

[graywarrior]

28. I am in Florida during the winter.

[benddem]

15. some counties have programs

that provide mammograms if you can't afford one. At least they do here in my county in OR.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[karlrschneider]

23. I'll take one if you'll toss in a BJ

;-)

[ChiciB1]

17. Well, Even IF You Have Insurance & It's An HMO...

I KNOW what you mean!! Been living here for WAAAAAY too long!

[graywarrior]

19. I swear, if I have ANY lumps, I'll pull a nutty on Main St.

[ChiciB1]

21. Call Me... I'll Come Running!! n/t

[graywarrior]

22. You bet...cept I can be such a whiner.

[Wiley50]

24. Florida? They think a mammogram is a Western Union to an older woman down there n/t

[graywarrior]

26. *snort*

[AtomicKitten]

25. hey, in SF Emergency Departments charge the uninsured 30% more

... for services rendered. The Sutter Hospital system was hit with a class action lawsuit forcing them to refund money. Assholes.

[Telly Savalas]

32. That sort of thing goes on because the insurance companies

negotiate prices with hospitals. The insurer puts the hospital in their network in exchange for cheaper fees. Uninsured individuals don't have this kind of bargaining power so they have to pay more.

Free markets can do a lot of good things, but are far from perfect. When they fail, the government needs to step in.

We've had a Democratic Congress for 4 months now. What are they waiting for?

[KT2000]

29. Had a friend who lived in Florida

She had a lump in her breast and also found it nearly impossible to get a mammogram without insurance.
She finally found a place but had to wait 6 weeks.

[OzarkDem]

30. Breast & Cervical Cancer Screening Program

Proivides free screening for uninsured women age 50-64 with incomes up to 200% FPL.

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/bcc/where.html

If you're diagnosed through this program (and lets hope you aren't) you will be eligible for

Even if you don't meet their eligibility guidelines they can refer you to another free screening program. Races for the Cure & American Cancer Society spend some of the money they raise on screening (not treatment, though).

If no help from the BCCP Screening Program, call local American Cancer Society office.

Keep pushing. If that doesn't work, PM me.

[buzzard]

35. I consider myself lucky then I have had to have several mammograms over the last year

and believe it or not even in Canada with our wait times I have never had to wait more than a month. Good luck to you hopefully it is nothing serious.

[earth mom]

37. Sorry to hear that! But IMO having health insurance in this country SUCKS too!

Here's my quick rant: :rant:

I have excellent insurance and I had thought I was lucky to have it BUT the past 2 weeks have been TOTAL HELL! I've been to the Doctor 3 times and I swear to god it's like going to the drive thru! No lie! The appointments are TEN MINUTES & NO LONGER THAN THAT-I kid you not! Today I literally begged the doctor to actually heal me and unplug my blocked ear and he said he didn't want to hurt me! Like WTF?! After 2 weeks of climbing the walls, up all hours of the night because I can't sleep, and he won't help me! Oh hell no! Instead, it's here's your fucking prescription lady and get the hell out! I hate the medical industry! Simple as that! This country has officially gone to hell!

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[havocmom]

39. Insurance Companies & HMOs all FOR rationed health care

so long as it's their bean-counters doing the rationing. :grr:

Too many Americans, paying for insurance or HMOs are finding out just what the shortcomings are when they actually need to use their health-care coverage.

And, lots of doctors don't doctor anymore. They can't make a living between what the health insures negotiate to pay them and what the malpractice insures suck back out of them.

[Vinca]

38. Well, if you can't get the mammogram you won't be able to get

treatment if you have breast cancer, so what's the point of scheduling one anyway? Let's hear it for the US of A, the greatest nation on the planet.

[GliderGuider]

41. fund free mamograms at The Breast Cancer site

Go here: http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
and click on the big pink button.

Advertisers pay The Breast Cancer site for every click. It's a minuscule amount but it adds up after a while.
(USA only)