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Walgreens Take Care Clinics to Offer Free Health Care to Their Patients

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By: Nancy Howard : 4/4/2009 8:39:36 AM : 111 comments

As we all face the challenges of tough economic times, many of those who have found themselves jobless, sadly have lost their health benefits as well. With the rising cost of health care, many without benefits find themselves either paying out of pocket for a doctor visit or forgoing the doctor.

This is where companies are starting to stand up and take heed. The drug store chain Walgreens and its in-store clinics Take Care is at the forefront of helping their unemployed and uninsured patients. Beginning now and running through the end of the year, Take Care is introducing its Take Care Recovery Plan. This plan offers free health care to existing patients and their dependents who find themselves unemployed and uninsured after March 31, 2009.

These clinics will only offer treatment for such ailments as colds, upper respiratory conditions, flu, and minor skin issues; however, they will not offer check-ups or vaccinations as part of their Take Care Recovery Plan.

In addition, Quest Diagnostics is also offering their services for free lab testing such as strep throat testing and urinary testing.

Currently Walgreens has 341 Take Care clinics located across the country. The clinics will offer services Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In order to qualify for these services, you must meet the qualifications listed below:

The terminated individual and/or their dependents must have no current health care status, including COBRA.

The terminated individual and/or their dependents must have been a Take Care Clinic patient prior to their termination.

The terminated individual must submit a driver�s license or other photo identification along with documentation from the state or federal government determining their unemployment status as of March 31, 2009 or after �the individual has received unemployment benefits within the 30-day prior to the clinic visit date.�

You and your dependents will be terminated from the Take Care Recovery Plan if and when you begin to receive health insurance either privately or through a new job.

There are many other stipulations that this plan requires so be sure to visit the website or contact Take Care to see if you or your family members qualify.

While many of us may not qualify for the free health care services via the Take Care Clinics the message they are sending is they value their patients enough to put aside profits in times like these. As to how this plan will affect the company�s profits, it is too soon to tell. But hopefully this will encourage other health care providers and clinics to follow Take Care�s lead�maybe not offering free health care but reduced costs for those who find themselves in a tough situation.

What do you think about the Take Care Recovery Plan? Do you think this is a marketing gimmick to get new patients into their clinics? Would you be willing to visit a clinic if you meet the terms and find yourself unemployed and uninsured?

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Comments (Scroll to end to leave a comment)

MIKIIO 10/29/2009 7:20:00 PM	I agree with WETMAC. I'm in Europe too, and I'm glad we have NHS in Europe. I pay for the others, employed or jobless, rich or poor, resident or not, whatever their medical conditions, age or gender, and one day I might need what they pay each month to cure me. I consider myself very lucky not to have to bother about not having enough money to be cured or being unable to get a medical coverage for any reasons, and I'm happy to be able to pay a small fee from my salary for the others who need it. It is what solidarity is all about, isn't it?	111
SASANDRA 9/10/2009 2:35:27 AM	Hmmm......what's in it for Walgreens...their in buisness to make money??	110
GIRLNEXTDOOR94 8/18/2009 10:05:12 PM	I think this is a good idea. It would be nice if there were more options for people like this.	109
CRAZY_CAROLLYNN 4/19/2009 1:29:52 PM	I have always found Walgreens to be very commendable. For if one doesnt or cant Take Care of themselves, they run the risk of subcoming to more serious ailments that could have easily been concured when they were but a cold or scratch. I believe preventive maintenance comes in the form of proper nutrition, exercise, hygene and rest...but naturally some every day things cannot always be prevented, but they should be addressed none the less.	108
CDAWN26 4/14/2009 12:21:23 PM	It would definitely offer an option for healthcare and lower costs would help the budget. I'm at the point of choosing medicines or food. It is very scarry these days.	107
DEBMORSE1 4/9/2009 9:09:50 PM	I would do it only after looking at other options.	106
WINEDINETRAVEL 4/9/2009 9:07:16 AM	I love Walgreens - always have. This may not be the answer to all the world's problems, or even to the health care crisis in the US, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. Thanks to Walgreens for doing what they can to make a difference in the lives of some individuals who are in need. What would happen if each one of us made a small but significant contribution to our fellow human beings? I know - many of us do. Keep up the good work!	105
TDUJOUR 4/9/2009 8:32:02 AM	Ironically, I work for Walgreens. I have to pay over $300 per month for health insurance. The stipulation that you have to be a Take Care clinic patient is the marketing gimmick, but if you do that and lose your job, it would be worth it. Walgreens does have a great generic drug program- the enrollment fee is $20, but you get loyalty rewards for purchasing Walgreens products (which are great btw). It pays for itself pretty quickly. I don't think universal healthcare is the answer, but I don't have a different one.	104
*PIANOLADY** 4/6/2009 8:40:25 PM	I applaud Walgreen's efforts to help their patients and hope other businesses follow their example. I also like Grannies7 comment that she hopes the families who receive help will find a way to pay it forward.	103
EHAGFELD 4/6/2009 6:07:45 PM	If this helps people in need, then it's one step in the right directory	102
EARTH420 4/6/2009 2:21:01 PM	Great idea Walgreen's BUT...I am still employed but had to drop my health ins cuz they doubled the cost and now I'm truly in a fix if I need Medical care or advice!! People like me need help too! Thanks for letting me say it out loud to SOMEONE.	101
DIVINEPRINCESS 4/6/2009 12:54:04 PM	I like the sound of this. I have health insurance (at the moment), but with so many people losing their jobs, it's good to see Walgreens take a step in the right direction. I've often wondered why we don't see more proactive ways to solve the healthcare crisis in this country!	100
LEXIBELLE715 4/6/2009 11:17:49 AM	To the person who mentioned the government subsidy for the COBRA coverage - it's not all it's cracked up to be. Chances are, unless you're laid off AFTER April or May of this year, you're still going to have to shell out a HUGE chunk of money to sign up for COBRA. My husband and I called about this and would have had to pay over $1600 to get our coverage. Then, when the new payment structure FINALLY comes through, we'd get reimbursed. The problem? We don't have $1600 with us both being unemployed. That's almost all the money we currently bring in a month. Guess what? We have rent, electric, phone, food and other bills that have to be paid. Even with the 45 day grace period, there's no way you can come up with that. It's a great step, but again, it's falling short of actually HELPING people, especially ones who are in the most trouble (i.e. those who have been unemployed for 2, 3 or even 6 months already).	99
ISEW4UANDME 4/6/2009 9:46:25 AM	Sounds good....but.....it really doesn't help the ones who really need it!	98
TRICIA2250 4/6/2009 9:11:56 AM	I noticed that one of the qualifications for this is that you have to already be a patient of theirs before you or your spouse lost your job. That's not fair! There are some people who have no prior notice that their job is being lost or they are let go for some other reason on short notice... If they want to provide services to those who need them, they should be open to everyone once they have lost their jobs...	97
NCONCORDIA 4/6/2009 8:46:23 AM	This is great! The private sector (i.e. not the government) SHOULD be taking care of needs within our society ~ I just hope more individuals and businesses start stepping up. Great job Walgreens!	96
SAVEDBYGRACE95 4/6/2009 8:03:23 AM	I do not use walgreens there is not near where I live. But, thank God someone is trying to help people who need help and who are trying to help themselves.	95
JIBBIE49 4/6/2009 1:19:03 AM	I think TARGET Pharmacy has something like this with a Nurse Pract. available.	94
LARGESTLOSER 4/6/2009 12:42:57 AM	Walgreen's has made an attempt but it's so crazy the stipulations. As soon as I saw you had to be a Take Care patient before being entitled to being a Take Care patient, I thought 'say WHAT?' Why even advertise it, it's stupid. Besides they only offer a few services. Why bother. I am unemployed cuz I made the mistake, I guess, of quitting my job way back when, and was promised a new job elsewhere but it never panned out. I have no 'paperwork' to show I am unemployed. Just make your rx's $4 for a month supply or $10 for 3 months. CVS has a program like that now, though they charge a yearly upfront fee of $10 to be in the program. But they don't get all crazy looking for proof that you don't have insurance or a job. At least not in my case. They are trying to be more accommodating. They also have Minute Clinics and certain ones are free to public. But when I had pink eye recently and I couldn't get it to heal, I brought my mom to her doc appt. (her doc is also my doc) and he asked me (cuz I accompany my mom) 'What happened to your eyes?' and he graciously wrote me a script. Luckily I didn't have to pay for my own office visit, I wouldn't be able to afford it. I filled it at CVS, even though it wasn't one of the cheaper ones (on the 'list') it was still reasonable all the same. So, Walgreen's is on the right track, but needs to improve its openness to the general public. Thanks.	93
F8CONE8 4/6/2009 12:24:50 AM	Sounds like a gimmic to me. If you have health care benefits before getting laid off why would you be a Take Care patient unless your insurance company was on their plan.	92
ADRIENNE502002 4/5/2009 10:44:30 PM	If you had health care and a job, you likely used your physician for such things - why would you go to a clinic unless you had a huge copay? So it really is a gimmick to get people into Walgreen's. That said, if some people (and I do mean some), that would be great. I use Walgreens because it is convenient, but sadly I wouldn't qualify even if they had a clinic and I had used it since its inception. I'm self employed and a student. I couldn't apply for State unemployment benefits even if all my clients dried up. It would be good if someone benefited.	91
FLIMFLAN 4/5/2009 10:19:13 PM	If it helps people in need great! I have a job and diabetes -so I am set with other options!	90
REDROCKR 4/5/2009 9:38:54 PM	The way I see it is that any company assisting unemployed workers are taking baby steps in the right direction. Whether one views this with skepticism or as marketing ploy, Walgreens is opening their door to those who could not afford a visit to their own practioner. Perhaps other businesses will piggyback on this concept and incorporate a wider population in need.	89
GRAYGRANNY 4/5/2009 9:30:49 PM	Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!!!!!!!!!!	88
SP_COACH_NANCY 4/5/2009 8:55:32 PM	Hi Everyone! Thanks for your comments...I just wanted to pass by some information that may benefit many of you who may be on COBRA due to a job loss. I just came across a snippet in the April issue of Money Magazine that in Feb 2009 Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This allows many people to receive as much as 65% of their monthly insurance premiums for up to 9 months to be covered. PLEASE check into this...I guess I missed this with all the other stimulus stuff being mentioned. Nancy	87
LALMEIDA 4/5/2009 8:23:57 PM	In Massachusetts we are reqired to have health insurance...even if you can't afford it. Luclily you can try to work something out through Mass Health Connecter...run through MassHealth. Some qualify for MassHealth and others may have to pay a small amount (104.00) for it. So if you get laid off or have to buy your own this is the way to go...it is a lot cheaper (if you qualify) to do it this way than to buy your own insurance through a big company. Even if you work part time you can work something out with them. It just takes time and research to do it.	86
CHAMP09 4/5/2009 6:31:32 PM	Just an FYI you will NOT see a Doctor at the Walgreen's Clinic's. They only have Nurse Practitioners. If you have anything serious it would not be the place to go, they will not be able to help you. Most Med Stops and Emergency Rooms don't charge people without insurance as much as those with insurance...	85
TXSPLA 4/5/2009 5:24:23 PM	Looks like a lot of strings attached. We send more medical supplies and such to foreign countries than we do our own nation. Go figure.	84
KEL3MUR 4/5/2009 3:43:04 PM	We haven't used the Take Care clinic yet. My husband didn't have health insurance before because he is self employed. He has had no work since December...so we have a double whammy. I think it's a good gesture on Walgreen's part but I think there are too many restrictions.	83
PMGV01 4/5/2009 1:58:58 PM	This is a great idea. I wish more corporations would take a page form Walgreens book.	82
LEXIBELLE715 4/5/2009 1:42:15 PM	On the one hand it's nice to see corporations taking steps like this to help people in this economy, but on the other hand it frustrates me to no end to see SO many strings attached! What's so different about the people who were let go from their jobs in March vs. those in, say September (when I lost my job)? If anything, those who've been laid off longer are in greater need of services like this. My husband lost his job in January and with it, went our insurance coverage. I have medical conditions that require continuing medical care - what am I supposed to do? Cobra would cost us $1800 up front and I don't qualify for any individual plans and don't qualify for any state assistance. We make too much on unemployment (tell me if that's not a laugh!) and I'm not pregnant or disabled so no Medicaid. It's just frustrating. Like I said, it's nice to see companies stepping up to try and help, but they need to do it in a way that actually helps and doesn't leave thousands who really need the help out of luck because they don't meet your arbitrary deadlines or impossible requirements.	81
WETMAC 4/5/2009 1:19:49 PM	People in the UK malign the National Health Service for a variety of reasons. However, when I read articles such as this I say to these people you do not know how lucky we are. The system may be crumbling to an extent and patients may have things like waiting time issues but when it comes doen to it, treatment for all is a fundamental right and is granted for all whether rich or porr, black or white. I have good reason to be grateful to the NHS in more ways that one and if we actually take a good look at the situation we would see that we are very fortunate in the UK not to have to depend on whether we have health insurance in order to see a doctor, have a check up, get a vaccination, etc. In Scotland we are even going an extra step by starting to come down to free prescriptions. Yes we pay a small percentage of our salaries each week but this doesn't even come close to funding the NHS and the UK government has to subsidise the scheme heavily. So, when the detractors finally get down from their soap boxes, perhaps they should be made to read articles like this and be thankful that they are not put in the same position.	80
OREAD_1 4/5/2009 1:17:13 PM	About a year ago our local Walgreen's had a big campaign to "welcome back" MEDICAL (gov. paid) insurance for their pharmacy patients. This was after about 20yrs of refusing to accept the coverage. Now they are trying to "help" a very limited number of "covered" individuals? Where are the clinics? Walgreen's has been around all my life, but no clinics. Pardon my skepticism.	79
*AMBER512 4/5/2009 1:08:07 PM	I think it's nice of them to do, but my husband and I wouldn't have qualified even when he was laid off last year. Hopefully it's the first step in much better health care offers!	78
SPARKLESSENCE 4/5/2009 12:30:14 PM	Right on, CRIS and ALC! We desperately need universal health coverage in this country. I hear ya!	77
G.I.JANE 4/5/2009 12:29:28 PM	I work for a Doctors' office & dont have health insurance. Too exspensive for a small business owner to afford. So, they are just treating Upper respiratory infections & such? That will require an Antibiotic. Hmm, where are they going to purchase that Antibiotic? I believe this will lead to unecessary prescribing. With times being so trying right now I am seeing more anxiety & depression. Treating that would be more of a risk for them. I agree if the Person really needed an Antibiotic it is a good thing. Just over prescribing them is very risky.	76
MOMMAMITRA 4/5/2009 11:42:42 AM	Unfortunately, I didn't use Take Care Clinics before I was unemployed so I'm not eligible for the liimited free care now. Too bad. Live and let die.	75
MISSYLYNN20071 4/5/2009 11:40:07 AM	I think this is great, my husband works at Wegman's in the pharmacy dept. If it helps even just a few it's a great thing.	74
DEETAGGART 4/5/2009 11:31:30 AM	So what if it is a marketing gimmick? If it helps even one family get health care while the breadwinner is unemployed, it's worth it.	73
JEWITCH 4/5/2009 11:20:45 AM	I wish the Walgreens near me had a clinic.	72
CRIS7771 4/5/2009 11:07:25 AM	The right to healthcare is a fundamental human right. There should be an universal healthcare system in place, that is, for everybody. Fire the middlemen (health insurance corporations).	71
RETROGIRL02 4/5/2009 10:48:49 AM	There is a lot of competition right now between pharmacies. Target has $4 and $10 generics, $4 WalMart specific generics, Walgreens is expensive when it comes to prescriptions. I'm sure a lot of traffic from their stores has moved on due to cost. I think this has PR written all over it but do hope that it manages to do some good for the relatively few families that it applies to. If you are not insured regardless of your current job status, check with local volunteer health clinics to see if your family is eligible. Local families, churches, nurses, pharmacists, doctors, nurse practitioners and physcian assistants donate their time, supplies, and often money to keep these programs going. It is a grassroots movement and while not available everywhere, are becoming not only popular but necessary in some communities. If this interests you, call an agency and volunteer to help your neighbors in need.	70
BIBLECHICK 4/5/2009 10:35:51 AM	Must admit, I don't generally visit Walgreens very often but when I do, I usually am amazed to see one or two items there I can't find any place else. I suspect this is going to help real people AND Walgreens--as they tend to be the last place I think of going for such-n-such an item, but yet have a unique variety of items that will grab the attention of shoppers.	69
CHIMNEYROCK 4/5/2009 10:31:54 AM	I think that people forget to read the fine print on this. In the article it says that you must have taken advantage of the Take Care Clinic's before you were terminated from your place of employment. How does that help families whose insurance companies only pay for you to use their clinic and then they get laid off and with it goes their insurance? If they did not use TC prior to termination, they cannot use the Take Care clinic. Keeping this in mind, "Yes, i think it's a marketing gimmick." For those of you who don't agree with me, that's okay. But it does pay to read the FINE print folks.	68
EATINGSMARTER 4/5/2009 10:12:56 AM	This is a great idea - I wish that we qualified. I am self employed and uninsured with two small children. I do not qualify for anything so I am stuck paying outrageously for things that people in other countries get for free. We are hurting in this country with the economy and layoffs and every other such thing. I will not put any company down that is doing anything to help somehow.	67
IVYLASS 4/5/2009 10:07:01 AM	Who cares if it's a marketing gimmick? If they provide good service to those who need it, how is that bad? Heaven forbid the private sector take the initiative in something that the government wants control over!!	66
MRUEHL 4/5/2009 9:49:20 AM	It seems to be a combination of helping people and keeping or bringing in customers. It is always necessary to be cautious. However, you can help people and keep in business.	65
DONNA5108 4/5/2009 9:38:59 AM	I have used the Walgreen's clinic and was so impressed with the nurse practicioner in New Albany, Ohio. I would use them any time. I believe these nurse practioners will do a good job for you and not over step their boundaries. I was so grateful that I could get in to see someone for a strep infection and get on antibiotics so I could return to work on Monday. I hope others follow Walgreen's example.	64
SIMPLYABUNDANT 4/5/2009 9:30:29 AM	This is a wonderful service, as is the low-cost generic prescription medication formulary that Walgreen's pharmacies offer. I just wish the time would come when those of us who are uninsured but employed could get some affordable medical care. Although I work hard (one fulltime and one parttime job), but I am not offered group health care on the job and cannot afford the premiums for private health insurance because of my age and a previous diagnosis of depression. Like so many others in this country, I am one of the working uninsured who, so far at least, are simply falling through the cracks because we don't qualify for programs for the indigent and can't afford to pay out of pocket. I count my blessings daily that I have a job, and will continue to do so, but it's frightening in this age of high medical costs to know that one serious accident or injury could bankrupt me.	63
ALC71261 4/5/2009 9:16:29 AM	The private sector of our country needs to stop being greedy at the top and do more things like this so that the government will stop stepping in. Just remember that everytime they step in we lose another of our liberties. We need to start taking care of each other as humans.	62