Free health care for the unemployed through the end of 2009 on clarkhoward.com

Walgreen's has introduced an amazing new plan to provide free health care to the unemployed.

For the rest of 2009, they'll offer routine treatment and tests for nada to those who are laid off via their Take Care clinics. This offer does not cover prescriptions.

The clinics, which are staffed by nurse practitioners, normally charge $59 for a visit. Walgreen's has no idea what the response will be. The demand may even overwhelm the operations at their 340 clinics across the country.

But compare the spirit of Walgreen's offer to what you find in the hospital business. Sometimes it seems hospital administrators work overtime figuring out how to not treat the uninsured and the unemployed.

Clark likens the Take Care clinic initiative to Miracle on 34th Street with abbreviated banker's hours: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Sometimes the real innovation comes from outside of an industry. Walgreen's and the entire "nurse in a box" field is taking on traditional medicine. After all, there's no reason why we shouldn't have a price list at the doctor's office like you do at a nurse in a box.

There just hasn't been enough competitive pressure…until now.

What others are saying

Take Care Clinic
No available in California probably because of all the illegal aliens
By PJM @ 11/09/09 11:14:31 AMreport abuse
Nurse Practitioners
NP's are very well educated for the most part and in most states can write non-narcotic prescription drugs.
Their education is equivelant to a PA and are found in many physicians offices as a "less expensive" alternative of care.
Great Idea Walgreens!!!
By Rochelle H @ 05/20/09 05:16:20 PMreport abuse
re: Nurse practitioners
Glad you mentioned that, Rb - the nurse practitioners are very well educated and trained. Walgreens actually clarifies that the Take Care Clinic NPs are board certified.
source: http://www.takecarehealth.com/about/our-care-providers.aspx
By Jeff T @ 05/08/09 02:32:11 PMreport abuse
Nurse practitioners
These "nurses" who see patients in these clinics do not have a couple yrs of education like Dale seems to think. They are nurse practitioners who have their bachelors degree in nursing, work experience at an RN, and then go back to school to get their masters in nursing, then more experience at a NP. My family and I have had nothing but great care with the NPs.
By Rb @ 05/03/09 04:43:31 PMreport abuse
Just to clarify on the qualification for this offer is anyone who has lost their job and their insurance on or after March 31.
By JeffT @ 04/29/09 10:26:36 AMreport abuse
Health Insurance Termination--Answer
To the post the above, yes you do have health insurance either through COBRA (18+ months) or State Continuation (3+ months) and the employer or insurance company has to accept 65% of the premium as full payment. Call you former employer and ask to speak to their agent.
By Elena Merino @ 04/25/09 10:48:35 PMreport abuse
Health insurance terminated without notice
My Health insurance terminated without notice the day I was laid off. I went to pick up a prescription the same day 2/13/09 and was told I no longer had insurance. The paper work I received said the insurance ended 2/15/09. Every other job I've had continued health insurance (with your premiums) until you could transition to COBRA or other insurace. Did this recent employer legally cut off my health insurance? If so, the action at least demonstrates a complete lack of humanity.
By Susan McDermott @ 04/25/09 03:02:17 PMreport abuse
COBRA
To Michelle: my husband's a type 1 diabetic who put us all on COBRA when he got laid off. See below posts regarding 66% cost reduction with COBRA. We expected to pay 1000 (for family HMO/DMO and vision coverage) now it's 349 a month. Still pricey, but the continuous coverage is essential.

Also, despite the Take Care Clinic limitations, I give kudos, props and my money to Walgreens for being so generous to those who qualify.
By JC @ 04/23/09 11:46:34 PMreport abuse
Health Insurance
For any of you who were laid off recently and had coverage through your employer, the government is now assisting with COBRA. My COBRA dropped from $480 per month to $142 per month! Contact your HR dept and ask about it!
By PL @ 04/23/09 04:18:34 PMreport abuse
Read The Fine Print
According to the website, one of the qualifying requirements is that you had to have been treated under the program prior to termination.

"you, your spouse/same-sex domestic partner, your dependent child (18 months through 18 years of age) or your
spouse/same-sex domestic partner’s dependent child (18 months through 18 years of age) received services at a
Take Care Clinic prior to the date of your employment termination."
By rick @ 04/23/09 03:18:53 PMreport abuse
Beware
You get what you pay for. A couple years of nursing school vs. 7-12 years of comprehensive medical education. They are NOT the same!!!
By Dale @ 04/23/09 01:21:50 PMreport abuse
health care walgreens
It is nice they can help but why only if you were laid off after March 1st.
By barbara foti @ 04/23/09 11:24:22 AMreport abuse
walgreens "free" help from nurse practioners
I think Clark gave Walgreens free advertising because I called to get more details and was told you only could be helped if you were laid off after March 1st.
By clare @ 04/23/09 10:59:26 AMreport abuse
Great...but
This is wonderful for the unemployed. They really need the help right now. But, what about the underemployed and uninsured? We need help, too.
By Jenny @ 04/23/09 02:04:45 AMreport abuse
Take Care health clinic
great article. wish Athens, Georgia had one. Love shopping at Walgreens
By barbara @ 04/22/09 04:08:01 PMreport abuse

Take Care Clinic

No available in California probably because of all the illegal aliens

By PJM @ 11/09/09 11:14:31 AMreport abuse

Nurse Practitioners

NP's are very well educated for the most part and in most states can write non-narcotic prescription drugs.
Their education is equivelant to a PA and are found in many physicians offices as a "less expensive" alternative of care.
Great Idea Walgreens!!!

By Rochelle H @ 05/20/09 05:16:20 PMreport abuse

re: Nurse practitioners

Glad you mentioned that, Rb - the nurse practitioners are very well educated and trained. Walgreens actually clarifies that the Take Care Clinic NPs are board certified.
source: http://www.takecarehealth.com/about/our-care-providers.aspx

By Jeff T @ 05/08/09 02:32:11 PMreport abuse

Nurse practitioners

These "nurses" who see patients in these clinics do not have a couple yrs of education like Dale seems to think. They are nurse practitioners who have their bachelors degree in nursing, work experience at an RN, and then go back to school to get their masters in nursing, then more experience at a NP. My family and I have had nothing but great care with the NPs.

By Rb @ 05/03/09 04:43:31 PMreport abuse

Just to clarify on the qualification for this offer is anyone who has lost their job and their insurance on or after March 31.

By JeffT @ 04/29/09 10:26:36 AMreport abuse

Health Insurance Termination--Answer

To the post the above, yes you do have health insurance either through COBRA (18+ months) or State Continuation (3+ months) and the employer or insurance company has to accept 65% of the premium as full payment. Call you former employer and ask to speak to their agent.

By Elena Merino @ 04/25/09 10:48:35 PMreport abuse

Health insurance terminated without notice

My Health insurance terminated without notice the day I was laid off. I went to pick up a prescription the same day 2/13/09 and was told I no longer had insurance. The paper work I received said the insurance ended 2/15/09. Every other job I've had continued health insurance (with your premiums) until you could transition to COBRA or other insurace. Did this recent employer legally cut off my health insurance? If so, the action at least demonstrates a complete lack of humanity.

By Susan McDermott @ 04/25/09 03:02:17 PMreport abuse

COBRA

To Michelle: my husband's a type 1 diabetic who put us all on COBRA when he got laid off. See below posts regarding 66% cost reduction with COBRA. We expected to pay 1000 (for family HMO/DMO and vision coverage) now it's 349 a month. Still pricey, but the continuous coverage is essential.

Also, despite the Take Care Clinic limitations, I give kudos, props and my money to Walgreens for being so generous to those who qualify.

By JC @ 04/23/09 11:46:34 PMreport abuse

Health Insurance

For any of you who were laid off recently and had coverage through your employer, the government is now assisting with COBRA. My COBRA dropped from $480 per month to $142 per month! Contact your HR dept and ask about it!

By PL @ 04/23/09 04:18:34 PMreport abuse

Read The Fine Print

According to the website, one of the qualifying requirements is that you had to have been treated under the program prior to termination.

"you, your spouse/same-sex domestic partner, your dependent child (18 months through 18 years of age) or your
spouse/same-sex domestic partner’s dependent child (18 months through 18 years of age) received services at a
Take Care Clinic prior to the date of your employment termination."

By rick @ 04/23/09 03:18:53 PMreport abuse

Beware

You get what you pay for. A couple years of nursing school vs. 7-12 years of comprehensive medical education. They are NOT the same!!!

By Dale @ 04/23/09 01:21:50 PMreport abuse

health care walgreens

It is nice they can help but why only if you were laid off after March 1st.

By barbara foti @ 04/23/09 11:24:22 AMreport abuse

walgreens "free" help from nurse practioners

I think Clark gave Walgreens free advertising because I called to get more details and was told you only could be helped if you were laid off after March 1st.

By clare @ 04/23/09 10:59:26 AMreport abuse

Great...but

This is wonderful for the unemployed. They really need the help right now. But, what about the underemployed and uninsured? We need help, too.

By Jenny @ 04/23/09 02:04:45 AMreport abuse

Take Care health clinic

great article. wish Athens, Georgia had one. Love shopping at Walgreens

By barbara @ 04/22/09 04:08:01 PMreport abuse

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Apr 22, 2009 -- Free health care for the unemployed through the end of 2009

What others are saying