Health

If it is an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. By law, an emergency room has to check you and treat an emergency even if you cannot pay. Ask for the hospital's financial help form before you leave or when the bill comes. Grady is the public hospital, and it lowers bills for people with low income who live in Fulton or DeKalb County. Ask about the Grady Card.

For a regular doctor, go to a community health center. They see people with no insurance and charge by income, so a visit may cost little or nothing. Mercy Care, Good Samaritan Health Center and Southside Medical Center are three of the larger ones. Bring a photo ID and proof of income if you have them, and go even if you don't. Most will see you and sort out the paperwork later. You do not need to be a citizen. Many fill prescriptions for a few dollars and have dental and eye care too. See doctor visits, dental care and vision care.

For shots, birth control and testing, your county health department charges little or nothing. Many places test for HIV for free, and if you have HIV and no insurance, a federal program pays for your care. See HIV services.

To get insurance, apply for Medicaid at gateway.ga.gov. Children can get Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids, 877-427-3224, even when their parents can't. Pregnant women usually qualify. Other adults with very low income may qualify through Georgia Pathways, which asks for 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteering. If Medicaid says no, look at plans on georgiaaccess.gov, where the price depends on your income. See help with health insurance.

Written by ATL Care from the listings in this directory. See something wrong? Tell us.