Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

New Horizons Healthcare employee Teresa McCadden (left) helps Marie Stimpson get approved for care.

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Layoffs coupled with the already high cost of health care have led many to forgo medical care. Here are a few options if you are in need of health care. Many programs require eligibility screenings, and many set income eligibility based on the federal poverty guidelines. To view the guidelines visit aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/

Free clinics

The Virginia Association of Free Clinics represents 48 free clinics throughout the state that provide free medical care to the uninsured. To identify a clinic go to www.vafreeclinics.org.

In Roanoke, the Bradley Free Clinic offers two programs. The first provides free medical, dental and prescription drug services to people who are working but have income at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

The second program is new and offers free on-site medical and dental services to the working uninsured who earn up to 250 percent of poverty.

For both programs, caregivers and people who have been unemployed for up to a year are also eligible.

The Free Clinic of the New River Valley serves the unemployed, uninsured and low income. To qualify for medical services people must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty level. Dental services are provided to those earning up to 150 percent of poverty.

Hospitals

Lewis-Gale Medical Center, and the other HCA Inc. hospitals in the region, operate under a companywide charity care policy for people who are uninsured or underinsured.

The HCA policy provides financial relief to patients based on income and financial resources. The policy provides free care for any patient who receives nonelective treatment and who is at or below 200 percent of poverty. It also provides the uninsured a "managed care like discount" if they do not qualify for Medicaid or any other discount program.

The newly revised Carilion Clinic charity care policy provides sliding scale discounts to people earning up to 400 percent of poverty. The policy applies to medically necessary care rendered at a Carilion hospital or by a Carilion physician. It specifies free care to those who are at or below 100 percent of poverty.

Community health programs

New Horizons Healthcare Center offers federally subsidized care for the uninsured. The center also offers some assistance for the underinsured, such as those with very high insurance deductibles or insurance that only covers catastrophic events.

As a federally qualified health center, New Horizons received a $900,680 grant this fiscal year to provide care to people living at or below 200 percent of poverty. These patients pay a co-pay that is based on a sliding fee scale.

The center also sees patients with health insurance. Call (540) 362-0360.

Other

n In 2007, the national Patient Advocate Foundation teamed up with the Virginia government to form the Virginia Cares Uninsured Program to help uninsured Virginians with chronic, life-threatening or debilitating diseases. The program provides patients with case management service to help them with access to health care issues. The foundation also has programs for insured people with life-threatening or debilitating diseases. Call (800) 532-5274.

n The Virginia Healthcare Foundation lists resources for people looking for medical care. Visit www.vhcf.org.

n Project Access of the Roanoke Valley coordinates comprehensive services to medical and dental specialists for the low-income uninsured in the Roanoke Valley. For eligibility requirements call (540) 344-4200.

n Local health departments also offer a variety of services for children and adults. Contact your health department for more information.