January 2010

At the Health Fair

Communities are full of residents who need healthcare, but don’t get it because they are uninsured, under-insured or just don’t know where to go. They don’t seek out local health departments or clinics because of concerns about not meeting income requirements or other restrictions. Health fairs are a great avenue for this group by providing a way to stay on top of your well-being without co-pays or out-of-pocket expenses. A health fair is a way to promote preventative care by taking health education to the community. There are screenings for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol and hearing. Some fairs will offer bone density, breast and prostate cancer screenings. Physicians and other healthcare professionals are on hand to explain test results and make recommendations to the participants. Educational information and community resources are also important for the participants to receive.

With the current economic crisis affecting such a large number of individuals’ health coverage, what role if any will health fairs continue to play in the care of the uninsured? Free health care which health fairs provide will be in more demand according to a study by the American Journal of Medicine which found that 62% of all bankruptcies are due to medical debt. Hospitals, churches, and other organizations will continue to hold health fairs and the uninsured will continue to seek free medical care.

It’s great to take care of health problems that people already have, but it’s even better to help prevent them in the first place by health screenings, which is exactly what happens… at the health fair.

Needing help choosing health insurance read this month’s What’s the Point.