Walgreens. The Pharmacy (Unemployed) America Trusts. If you lose your job and health insurance tomorrow, you can now turn to the drugstore for routine treatment and testing for minor ailments.
Today Walgreens announced plans to offer walk-in clinics free of charge. The in-store Take Care clinics can address problems like respiratory illnesses, infections like pink eye, allergies, and skin conditions. Patients will probably cross their fingers that they won't be prescribed a pricey drug, since they'll still have to pay for prescriptions.
The idea is to keep people out of urgent-care and emergency rooms. Customers will have to prove that they're unemployed, and once they get health insurance back, they'll have to pay for future screenings, which typically cost $59.
This sounds like a good plan for both the uninsured and Walgreens. The company can increase awareness about its service, and those facing tough times can buffer the consequences of unemployment.
Isabella Oliver
Sergio Rossi
Shudoo
So not really "free" clinics more like "layaway clinics"
great now I have to worry about going to walgreens and people with skin issues are going to be touching my future purchases?
1I wonder if they have to get the med filled at Walgreens. Get checked out at Walgreens then go to Wal-Mart for the $4 drugs.
2I think it is a nice thing to do. And many people may benefit from it. I am sure they are hoping people will fill their prescriptions there, but I don't think you have to.
3"If you lose you job..."
4
Go Walgreens! I think it's so nice of them 
5"Hal Rosenbluth, chairman of the Take Care Health Systems division, described the plan as something close to an experiment: He said Walgreen isn't sure of patient demand or how much providing the services might cost the company."
It is a nice idea but I can see a lot of headaches ahead for Walgreens. It's a good temporary measure.
6CG, i think you've always had to worry about sick people touching your "future purchases" at walgreens.
7shhh snarky shhhh hush now.
8That's awesome....I think it's pathetic that we have to pay for healthcare and we are the richest country in the world but 3rd world countrys get free healthcare and if you even go into a hospital bledding all over they'd probably make you sit there and then tell you, you can't get help cause u have no insurance or not enough. It's wrong. So two thumb's up for walgreens. We need more care in this dam world.
9Baby, Walgreen's isn't offering it for free, you have to pay them back.
And we should absolutely have to pay for health-care, now do i agree with how much? No, but I am not for free health-care for all!!
Also, no matter if you don't have insurance? a hospital has to treat you regardless.
and just FYI. we do have spellcheck on here. no biggie.
10Oh and there is care in this world, I work for a place that is swimming in it.
11I'm not to sure... I'm with snarky on this one
I can see me coming home with eyeliner and impetigo.
12CG, from what I understand, you don't have to pay them back for services rendered while unemployed. From the link:
Qualifying patients can use the free care services for the rest of 2009, or until they find a job or obtain health care benefits.
... at which point they begin paying for services as any employed person would.
13got ya, need coffee, late in day.....
14From what I am reading, it doesn't look like they have to pay it back either, but they only get a basic exam.
15
16i think that it's not only a nice thing to do - it's kind of the right thing to do. the problem that i see though is that you have to have no job to get this. i feel like even though i do have a job and insurance, i have to pay through the roof to go to the doctor - and that's not always right. it's just a messed up system that we have. at least this is a step in the right direction to take care of our own - given that so many people are struggling right now.
17caterpillar-are you againist everything that helps people or just places that help people where you happen to shop? how about shopping at target? or maybe walking around in a plastic bubble so people with skin conditions or any other conditions dont infect you?
anyhoo, i think this is a great idea and an example of how a little corporate responsibility can go a long way. see pelosi and company, we can have change without government involvement
18Interesting- i like the idea of alternative healthcare ideas out of the government hands. Wonder how it will turn out.
19Awesome. What a great idea. I want to patronize Walgreen's now. It will save the unemployed, and the taxpayers, money in the long run. Anything you can do to keep people out of the ER...
20I think this is great.
I know every one tends to focus on medical care reform but dental expenses are through the rough and they are enjoying hiding in the shadows behind our preoccupation with medical expenses.
21*roof
22Ugh Hypno - my kid has a gap in her front teeth and all her friends have braces and mine's pretty sure her life is over if I don't get her braces this summer. That bill looms large in my dreams!
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