Can nurses help uninsured patients ?

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 19, 2019

Yes, if a nurse is trained to do so. Nurses who do this because it is part of their duties and responsibilities are nurse case managers. Other nurses make the necessary referrals to case management or social work depending on where they work.

Wannabenurseneko · Jul 20, 2019

Can nurse practitioners help uninsured patients as well ?

Oldmahubbard · Jul 20, 2019

1 hour ago, Wannabenurseneko said:
Can nurse practitioners help uninsured patients as well ?

Of course they can in theory, but if they work for an employer, their involvement will be limited by the setting.

NP's generally limit their practice to medicine. They usually don't do what is thought of as case management, or social work, because it can be done by someone with less education.

There are NPs who work at low income clinics. A few may be volunteers.

If the patient lives in a state that has not expanded medicaid, sadly the search for affordable healthcare will usually be fruitless.

verene, MSN · Jul 20, 2019

Yes, nurses can help uninsured patients, both in obtaining insurance coverage, or in providing nursing care. The only thing that might limit this is training and/or facility policies.

The employer I work for serves a large number of low-income and/or homeless clients, not all of whom have insurance. For many we are able to start the process to insurance coverage (not done by RNs because we have neither the time/training) or also have the ability to provide care to those who have no insurance and who don't qualify for insurance through a "special fund" (county grant).

What specifically are you wanting to do to help uninsured patients? Are you wanting to take on a case management role and help them gain coverage? Do you want to provide nursing care in your current facility? Do you want to volunteer a a free/low-cost health clinic? Something else?

Wannabenurseneko · Jul 21, 2019

4 hours ago, verene said:
Yes, nurses can help uninsured patients, both in obtaining insurance coverage, or in providing nursing care. The only thing that might limit this is training and/or facility policies.
The employer I work for serves a large number of low-income and/or homeless clients, not all of whom have insurance. For many we are able to start the process to insurance coverage (not done by RNs because we have neither the time/training) or also have the ability to provide care to those who have no insurance and who don't qualify for insurance through a "special fund" (county grant).
What specifically are you wanting to do to help uninsured patients? Are you wanting to take on a case management role and help them gain coverage? Do you want to provide nursing care in your current facility? Do you want to volunteer a a free/low-cost health clinic? Something else?

I'm not a nurse yet but I would like to volunteer or work at a low-cost health clinic . Because lately I've been seeing a lot of people with this problem and I would like to help in the future .

Forest2 · Jul 29, 2019

I used to do this for people in home health care. We had a social worker but she wasn't much help and didn't want to put in any effort. I'd lead them to the right people and contacts so that they could file for Medicaid or to find other resources in their community to help them. If they couldn't afford their medications I would try to find ways they could get it, pay on time or reach out to drug companies or try to find sources of samples, etc.

allnurses Guide · Jul 30, 2019

There are ample opportunities as a nurse, including as a nurse practitioner, to help marginalized, underserved populations - some for pay, some by volunteering.