Getting Free Healthcare Through The US Government

People everywhere are looking for alternatives to the high costs of medical care, whether this is crowd-sourced medical funding through sites such as Go Fund Me or by taking medical tours to different countries to receive lower rates on medical expenses and procedures. Whatever it is they are doing to escape escalating medical costs in the United States, one problem is ubiquitously shared among the nation: healthcare costs are much too high. With doctors’ visits steadily increasing and insurance premiums out of control, it is difficult to find affordable alternatives to healthcare, let alone trying to find services that are free.

With the amounting costs of healthcare, what many people don’t know, however, is that the government has provided some provisions for certain groups of workers to receive free healthcare. Unfortunately, not everyone qualifies under these provisions, but beneficiaries of these government programs can qualify to receive free healthcare services if they have contracted particular, delineated occupational illnesses. These illnesses were determined by congress through two congressional acts known as the Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOIPCA) and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).  Both of these acs specify that US Department of Energy workers, contractors, subcontractors, miners, and millers are all eligible for free healthcare if they contracted certain types of cancer or other chronic illnesses due to their jobs.

RECA and EEOICPA Explanation

RECA was established nearly 28 years ago in 1990. It established that those who worked with uranium in any way to assist the US in building its nuclear program could receive free health care if they developed any cancers or chronic illnesses associated with high-energy radiation. In 2000, Congress expanded RECA with EEOICPA, including more people who could be included in free healthcare benefits, including DOE surviving family members. In addition to a lump sum compensation amount, individuals who qualify for RECA and EEOICPA have the benefit of receiving free healthcare.

Getting Free Healthcare

If an individual or family qualifies for the EEOICPA and/or RECA programs, they will need to find a provider that will work with the government to pay your medical expenses. There are some stipulations regarding this, but there are independent agencies and doctors willing to work with you. A particular nation-wide company, United Energy Workers Healthcare, for example, helps only EEOICPA and RECA beneficiaries by providing free home health care, and many other companies such as this are willing to help with different EEOICPA and RECA medical needs. Getting free healthcare is possible for some, so take advantage of these programs if you qualify.