THE CHEAP BASTARD’S® GUIDE TO Los Angeles

I used to think people who live without medical insurance are crazy. Then I became one of them. With the amazing resources Los Angeles has to offer, it is possible to take good care of yourself with free or inexpensive medical care. Here’s how.

FREE OR LOW-COST HEALTH CLINICS

As you peruse these listings to find a clinic in your neighborhood that will meet your needs, it is helpful to know that most clinics have sliding scales, low- to no-cost rates, or accept the Medi-Cal or similar insurance plans. Go armed with a good magazine or book; they don’t call it the waiting room for nothing. When making an appointment for your needs, flag your calendar to schedule that appointment far in advance, so you’re not stuck pouting on the other end of the phone at their lack of availability over the next 2 months.

10418 Valley Blvd., Suite B, El Monte
(626) 453-8466
www.altamed.org
Hours: Mon and Wed 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tues and Thurs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

AltaMed has been offering primary care medicine, geriatrics, women’s health, family planning, pediatrics, and screenings through its community clinics, senior care programs, and health and human services for the entire family over the past 40 years. Their various 43 combined Los Angeles and Orange County locations feature adult health day care services, senior case management, program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, disease management programs, health education, youth services, and HIV/AIDS care and substance abuse treatment, serving more than 100,000 families a year with more than 650,000 annual patient visits. AltaMed’s user-friendly website or customer service (877-462-2582) can help you find a location, doctor, or clinic in your area.

6000 N. Figueroa (at N. Avenue 61 in Highland Park), Los Angeles
(323) 254-5221
www.arroyovista.org
Hours: Mon through Fri 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sat 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 2 weeks in advance to make an appointment.

The Arroyo Vista Family Health Center provides affordable, quality health care services to patients with or without insurance, regardless of their ability to pay. Services offered at no cost include pregnancy tests; health education; diabetes classes; and childhood, flu, and pneumonia vaccinations; as well as dental, vision, height, weight, blood pressure screenings, and more. The financial screening team can meet with you to discuss sliding scale fee options. Additional locations in Lincoln Heights are at 2411 N. Broadway (323-987-2000), El Sereno at 4837 Huntington Dr. N. (323-225-0024) and 4815 N. Valley Blvd., Suite C (323-222-1134), and Loma Drive at 303 S. Loma Dr., Suite 202 (213-201-5800).

767 N. Hills St., Suite 400 (at Alpine Street in Chinatown), Los Angeles
(213) 808-1700
www.cscla.org
Hours: Mon through Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Since 1971, Chinatown Service Center is the largest community-based nonprofit Chinese-American health and human services organization in Southern California, dedicated to serving immigrants, refugees, and others in aiding in the physical adjustment to American life. Physical exams, diagnosis and treatment for illnesses, lab tests, immunizations, and basic eye care are provided in English and various Chinese dialects. The main office is located at the address above, and several other satellite offices throughout Los Angeles provide youth and child development services.

123 S. Alvarado St. (near Beverly Boulevard in Pico Union/Westlake), Los Angeles
(213) 989-7700
www.clinicaromero.com
Hours: Mon through Thurs 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri and Sat 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call up to 2 months in advance for an appointment. Dental and counseling hours vary.

The Clmica Monsenor Oscar A. Romero provides medical, dental, counseling, and health education services to adults and children. Their newly opened children’s clinic farther down on South Alvarado offers free physical exams and immunizations, as well as assistance with Medi-Cal or WIC enrollment, or in changing a medical plan. Hours differ at the children’s clinic and at the Boyle Heights location at 2032 Marengo St. (323-987-1030), where they also have an alcohol and substance abuse treatment program. The clinic will work with you to determine payment.

1855 N. Fair Oaks Ave. (at E. Tremont St.), Pasadena
(626) 398-6300
www.chapcare.org
Hours: Mon through Thurs 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Keep those pearly whites pearly with Community Health Alliance’s dental care. Behavioral health services and medical care coverage including cholesterol checks, cancer screenings, disease screenings, vision and hearing tests, family planning, lab and radiology, blood pressure screenings, medicine, and prescriptions. Alternate locations at 1800 N. Lake Ave. and 3160 E. Del Mar Blvd., both in Pasadena and reachable via the same phone number as listed above.

201 N. Central Ave. (at E. 150th), Compton
(310) 635-7123
www.comptoncentralhealthclinic.org
Hours: Mon and Wed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Tues and Thurs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Immunizations, laboratory services, radiology, and primary care, including medical diagnosis as well as pharmacy services. The Compton Central Health Clinic also offers vaccinations.

1530 S. Olive St. (at Venice Blvd. in the Fashion District), Los Angeles
(213) 747-5542
www.pedcenter.org
Hours: Mon through Sat 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Evening clinic hours vary by department.

The Eisner Pediatric & Family Medical Center has a multilingual staff that provides infant, toddler, children, adolescent, and women’s care, along with mental health and dental needs services. They accept Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, CHDP, PPP, FPACT, private insurance, and cash. Some services are free.

4023 Marine Ave., Lawndale
(310) 675-9555
www.eldoradocsc.org
Hours: Mon through Fri 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This cluster of service centers scattered throughout the Los Angeles area offers general family practice, gynecology, pre- and post-natal care, pediatrics, family planning, mental health services, and narcotics treatment. Check out the website for information on all of their area locations.

Urgent medical care services treating things like lacerations, abscesses, abrasions and minor burns, suture removal, cast check, coughs, bronchitis, earaches, sinusitis, sore throats, STDs, drug testing, allergic reactions, asthma, TB tests, vitamin B12 shots, physicals, and more. Although the cost is $69 for a general medical visit, considering that same visit to the ER will run you hundreds more, it’s a steal.

The Saban Free Clinic offers a variety of services, from primary, preventive, and specialty care for adults and children, to prenatal, OB/GYN, optometry, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, pharmacy/medication needs, HIV testing, STD diagnosis and treatment, cancer screenings, chiropractic care, mental, and dental services. They provide short-term therapy, crisis intervention, and group classes for teens on Mon at 4:30 p.m., and group classes for parents of elementary school-age kids on Tues at 7 p.m. For a complete list of locations, see Appendix A on p. 296. To make an appointment, call (323) 653-1990 Mon through Thurs from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fri 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have no insurance, it’s free, so long as you can prove you are a resident of Los Angeles County.

4425 S. Central Ave. (at 45th St. in the Furniture and Decorative Arts District), Los Angeles
(323) 908-4200
www.scfhc.org
Hours: Mon through Fri 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Primary care on a sliding scale based on your income if you don’t qualify for other programs. South Central offers physicals, preventive health services, sick visits, diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol screening, chronic disease and STD disease screening and treatment, food and nutrition counseling, assistance with low-cost medications, and more.

To make an appointment at any of the Venice Family Clinic locations, call (310) 392-8636 Mon through Thurs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fri 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be patient. They get nearly 500 calls a day, and there are no walk-ins. The Venice Family Clinic is the largest free clinic in the nation. The clinic provides comprehensive primary health care, specialty care, dental and eye care, mental health services, health education, child development services, domestic violence intervention, HIV/AIDS, women’s health, and more, as well as public insurance enrollment to more than 24,400 patients, including more than 6,000 children, who make over 103,000 visits annually. Prescription medications are provided at no charge.

Donating Blood, Plasma, Platelets & Your Time

My father used to donate blood to make the rent in the 1960). Now that we’re in the 21st century, you can find many places where they’ll pay you to donate platelets or plasma. Why is that? Because donating platelets and plasma is more time-consuming and involved. What? Is your 6th grade science failing you and you can’t remember what platelets and plasma are? Here’s your refresher: Plasma is a fluid of blood and lymph in which platelets are suspended; platelets are tiny bits of protoplasm. They aid in clotting, thus helping hemophiliacs and burn victims, to name a few. Here is a list of centers where you can donate and help the less fortunate. I’ll be the one in the corner fainting. Be sure to call ahead for hours.

American Red Cross

11355 Ohio Ave., West Los Angeles
(800) RED-CROSS
www.redcrossblood.org

Huntington Memorial Hospital Blood Donor Center

100 W. California Blvd., Pasadena
(626) 397-5422
www.huntingtonhospital.com/Main/BloodDonorCenter.aspx

Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach

2801 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach
(562) 933-0808
www.memorialcare.org/medical_services/blood-donation/blood-donation-long-beach.cfm

UCLA Blood and Platelet Center

1045 Gayley Ave., 2nd floor, Los Angeles
(310) 825-0888
www.gotblood.ucla.edu

USC Blood Donor Center

2250 Alcazar St., Los Angeles, CA
(323) 442-5433
www.uscblooddonorcenter.org

Other ways to Help

The Art of Elysium

3728 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse, Los Angeles
(213) 389-3201
www.theartofelysium.org

If you are an actor, artist, or musician who’d like to donate your time and talent to kids battling serious medical conditions, The Art of Elysium is for you. They provide workshops in acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting, and creative writing to children battling serious medical conditions.

Project Angel Food

922 Vine St., Los Angeles
(323) 845-1800
www.angelfood.org

Volunteers deliver nearly 13,000 free and nutritious meals to men, women, and children living throughout Los Angeles with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses.

10300 S. Compton Ave. (between 103rd and 104th Streets in Watts), Los Angeles
(323) 564-4331
www.wattshealth.org
Hours: Mon through Fri 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

WHCC offers OB/GYN, primary and preventive care, pediatric and adolescent care, dental, physical therapy, and pharmacy services. Sliding scale starts at $30. Check website for details on 3 other locations in South Los Angeles.

1711 Ocean Park Blvd. (at 17th St.), Santa Monica
(310) 450-2191
www.wfhcenter.org
Hours: Mon through Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Westside Family Health Center has been providing primary, pediatric, and prenatal care, immunizations, TB screening, HIV testing, and vision and hearing care for nearly 40 years. They handle asthma, diabetes, mammograms, and counseling. All services are provided on a sliding scale price with most costing between $35 and $77. Accessible via the Big Blue Bus or Metro; if you drive, follow the street signs for parking. Make an appointment by calling the number above or e-mailing appointments@wfhcenter.org and putting your name, daytime/cell number, and the nature of your appointment in the e-mail and they will contact you within 24 hours.

FREE OR LOW-COST HOSPITALS

8700 Beverly Blvd. (1 block before S. San Vicente Blvd.), Los Angeles
(310) 4-CEDARS (423-3277)
www.cedars-sinai.edu

Through the Community Benefit Program, Cedars-Sinai is committed to providing access to essential health care for the uninsured and underinsured. They operate mobile medical units for kids and families to underserved areas; provide free diabetes screenings, education, and prevention programs for seniors; and teach healthy habits to kids in schools. They offer free seasonal flu shots for senior citizens, a psychological trauma center, a teen hot line, and more. Call for more details.

4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
(323) 660-2450
www.chla.org
Hours: Mon through Thurs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments made up to 4 months in advance. Consultation before treatment.

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of the premier pediatric medical centers in the country, treating more than 93,000 kids per year and 287,000 at its 29 outpatient clinics and laboratories. Among some of their many services, they provide general dentistry for children with disabilities ages 1 to 18, and up to age 7 for healthy children. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles takes Medi-Cal and sliding scale as payment. You can also donate platelets here.

3160 Geneva St. (near S. Virgil Ave.), Los Angeles
(213) 388-3151
www.shrinershq.org

Shriners Hospitals for Children provides pediatric care and treatment to children up to the age of 18 with orthopedic conditions, cleft lip and palate, regardless of their ability to pay. You must fill out an application and schedule an appointment or get a referral. Shriners does not tend to emergency needs.

INSURANCE: FREE TO CHEAP

PPP, or Public-Private Partnership, is used to describe a government, service, or private business venture funded and operated through a partnership between the government and one or more private sector companies.

Medi-Cal is the name of the Medicaid program in California, jointly administered by the California State Department of Health Care Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—meaning it is a medical assistance program that falls under the Social Security Act. This public health insurance program meets the health care needs of low-income individuals, including families with children, senior citizens, the disabled, pregnant women, those in foster care, or a low-income individual suffering from tuberculosis, breast cancer, or HIV/AIDS. Under the California Partnership for Long-Term Care, Medi-Cal aims to protect Californians from losing their life savings on long-term health care costs in the event they are needed. Medi-Cal does not offer dental insurance to those over the age of 21, nor does it offer acupuncture, audiology, chiropractic, optician, podiatry, psychology, incontinence, or speech therapy services. If you are enrolled in SSI/SSP, CalWorks (AFDC), Refugee Assistance, Foster Care or Adoption Assistance Program, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), or are 65 or older, blind, disabled, under 21, pregnant, in a nursing or intermediate home, on refugee status for a limited time, or have been screened for breast or cervical cancer, you are eligible for Medi-Cal. For more information, visit www.medi-cal.ca.gov.

The Healthy Families Program offers low-cost health, dental, and vision coverage for eligible children up to the age of 19, at $4 to $17 per child per month, with a maximum of $51 per family per month. It covers those who do not have insurance or qualify for Medi-Cal. Coverage includes immunizations, prescription drugs, doctor visits, and hospital care. Visit www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov for more information or call LA Care at (888) 452-2273 to apply.

AIM is insurance for low-income expectant mothers who don’t have insurance to cover pregnancy and are not receiving Medi-Cal or Medicare Part A and Part B. AIM can also step in when private insurance health plans have a maternity-only deductible or co-payment greater than $500. Visit www.aim.ca.gov or call (800) 433-2611 for more information Mon through Fri 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Sat 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Healthy Kids offers low-cost health coverage, at the rate of $0 to $6 per month, for children under the age of 19 who don’t qualify for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families but do meet other eligibility and income requirements. Services included are doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital care, immunizations, dental and vision care, mental health, ER, and alcohol/drug abuse care. Log on to www.lacare.org or call (888) 452-2273 to see if you qualify.

This program meets the health care needs of low-income seniors in Los Angeles County and can be used in tandem with Medicare to provide better benefits. Eligibility can be met if you are entitled to Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, do not have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and have full MediCal benefits. This plan covers doctor, dental, and vision visits and services, worldwide emergency services coverage, nonemergency routine transportation, routine podiatry, and prescription drug benefits. Log on to www.lacare.org or call (888) 839-9909 to inquire for more information.

ADAP exists to provide medication for HIV-positive uninsured and underinsured individuals. ADAP has more than 180 drugs available and 3,000 pharmacies statewide. To qualify you must be a resident of California, infected with HIV, 18 years of age or older, have an income of less than $50,000, a prescription from a licensed California physician, and lack private insurance that covers the medications or do not qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal. Patients with an income below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level receive ADAP drugs at no cost. A co-payment is required for those whose income falls between $40,840 and $50,000 annually.

WOMEN’S CLINICS

1930 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500 (at Bonnie Brae St. in Filipino Town), Los Angeles
(213) 353-4971
Hours: Mon through Sat 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Available via phone 24 hours a day, the Alliance Women’s Medical Group offers comprehensive medical services for women including free pregnancy testing and birth control prescriptions, though the pharmacy determines what you pay when filled. Consultations are $60.

Norma C. Salceda, M.D., F.A.C.O.G
937 Alvarado St., #1C, Los Angeles
(213) 639-1050
www.saintanaclinic.com

Saint Ana Women’s Medical Clinic offers free pregnancy testing, STD testing, pregnancy care, obstetrics, IUD, infertility, gynecology, and other women’s health care to those who qualify. Check out their website for information on additional area locations.

9911 W. Pico Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles
(310) 203-8899
http://womens-clinic.org
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wed 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open the first Sat of every month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Serving the medical needs of women with low or no income, Women’s Clinic & Family Counseling Center offers birth control services, bladder and urinary tract infection treatment, colposcopy, emergency contraception, HIV testing, hormone replacement therapy, pap smears, pregnancy testing, STDs, vaginal and yeast infection treatment, depression, eating disorder and addiction treatment, parenting and gay/lesbian counseling, and more.

Low-income clinic for women offering OB/GYN exams, cervical and breast cancer screenings, pregnancy testing and prenatal services, birth control, health education, STD exams, and referrals for other health and social services as needed. Primary care and family planning.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate, offering abortion and birth control services, emergency contraception, HIV testing, HPV and hepatitis vaccinations, LGBT services, men’s health services, patient education, pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment, and more. All services are free or reduced, depending on your income and ability to pay. They also offer an option to set up payment plans when necessary. For more information on Planned Parenthood, visit www.plannedparenthood.org. Appointments for the centers listed below can be made by calling (800) 576-5544.

Bixby Boyle Heights Health Center, 560 S. St. Louis St.
Bixby Health Center, 1057 Kingston Ave.
Dorothy Hecht Health Center, 8520 S. Broadway
Eagle Rock Express Center, 1578 W. Colorado Blvd.
East Los Angeles Health Center, 5068 Whittier Blvd.
Hollywood Health Center, 1014½ N. Vermont Ave.
Planned Parenthood Basics Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw, 3637 S. La Brea Ave.
S. Mark Taper Foundation Center for Medical Training, 400 W. 30th St.

CHEAPER MEDICINE

In addition to the prescription coverage provided by many of the plans already outlined in this chapter, there are some other awesome options on reduced rates for cheap medicine. In general, it does not hurt to ask your local pharmacy if they have a prescription plan that offers cheaper rates; many national chains may have something like this but don’t advertise it, since they don’t want it to spread and become common knowledge.

Okay, the card is free, no registration or qualification required, nor is there a membership fee. If you are in possession of the card, you can obtain discounts of 5 to 40 percent on virtually all brand-name and generic drugs at participating pharmacies. How is this not a win-win situation?

Certain generic drugs at commonly prescribed dosages are only $4 for a 30-day supply, $10 for a 90-day supply, $9 for certain "women’s health and other covered generic drugs" for 30 days, or $24 for 90 days. Check out their website for information on their Panorama City, Rosemead, Torrance, and West Hills locations.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Get your acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and medical marijuana right here. Eastern medicine has been around far longer than either one of us and can be a great option for you alone, or perhaps in conjunction with Western treatment. Your Chinese herbs are priced by brand and cheaper if you buy them from the manufacturer itself.

Acupuncture can relieve your neck, back, and joint pain, PMS, headaches, infertility, digestion problems, depression, insomnia, addiction, cravings, and then some. Costa Acupuncture also offers cupping, herbs, and nutritional supplements. Check out their self-healing techniques online and get started on a brand-new you now! (I really should have been a motivational speaker.) Their services are offered on a sliding scale between $20 and $40. There is an additional $10 fee for your first visit. Closed Tues, Thurs, and Sun.

1807 Wilshire Blvd. (at 18th St.), Santa Monica
(310) 453-8383
http://emperors.edu

At Emperor College’s community clinic, you can pay just $30 to $50 per session for acupuncture treatments lasting 1.5 hours in length. Book your appointment 1 to 3 days in advance for any day but Sunday. Walk-in clinic for 20-minute ear acupuncture to treat pain, indigestion, PMS, stress, anxiety, insomnia, addiction, and weight loss support on Wed afternoons from 12:45 to 4 p.m for just $15 per treatment.

Acupuncture is offered 7 days a week at the clinic at South Baylo University for just $20 per session, and lasts 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on your problem. First come, first served. The Anaheim clinic is located at 1126 N. Brookhurst St. (714-535-3886).

727 N. Broadway, Suite #102 (at Ord St. in Chinatown), Los Angeles
(213) 626-7200
www.winghopfung.com

Wing Hop Fung means "Together Forever Prosper" and is your go-to place for Chinese herbs, arts, crafts, and clothing. Some items can also be purchased online. All herbs are at great prices. Wing Hop Fung is open 7 days a week and will soon be offering wine and champagne-tasting lunches and dinners, along with dim sum lunch events. They have another location in Monterey Park at 725 W. Garvey Ave. (626-227-1688) as well.

CANCER SUPPORT

2001 Santa Monica Blvd. (at 20th), Suite 560W, Santa Monica
(310) 582-7900
www.theangelesclinic.org

Check the website to see which clinical trials the clinic is currently participating in. Free breast cancer-related services for low- to moderate-income individuals. A second location is at 11818 Wilshire Blvd., West Hollywood (310-582-7900).

weSPARK provides free support groups, creative programs, and workshops for those afflicted with cancer in an effort to heal the mind, body, and spirit of all whose lives have been affected by it. Go to their website for a list of current programs in grief, tai chi, kundalini yoga, Pilates, support, and more, as well as a link to online cancer support resources. You will be required to fill out an intake form before physically participating in any program.

HEALTH & MEDICINE: AN APPLE A DAY