TLDR How do homeless people get medical help?
For the past year I have befriended a homeless person and I have been feeding them occasionally. My dog is scared of most people and this is the only other human other than myself that my dog likes. I met up with them a few days ago and they are severely injured and barely can walk now. They also have not been immunized against Covid-19 for lack of insurance and of an address.
I have offered them a place to stay more than once and every time they refuse including this time. The entire time I have known them they have been very quiet and independent.
They seem to think that the hospital will automatically reject them because it’s not a life-saving procedure and they do not have insurance.
To add to it I am starting to wonder if they might be a Foreigner of Asian descent. So this might add to their reluctance to seek medical help.
I am willing to pay for any of the medical bills. I am also willing to take them to a public bath to clean up before going to the hospital and give them a clean change of clothes.
I was homeless myself for a short time last year but under different circumstances so it is just my way to pay it forward.
6 comments
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Maybe enquire at your city or ward office, depending where you live. There should be public assistance available for them, although IDK why they don’t seek that out for themselves.
The government will reduce or even outright waive payments for national health insurance for anyone who earns under a certain threshold and meets the other prerequisites.
Housing aid is also offered to citizens in similar circumstances.
If they still have an ID card they should be able to get help iirc. Also, where is this person living? If it’s Tokyo, I would direct you to the Tokyo Spring homeless patrol collective; they know quite a bit about the legal rights of the homeless. You can hit them up on Facebook.
I also run a Food Not Bombs chapter in Yokosuka and we’re connected to another group that provides assistance to the homeless; once I get home I’ll try to contact them and see what they have to say.
Get in touch with homeless support groups. They provide medical services for people experiencing homelessness. An example of one is “あいじる” , which is based in Sumida / Taito area. https://agile.or.jp/
I’m pretty sure you can get medical help without insurance, you just have to pay the full amount (which isn’t super high in most cases) I know this because I’ve done it before when I left my card at home by mistake. It’s possible to go back with the card and the receipt afterwards and get a partial refund in that situation. Anyway, if you go together and explain to the clinic that you’ll pay I think they will accept the patient?? You can always ask before you go.