Medical & Dental

Medical assistance sources may have needs based requirements.

All Food Bank of North Carolina affiliates have access to some over-the-counter drugs during the year. See locations on our Food page. 

Statewide - Medical and Dental

NC Health Care Help - Institute of Medicine's site for N.C.'s 1.5 million uninsured residents. Lists counties and services available.

North Carolina senior citizens may qualify to have the state pay up to $18 a month ($216 per year) towards their Medicare Prescription Drug Plan premiums. Call 888-488-NCRX or go to http://www.ncrx.gov/

Medical/Dental Bus Ministry of North Carolina Baptist Men - to schedule for your church or organization as the support staff, call for information Joanne Honneycutt 800-395-5102 Extension 5603.

NC Dental Health

Clayton

1. 
   
   Clayton Area Ministries, 704 E. Main St., Clayton, NC 27520; 919-553-5654 - Wednesdays at 1 p.m.; Clessie Pollard; FBNC Affiliate. $100 in assistance once a year for medicine from Bedingfield Drug.

Garner

1. 
   
   Garner Area Ministries, 885 HWY 70 W, Garner, NC 27529; 919-772-9100; charity and thrift; M,W, F 9-12 for assistance or M-Sat. 9-1 for sales; Director Joyce Cooper. Essentially must have a Garner telephone number and Garner address (ZIP 27529), but may assist part of the Raleigh 27603. No referral required, application used, once every 90 days. Founded 1981. Provides medicine for needy individuals or families.

Johnston County

1. Basic Needs Ministry - Cleveland Township Emergency Food Pantry, 5533 NC HWY 42 W Units D96-100, Garner, NC 27529; 919-661-6565 - Ronald Still. Provides NACo Prescription Drug Discount Cards for discounts of 10-40% off. These cards have been approved by county commissioners for distribution to every resident of 58 counties in North Carolina and 18 million people nationally.
2. Prescription Drugs - Industry and state assistance programs.
3. Project Access - Summit Medical Center, Clayton. Dr. Charles Williams of Horizon Family Medicine in Clayton was one of the first 12 dotors to sign up to provide free medical treatment and prescriptions available for those living in Johnston County without insurance or other ability to pay. Income limit for a family of four is $36,138. Kathy Rogols, Executive Director, 919-398-8088 or 919-550-0011. Primary care doctors, general surgeon, cardiologist, radiologists, and Johnston Medical Center (formerly Johnston Memorial Hospital) and the new Johnston Medical Center-Clayton, near NC 42 and Amelia Church Rd., are participants.

Raleigh

1. 
   
   Urban Ministries, 840 Semart Dr., Raleigh, NC 27604; 919-834-4707. First come, first served on Wednesday for food and prescription assistance.

Wake County

1. Alliance Medical Ministry, 2610 New Bern Ave., Raleigh; 919-250-3320 - Free doctor for employed, but uninsured.
2. Christian Community in Action, 1231 NE Maynard Rd., Cary, NC 27513; 919-469-9861. Open 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Interviews are started between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Provides food, clothing, medical support, and financial support for residents of Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Willow Spring, Friendship, and New Hill.
3. Filling in Gaps (FIGS), PO Box 12821, Raleigh, NC 27605 - prescription medicine and supplies to very low-income uninsured and underinsured people. In 24 years FIGS helped 26,000 people get $1,450,000 in prescriptions.
4. N.C. Health Choice, 919-212-7000 - Provides free or low-cost health insurance to children whose families cannot pay for private insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid. Children are enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis.Benefits of the Program: Counseling, Dental Care, Hospital Care, Lab Tests, Medicines, Medical Equipment & Supplies, Shots, Sick Visits, Surgery, Therapies, Vision and Hearing Care, Well child Checkups.
5. Horizon Health Center, 102 N. Tarboro Rd., Raleigh; 919-743-3315 - Free primary care clinic for the homeless.
6. Medicaid-Adult, 919-212-7541 - Provides financial medical assistance, rest home and nursing home assistance to aged, blind, and disabled.
7. N.C. Health Choice, 919-212-7000 - Provides free or low-cost health insurance to children whose families cannot pay for private insurance and who do not qualify for Medicaid. Children are enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis.Benefits of the Program: Counseling, Dental Care, Hospital Care, Lab Tests, Medicines, Medical Equipment & Supplies, Shots, Sick Visits, Surgery, Therapies, Vision and Hearing Care, Well child Checkups.
8. Open Door Clinic, 840 Seamart Dr., Raleigh; 919-832-0820 - Free medical clinic operated by The Urban Ministries serves 5,000 uninsured low income residents of Wake County on Tuesday and Thursday evenings after 5 p.m.
9. Prescription Drugs - Industry and state assistance programs.
10. Project Access - Free or sliding scale medical care and with Access ID card and medication assistance card. $4 prescriptions. Started by the Wake County Medical Society and supported by Wake's three major hospitals.
    
    1. Alliance Medical Ministry, 2610 New Bern Ave., Raleigh; 919-250-3320 - (employed, but uninsured only).
    2. Apex Family Medicine, 212 Salem St., Apex; 919-362-5201.
    3. Horizon Health Center, 102 N. Tarboro Rd., Raleigh; 919-743-3315 (Homeless only).
    4. New Bern Ridge Pediatrics, 100 sunnybrook Rd., Raleigh; 919-231-3180.
    5. Open Door Clinic, 840 Seamart Dr., Raleigh; 919-832-0820 (low-income uninsured).
    6. Rock Quarry Family Medicine, 1001 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh; 919-833-3111.
    7. Southern Wake Family Medicine, 130 N. Judd Parkway N.E., Fuquay-Varina, NC; 919-557-1110.
    8. Wake County Public Health Clinics
    9. Children's Clinic B, 10 Sunnybrook Rd., Raleigh; 919-250-4579.
    10. Family Planning Clinic Eastern Wake, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon; 919-404-3900.
    11. Family Planning Clinic F, 10 Sunnybrook Rd., Raleigh; 919-250-3914.
11. St. Bernadette's Catholic Church, Fuquay-Vaina; 919-552-8758 or 919-623-11487 - Free medical clinic every Thursday PM and every third Sunday afternoon.
12. Triangle Family Services, 401 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh; 919-821-0790 - Last year, Triangle Family Services helped more than 900 low-income families, children, and individuals receive mental health counseling, psychiatric services and psychological testing by licensed and professional clinicians.
13. Wake County Eye Care, 919-212-7370 - Provides financial assistance for eye exams and glasses.
14. Wake County Public Health Clinics - health care for children and family, including immunizations:
    
    1. Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon; 919-404-3900. 
    2. Northern Wake Health Clinic, 247 S. Allen Road, Wake Forest; 919-554-8490. 
    3. Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina; 919-557-1058.
    4. Western Wake Human Services Center (mental health services only), 232 High House Road, Cary; 212-460-3366.
15. Western Wake Crisis Ministry, 103 1/2 East Chatham St., Apex, NC 27502; 919-362-0657. 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday-Thursday. Serves residents of Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, New Hill and Friendship, or residents in other areas of Wake County with a referral from another agency. Provides food; financial assistance to rent, utilities, heating fuel, medical expenses, and repairs; food baskets during the holidays; dental care items, fans, smoke detectors, new electric space heaters and similar items.  

Dental Services

Wake County

Wake Smiles, 2610 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, NC 27620; 919-250-2952. NOTE: To use this service go to Wake Health Services, Horizon, or Urban Ministries Open Door Cliniuc and complete the registration for Wake Smiles. Have your agency send the registration to Wake Smiles. After Wake Smiles receives your registration, call for your appointment at 919-250-2952 on Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. or Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. only.

Handicapped Assistance

1. 
   
   ABLE, Increased Mobility and Greater Independence Equipment (IMAGINE), C.L. Woodard, 1032 Altice Drive, Garner, NC 27529; 919-779-3487 - Computers and training for handicapped individuals, home access ramps.
2. 
   
   Christ Community United Methodist Church, Missions Coordinator, Charles Hanna; 919-602-2271. Builds ramps for local handicapped, etc.
3. 
   
   Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, Free wheelchairs, van lifts, hospital beds, and other medical equipment that a disabled person cannot afford.
4. 
   
   Resources for Seniors, Wake County 919-872-7933; outside Wake County contact Joan Pellettier at Triangle J Council on aging at 919-558-9398 - access ramps

Drug Deals - Over 2,500 drugs available through aid programs on the Internet

1. Abbott assistance information. Call 800-222-6885.
2. AdvancePCS, PO Box 830070, Birmington, AL 35282-8488; 877-673-3688. A free membership to get an average of 30% off on drugs for which an individual does not have insurance.
3. Biologics Inc., 625 Oberlin Rd., Raleigh, NC 27605; 919-546-9810. Known for providing great service for cancer drugs only. Financial assistance for qualified individuals. Matches needy patients with copay foundations, who pay the copay.
4. Canadian drug deals. Consumer Reports notes many generic drugs are cheaper in the U.S. and brand name are cheaper in Canada. They used Costco.com and CVS.com as the U.S. comparison.
5. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs at http://www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org/ teaches about options, generics, and over the counter ways to save money.
6. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) assistance information. Call 888-825-5249. GSK Access provides eligible Medicare Part D enrollees free GSK medications. Qualifications: Participate in Part D, spent $600 out of pocket on prescriptions in current calendar year, 1 person household under $25,525 income, 2 person household income under $34,225. Call 866-475-3678 or go to www.GSK-Access.com NOTE: There may be othere requirements.
7. Merck Patient Assistance Program has provided free Merck medicines to people who could not afford them for over 50 years. 800-727-5400; http://merck.com/.
8. NACo Prescription Drug Discount Program. Pick up free membership cards in 47 counties in North Carolina at pharmacies, libraries, and government buildings and Basic Needs Ministry. 10-40% discounts.
9. NeedyMeds.com is a physician developed assistance site.
10. Novartis gave away $284 million of the cancer drug Gleevec in three years.
11. Partnership for Prescription Assistance; 888-477-2669, http://www.pparx.com/. Connect with 475 public and private assistance programs. 36 companies gave away 35 million prescriptions valued at more than $5 billion dollars.
12. Pfizer offers free medicines and other plans regardless of age or income. In February 2004, Pfizer began a buy 6 prescriptions get 1 free offer on Viagara. Call 866-706-2400 or go to http://pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/.
13. Pharmaceutical Industry lists many free and reduced price drug offers at: http://www.helpingpatients.org/.
14. rxassist.org helps locate drug companies offering assistance for Medicare enrollees.
15. Schering-Plough assistance information. Call 800-521-7157 or 800-656-9485.
16. Veterans Administartion for vets.
17. Wal-Mart - Drug list of drugs dropped to $4 for a 30 day supply - July 2007.

Free blood and diagnostic tests, physical examinations, and other medical benefits are advertised in The News and Observer as well as other newspapers. They are frequently offered as part of a clinical trial. There are various risks associated with medical trials. Examples and excerpts of ads and benefits:

1. Alliance Medical Ministry, 2610 New Bern Ave., Raleigh, 919-784-2345. July 30, 2005 only.
• Free Cervical cancer screening - Pap tests.
2. Duke University Medical Center, 919-681-4453.
• Free study evaluations and new drug for Type 2 diabetes if you are 18-75 years old and trying to control diabetes with diet and exercise and one pill, but not insulin.
3. Duke University Medical Center, Duke ADHD Program, 919-416-2083. 2005.
• Free medication, ADHD evaluation, and compensation for child 6-17 years old who has trouble paying attention and/or sitting still.
4. Envoy Medical, Greensboro, 866-950-HEAR. 2005.
• Free implant of Envoy hearing device, testing and follow-up, if you qualify, are 18 or older, have hearing loss, and aren't satisfied with you current hearing aids.
5. Multi-Specialty Research Associates of NC; 919-783-4895. 2005.
• Free physical examinations, EKGs, lab work, and study medication for people with mixed cholesterol problems.
• Free physical examinations, self-monitoring blood glucose supplies, lab work, and study medication for people with Type 2 diabetes, who are taking insulin therapy and are not well controlled.
• Free study related physical examiniations, study related lab tests, and study medication for people with ulcerative colitis in remission.
• Free study related physical examination, laboratory assessments, study medication, and perhaps compensation for travel for people suffering from pain of firomyalgia.
• Other studies and exams for Osteoarithis, Anxiety, Depression, Irritable Bowel Syndrone, Hypertension, and Hormone Replacement. Call Angie Barefoot at 919-341-3616 for more information on current studies.
6. N.C. Arthritis & Allergy Care Center, P.A.; 919-781-9633. 2005.
   
   • Free study related medical examination and topical arthritis study medication.
7. North Carolina Clinical Research, 919-881-0309. 2005.
   
   • Study medication, related physical examination, and laboratory evaluations for a child 2-12 years old, who was diagnosed with perennial rhinitis within last 12 months and experienced nasal allergy symptoms during the last season
8. Raleigh Neurology, Beth Jackson; 919-420-1662. 2005.
   
   • Free experimental drug for people ages 18-65 with multiple sclerosis who have experienced 2 or more attacks in the poast two years. Cannot be taking disease therapy.
9. Raleigh Neurology, Bobby Rich; 866-788-3928. 2005.
   
   • Free medication during study to prevent migraine attacks.
10. University of North Carolina Hospitals, Vascular Surgery, 2146 Bioinformatics Bldg., CB 7212, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7212; 919-966-3391. 2005.
• Treatment with Zenith TX2 system instead of open surgery for those diagnosed with a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
11. University of North Carolina School of Medicine, UNC Pulmonary Research, 866-860-1659 or 919-843-6101; jeaniem@med.unc.edu. 2005.
• Free study related physicals, pulmonary evaluations, and education about your disease; compensation for time and travel.
12. Wake Research Associates, 919-781-2514. 2005; http://www.wakeresearch.com/.
    
    • Free physical examination, blood tests, endoscopies (pictures of your food pipe, stomach, and intestines), and possibly compensation.
    • Free study related physical examination, lab tests, study medicine treatment for Crohn's Disease, and compensation for time and travel.

Source: http://4042needs.org/programs/resources/medical.html