For the one in five Central Oregonians who lack health insurance, getting a doctor’s appointment can seem daunting.

There are clinics in Central Oregon that specialize in caring for the uninsured, though they have backlogs or red tape.

Mosaic Medical Clinic in Bend has 400 people on the waiting list for appointments, said Executive Director Charla DeHate. People who get on the waiting list today will not be seen for several months at least, she said.

Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades, another clinic that accepts uninsured patients, caters to low-income clients and requires that patients be accepted through the clinic’s eligibility screening before an appointment.

However, the uninsured often can get an appointment at other clinics around the area. A lack of health insurance doesn’t have to be a barrier to care, many say, but patients will have to come up with the money themselves.

“We get a lot of people calling the clinic saying, ‘I don’t have insurance so I can’t see a doctor,’” said Kat Mastrangelo, executive director at VIM. “But if you are willing to pay cash, a lot will see you.”

Many clinics around the area offer discounts to patients willing to pay up front.

Cascade Medical Clinic in Redmond, which specializes in family medicine, offers patients a 20 percent discount if they pay up front. “It’s very challenging times, and that’s why we provide that service,” said Jill Dubisar, clinic administrator. “We’re very proud to help out Redmond in any way we can.”

West Bend Family Medicine, in Bend, offers 30 percent off to uninsured clients who pay at the time of service. They discount in the interest of fairness, said Lisa Thomas, who does billing for the clinic. With “most of our insurance payments, we do accept roughly 70 cents on the dollar,” she said. “If they were insured, that’s what they would be receiving anyway.”

The region’s largest outpatient center, Bend Memorial Clinic, offers a 15 to 25 percent discount for uninsured patients who pay at the time of service, said Barbara Derebery, the clinic’s chief financial officer.

“There are quite a few patients that are experiencing financial hardship, and they are in need of care,” said Derebery. “We try to do what we can to provide service.”

If patients cannot pay at the time of service, most clinics offer payment plans. BMC extended its payment plan from 12 to 18 months this year, said Derebery.

The downside at BMC and most other clinics is that patients forgo the discount when they use a payment plan.

There are some Central Oregon clinics that don’t offer a discount or are wary about advertising it.

Cascade Internal Medicine Specialists, a clinic in Bend, said the discount only applies for established patients and it varies from patient to patient.

“We don’t want to draw in patients just because of the discount,” said Teresa Stanley. “We’d rather not televise it.”

High Lakes Health Care in downtown Bend said it doesn’t offer a discount. “Our prices are a little bit lower than our competitors,” said Karla Becker, clinic services director. But, she said, the clinic is working on a policy to offer discounts to people without insurance.

For patients without insurance, Mastrangelo suggests setting aside money in a savings account, if possible, to pay for medical expenses. She acknowledged that can be challenging, especially for people who are struggling to pay other expenses. But, she said, it’s worth it.

“For people who are making ends meet, they need to set aside a little money for health care. Just like you would for when your car breaks down.”

Discounts on primary care

In Central Oregon, uninsured patients who pay in full at the time of service receive a:

30 percent discount at West Bend Family Medicine in Bend and High Desert Family Medicine in Sunriver.

25 percent discount at Redmond Family Medicine.

20 percent discount at Dr. M. Jamie McAllister in Bend, Dr. Bradley Burket in Bend, Cascade Medical Clinic in Redmond, Madras Medical Group and Mountain View Medical in Madras.

15 to 25 percent discount at Bend Memorial Clinic in Bend, Redmond and Sisters.

15 percent discount at Redmond Internal Medicine Clinic.

10 percent discount at Dr. Stephen Knapp.

8 percent discount on an office visit at Family Care Center in Redmond.

Other providers

• Cascade Internal Medicine Specialists in Bend discounts visits only for existing patients.

• Dr. Mary Ellen Coulter in Bend does not have a formal discount policy.

• High Lakes Health Care in Bend and Sisters does not discount visits.

• Internal Medicine Associates of Redmond and Johnson & Cade Family Practice in Bend had no comment on their policies.

• Fall Creek Internal Medicine in Bend and Pioneer Healthcare Associates in Prineville did not return calls for comment.

Note: The Bulletin attempted to contact all family and internal medicine clinics in Central Oregon. This list excludes clinics set up to help the uninsured, including federally qualified health centers and Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades. It also excludes concierge medical practices.