We determined that her baby, weighing 12 pounds, was dead. That is, until she came to our affiliated hospital, worried because her baby had not moved in two days. Maybe that was too much, because she did not come back. We explained to this woman that we would expect $50 a month from her. We charge $500 for prenatal care and delivery, and we try to collect as much of that as possible. But she was undocumented and ineligible for Medicaid pregnancy coverage. Her husband had a green card, and both her children were eligible for Medicaid since they had been born in the U.S. She was two-to-three months pregnant and had no health insurance. But for some, the shame of being without insurance and lacking the money to pay for care outweighs the fear of disease and death.Ī few years ago, a woman in her late 20s came to our clinic in Homedale, seeking prenatal care. Our clinics - known collectively as Terry Reilly Health Services – – offer medical, dental, and mental health care to anyone in the community, regardless of their ability to pay. They either can’t get it through their employers, can’t afford it because of low pay, or they don’t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. More than half of the people we treat - about 17,000 patients a year at our four community and migrant health centers in and around Nampa, Idaho - have no insurance at all. At our clinics, we see many families where health insurance is the dividing line between those who get care and those who go without. Unfortunately, I’ve seen that happen far too often. And, families should not be split by the lack of health insurance. But they should not have to suffer untimely deaths. People without health insurance suffer many indignities–long waits in overcrowded emergency rooms, the inability to pay for a needed prescription, and the scorn of those who think they are just looking for a handout.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |