Medical Care for the Multitudes

One of my neighbors spent his weekend with several thousand others in line for free medical care. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he is now retired and living on an extremely reduced income. Luckily, he has access to the VA for most of his medical expenses, but not dental.

So what is getting adequate care like for those of us who are not flush with money and have little or no insurance? Daunting is a good word for it.

Finding no dentists willing to work for almost nothing, my friend heard about the free clinic coming to the Bristol Motorway in Bristol, Tennessee, and left here Saturday morning at daybreak to cue up for a ticket. By the time he got there (and thank goodness he has a car to get there in), all of the tickets were gone.

"Come back later this afternoon, between 6-9," said the compassionate attendant, "Maybe you can get a ticket for tomorrow." He went back--by now having driven two hours on borrowed gasoline.  He left again at five and snagged a ticket, went back to his car and slept the night in the cold--again, thankful he had a car, as some did not. The next morning he saw a wonderful dentist who was able to help but told him a root canal was necessary. This is where things get complicated--the one clinic in our area that serves needy clients isn't accepting new patients.

I can see it now: the well-heeled executive, or person who has always had access to insurance, who might be reading this may be thinking, "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles." I'm here to tell you the cookie has crumbled.  Many of us are sick and tired of money low-paying jobs or no jobs at all, and all of the money being suctioned upwards in well-crafted funds and trickery. There's no such thing as a "trickle down" effect.

Some time ago, I was in an accident and tore the meniscus in my knee. The pain was beyond excruciating. I've been considered uninsurable most of my adult life due to several chronic conditions, so when I called the clinic I attend, they told me to go to the emergency room. There, while I was treated politely, I was treated lightly--a clumsy Velcro brace that refused to stay up, nothing at all for pain, and no physical therapy. I can assure you that had I had insurance, my treatment would have been completely different.  While many fuss and complain about the concept of universal healthcare, had there been such a thing, my treatment plan would have been completely different.  And while we are at it, for those of you who complain the poor get free care at the emergency room--sometimes that is true, but the kind of care differs drastically from what an insured person gets, with no follow-up.

 Money buys almost anything, doesn't it, and it has bought the most wealthy among us freedom from taxes--and some have the gall to say requiring payment is class warfare on those who have worked hard to make it.  Phooey! The absence of money is a nightmare, and those who would refuse healthcare to those without it should experience it first hand. That might make a difference.

Thank goodness for compassionate medical providers who are willing to give of their time to those in need, but where is Scrooge's ghost when we need him for those who consider themselves above us all?