Getting your basic health care from a charity organization isn’t just for people in remote areas anymore, according to 60 Minutes. Meet RAM — Remote Area Medical — a charity founded to bring basic health care: vision, dental, and mammograms, for example, to remote parts of the world. What remote areas are they working in now? Try Knoxville, Tenn.
So, who comes to RAM? The uninsured, yes, but the underinsured are in line as well. Like Marty Tankersley. He drove 200 miles to have a tooth pulled because he’d been in pain for weeks and couldn’t afford to see the dentist. Marty has also had two heart attacks and no follow-up care, because it’s just too expensive.
The Tankersleys live in Dalton, Ga., and fall into the underinsured category. Marty’s a truck driver and has major medical insurance through his employer. But the deductible is $500, really unaffordable. And the dental insurance costs too much.
No one really knows how many Americans are underinsured like the Tankersleys.
“He’s the lucky one he could drive the 200 miles. He’s the lucky one who got to see people today and get hooked in. There are tens of hundreds of thousands of people like him,” Isaacs [a volunteer and an internal medicine specialist at the University of Virginia] said.
U.S. Health Care Gets Boost From Charity [60 Minutes]
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@kadath217: I never said anything about church giving. Every body else was hating on churches. Each Church is different. My Church is full of corrupt assholes, which is why I quit going there years ago. Even as a 13 year old kid, I saw what was going on. There are churches that do good though. And I published what I found, w/o doing 3 months of research. I’m sure a lot of small charities pay their execs even more then some of the big ones. That’s off-topic though. Americans give money. What happens to it, is often BS, but the fact is, Americans can be very generous.
For everybody else, like I said, if you’re into entitlement, you’re in the wrong Country. It’s not going to happen here.
@kimdog: I’d be interested to know where you grew up, my wife is from Ewing, VA. I understand your predicament, and it is one that afflicts thousands for varying reasons. A recent NPR piece noted that one of the hardest hit populations are young college students. Whether college life is more stressful today than before, more students are turning to the counseling services offered by their schools for help in handling stress. Unfortunately, this carries the weight of a diagnosis. Insurances treat psychological problems as permanent conditions. These preexisting conditions can then become a barrier to further coverage by anyone who has a lapse in coverage, as many recent college grads experience when their coverage under their parents ends and they seek gainful employment. And even without a lapse in coverage, many private insurance companies will still deny coverage for nothing more than a diagnosis.
Good luck to you Kimdog, our prayers are with you.
@Bladefist: The trouble with calling it an entitlement to provide healthcare to all is, as was mentioned above, everyone benefits from the uninsured getting insured and treated. This is the same as everyone benefiting from being well educated. If fifty million sick Martians showed up here in the States we would have fifty million dead Martians that would have gladly contributed their immense knowledge of all things space travel if only we had given them all some penicillin. This sounds like a ridiculous example but it’s not far off. If everyone that can’t afford insurance and is sick continues to be sick, they will die having been unable to contribute anything to society. If they get insured and get treated, they will get a job and contribute to society, including you.
@mthrndr: I’m in an HSA, but its kind of the opposite. My company funds the account annually, and I draw from it for costs and procedures. Maintenance stuff like checkups is all covered, and deductibles are similar. The HSA handles regular needs for a healthy individual well, but collapses if I need “catastrophic” care. Or maybe I don’t understand?
I haven’t had to pay anything and my coverage is still through the same providers.
I have to say in Bladefist vs. Everyone:
I’m Canadian. The only impediment I see in getting proper healthcare from the US government is that it has proven itself incapable of handling large social programs. Look at federal education, artistic, and social programs – all heavily criticized by every part of the political spectrum. While the Canadian (read:Provincial) system is flawed, it is functional probably due to the populace accepting that they must pay higher taxes and that the population of each province is small compared to the United States, (see: Texas, New York, California, etc).
If your government proved that it could actually handle such programs, (without privatizing like it did for Medicare, the TSA, and many other large programs which interact with citizens on a daily basis), I would be more inclined to trust it with Universal Healthcare.
That being said, all evidence shows that, especially in this new slowed economy, something drastic must be done on the behalf of the people who are in need.
Oh, and ABCnews can kiss my ass- their report on teacher’s unions a few months ago was so appalling I actually wrote in to complain about the calibre of their ‘journalism’.
I saw this piece last night, and while I applaud RAM, it’s founder, and the doctors that donated their time…I couldn’t help but start noticing there were a LOT of people driving up in brand new cars, wearing flashy name brand clothes, etc. Not to say that there weren’t needy people there, but I just have a hard time watching people who could obviously cut back on conspicuous expenses if they were actually in dire straits take away handouts from those who are truly needy. I understand there are people for whom a work truck IS a legit need in rural America where the story was shot, but around here, I would bet on seeing the parking lot filled with suburban commandos who got in over their head on a commuting vehicle looking for a free handout.
Before I worked for a company that provided insurance for me, I made DAMN well sure I had my own insurance in case of an emergency. This cost me $200 a month in the late 90′s when I was barely eeking by and had a barely above minimum wage shit job in college. To make up for the expense, I didn’t own a car and used a bus/bike wherever possible, didn’t have a cable/cell/credit card bill, and so on. I understand for people with kids/etc. it’s a lot more difficult, but still…if people would just live within their means (and paying for health insurance is part of that), this would be less of an issue.
geez wish my deductible was $500, I find that very affordable
@Bladefist: Yeah, those Quakers, totally not worthwhile with all their Bible-based “shared governance” nonsense. Communists, I tell you! Don’t even get me STARTED on the Mennonites and their touchy-feely brotherly love ….
@Bladefist:
It might be nice to figure out where the money goes for churches but you know…they don’t have to report ANYTHING. It must be nice being exempt from taxes and public oversight or be accountable for the money they collect.
@vildechaia: I looked up boutique doctors, it seems to be about the opposite of a patient cooperative that I suggested. Basically it is providing decent healthcare access if you can pay a huge sum of money. It is a pure profit booster for the doctor, but I can see how it might be a more low stress environment for them to work in. It might work if the price is right though, but still doesn’t address catastrophic things. If you had a $3000 deductible and were still buying that insurance plan, paying a doctor the low end of a boutique doctor of $1500 would put you ahead. ThE $15,000 annual fee not so much.
@bohemian: “I have always wondered if it would work for a group of people to basically buy a doctor in some sort of coop fashion where you paid an annual fee and that went towards the doctor salary, small office and basic equipment. “
That’s what the small-town doctor was – everyone in town paid part of his fees & he supported himself on that. Then things got Big Medicined.
Then in the ’80s, that’s what HMOs were supposed to be. You paid a fixed fee & got care. Then things got Big Medicined. Again. Profit uber alles.
Kinda like our financial system.
@daengh: So historically we had forms of sort of socialized medicine before greed and profit stepped in.
I am old enough to remember when one of our hospitals was still run by some protestant type of nuns. Now it is a mega corp.
Mmmmmmm… Heath insurance… </homer>
My husband works for a small non-profit as a social worker for homeless vets. He loves all aspects of his job except the health insurance plan. It would cost $922 a month to cover our family of four. Thats roughly 48% of his takehome salary. How is that acceptable?
At the moment I am staying home with the new baby, and until I return to work I am uninsured. The irony is I am probably giving myself an ulcer worrying about it!
With so much insurance tied to employement, it is hard for me to consider it a free market situation. Yeah, yeah, yeah, my husband could leave dream job that gives him so much fufillment. Or we could pay still ridiculous rates for private insurance. Irregardless, we made our choice and are living with it. My point is that the cost of health insurance, let alone health care, is being priced out of reach of many americans. Health insurance should not cost more per month than a house payment!
Something must change.
I don’t have a problem with charities taking over healthcare for people who truly need it. And there is nothing wrong with accepting charity when you need it.. it’s like there is nothing wrong with using a crutch when you have a broken ankle.
I don’t want the federal government doing it because of two reasons… the Federalist in me doesn’t want it because it exists nowhere in the constitution that the federal government is supposed to provide anything for us except a common defense — not healthcare, not roads or highways, and not welfare. These items are open for the states to cover, if they so wish. And you are free to move state to state without papers if you don’t like your current state. States can outlaw or allow abortion. States can outlaw or allow gay marriage. The federal government really should not have anything to do with it. Federal taxes should be dirt cheap.
The second reason I don’t want government run healthcare is that the federal government, under both Democratic and Republican rule, has pretty much failed at everything it has attempted to regulate. Healthcare would be a mess, rich people would end up buying their own doctors, poor people would be left with the government care, it would be like today only worse…
and I am a conservative who realizes the current system is flawed…. I just don’t think the government can do it. Let the charities try it.
@SexierThanJesus: I don’t think anyone is saying the American system is perfect, but I certainly don’t want a big government mess like Canada and Europe has. There are plenty of horror stories from there and many cross the border to get MRIs and what not here in the States.
The problem is, people are really feeling like taking care of their health is an option and not a need until it gets really bad.
I saw this story back in March, and sent a donation. Then I watched it again last night and was just as touched- and donated again. I only wish I had a skill that they could use- I’d volunteer.
Truly a very good organization, but how very sad and infuriating that it is necessary.
thats the broken American health care system for ya. Someday you guys might be lucky enough to get a system like we have in Canada.
@ludwigk: yeah, that does sound opposite. My company will put $30 / month into the account (when it starts) – but as you know that barely covers the cost of the syringe they use to draw blood. we’re on the hook for 3 grand, no matter what it is (though after jan 1 it will be pre-tax). after that, everything is covered. so, a good year in this plan is one in which, say, you have a baby a month or so after plan renewal. then you have deductible-free healthcare for the rest of the year. The plan isn’t the end of the world, but for a $600/month premium (as I pay) for family, they could at least throw in a copay for a PCP, maybe a middle-tier drug benefit. it’s better than no insurance (bcbs negotiates rates with providers) but still- it’s depressing.
According to Wikipedia, the Knoxville Area has a population of over 650,000 people. If that is considered rural, I wonder what they call those dying towns with less than 30,000 that are all too common throughout the South?
Good job Consumerist. This 60 minutes episode aired about 6 months – 1 year ago… waaay old.
@kable2: It might take about 20 years to implement, though. Hey wait – isn’t that about how long you have to wait for a band-aid?
@AD8BC: If the US operates as you seem to want it to expect to see an increase in people moving to Canada and Europe. But it won’t be the downtrodden doing it. It will be the professional and highly skilled that are frustrated with backwards nonsense and see a better way elsewhere, you know, in the modern world.
@bohemian: Well considering in 2004 and 2000 we heard similar cries of a mass exodus and no one left at all, well let’s just say that I don’t believe it.
America is the one place on earth you can’t run away from to find a better place. We’re the last line.
We are ALL SCREWED. I don’t know too many people who would come out all right if they suffered a catastrophic illness or accident. Even my very wealthy MIL was hit hard by my FIL’s illness and death. And they had the best health insurance possible. It still cost dearly. If you get sick or hurt, you are screwed unless you are a millionaire.
@AD8BC:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
There it is in black and white: “promote the general Welfare.”
@kimdog: My thoughts are with you, and I wish you the best.
@AD8BC: I made that mistake too… roads are actually in the constitution. Article 1 section 8.
“To establish Post Offices and post Roads”.
There are 27 amendments to the Constitution… a 28th wouldn’t kill us.
@terminalboredom: There is an ultimately small subset of the uninsured that are essentially the electively uninsured. Some of these people are even those who have subscribed to boutique doctors but carry no catastrophic coverage. This subset of the uninsured is often young and relatively healthy, believing that insurance is not for them because they are healthy and young. When a medical issue presents itself, even one so minor as a tooth ache or other such ailment, these people are terribly unprepared and often find themselves seeking these sorts of charitable gifts. I don’t make this point to condone this sort of activity, but to point out that educating Americans about the risk of being uninsured is vital to the system.
@bohemian: The other issue with a boutique doctor is that it often only gives you access to the doctor, not other facilities. So, you might still end up paying for x-rays and other matters that require follow up, and if you ultimately need to go see a specialist, that might also end up coming out of pocket. Boutique doctors are a nice idea, but really only practical for people who will never visit their doctor for anything other than their annual physical and a cold.
@Catebb: This sort of employer provided coverage (reasonable employee rates, unreasonable family rates) are tied to the desire of a business to encourage turnover (preventing any employee from ever making much more than entry level) and attracting younger, unmarried employees who won’t know to ask for more benefits. This happens at my work (a small rural county government) that pays $6000 annually in premiums for health insurance for each employee (a pretty exorbitant group fee) but forces employees wishing to cover their family to pay for the entire cost out of pocket, so in a similar situation, a family of four might cost an additional $18000 for family coverage. Needless to say, with just my wife and I it is cheaper for her to get coverage through a private insurer, but once we start having kids, it could get very complicated.
@AD8BC: I appreciate your pragmatism in not using the usual conservative argument that the free market will find a way to cover everyone, it won’t. The problem with allowing charities to handle it is that their scope can only be so large before they become impossible to manage properly. Think above to the quotes regarding charities and their highly paid execs, eventually the free market will require that these charities act like big corporations and then the donors to these organizations become disenchanted that half a million dollars of their contributions are going to pay for a single persons salary. Can big government fix this? Maybe. Does this involve highly complicated health care structures? No. Catastrophic coverage is almost wholly regarded as all that is necessary to drastically change the cost of healthcare. Thanks to the comorbidity of poverty and chronic debilitating conditions that lead to catastrophic events, a huge percentage of those people that suffer catastrophic events are unable to pay for them. As a result everyone that suffers a catastrophic event pays more for their treatment. This then puts the capability to pay for catastrophic events beyond even the insured. After so many cases of hospitals aggressively going after patients who have not paid their bills, most health care organizations have gone to compassionate billing, they’ll send the bills, and make the threats but ultimately never do more than file a report with a credit agency. Even still, health care costs lead the charts of reasons for bankruptcy. And all the unpaid money trickles down so your next physical costs more than it should to make up for all of the patients that can’t afford their heart attacks. That’s a trickle down economy that hurts everyone, regardless of how much you make or who you are. Catastrophic coverage could change all of this.
@citabria: Knoxville is one of several urban/rural bastions that dot the area surrounding the Appalachians. The aspect your missing from the article is that the patients drove hundreds of miles for this event. And if you look at RAM’s schedule you’ll see places like Wise, VA or Grundy, VA/TN. These are small towns in a big rural region that has some of the worst geographic access to health care. When RAM has its large event later this month, the 12,000 patients that will be treated will have traveled huge distances from some of the poorest homes in the nation. The Knoxville location is a convenient homebase for the organization.
Rather than the botique/coop doctor setups mentioned, this seems like a good way to go:
[www.patmosemergiclinic.com]
It’s a one-doctor private operation (looking to hire another) that doesn’t take any 3rd party payments- private insurance, medicare, etc, although you can submit a claim to your insurer on your own if available.
Services provided are paid for at the time they are given. I think typical office visits are around $35 total. This way people can afford to go to the doctor for routine visits, and people can buy catastrophic insurance coverage than doesn’t break the bank.
He’s also located in rural Tennessee, and his client base is mostly uninsured/underinsured people in the area.
But the deductible is $500, really unaffordable.
I’m sorry, but I’m positive this is bullshit. $500 is unaffordable? How much are their car payments? How much is their house payment? Cellular bill? Cable TV? Internet? Do they own a computer, stereo, television, other electronics? How often do they eat out? Are they living on rice and beans, or eating steak from time to time?
You show me a person who tells me they can’t afford $500 a year and I’ll show you a person who is lying. I can turn any budget inside and out and I’ve got money that says they’re blowing a hell of a lot more than $500 a year on unnecessary items.
The cost of medical care in the United States is not the problem, it’s the “gimme” attitude. People feel they’re entitled to free medical care and they find ways of convincing themselves they can’t afford it. I know a “poor” family who is on state medical care because they “can’t afford” it. They have two car payments and a $120,000 house that they had no business buying, as well as plenty of toys for the children, including a recently build $2,000 doll house out back (no, I’m not exaggerating). But they can’t afford medical care. Bullshit.
Priorities, people.
$500 is unaffordable? WTF?
Fully insured, but I will be donating $10 for each doctor visit I go on as a kind of thanks.
@Squeezer99: $500 is unaffordable for a lot of people, especially if it’s per doctor’s visit. Let’s say you have a funky mole. That’s up to $500 for the GP, up to $500 for the dermatologist, and up to $500 for the biopsy. Your tiny mole has now become $1500, and if you have cancer…well.