Teresa and Tamara had a lot in common. Teresa was here the
very first night the clinic opened; Tamara came a few months later. They were
about ten years apart in age; both suffered from diabetes, hypertension and
depression. Both were overweight – Tamara more so than Teresa.
Teresa worked three jobs – all of them part-time. She pulled
together enough work to provide her and her disabled husband with a place to
live and food. Her husband had some income from disability – he had suffered a
serious head injury years ago, and is unable to work. He has been disabled for
many years and has Medicare. She was uninsured.
Tamara was also married, but she did not work. Her husband
was employed full time, but at the time, his job did not provide health
insurance for her.
Their health issues continued to follow similar paths, with
both of them developing heart problems, and later problems with their kidney
function. We watched and worried as their health deteriorated. We were able to
beg for help and get Tamara into see a Nephrologist – a kidney specialist.
Teresa ended up hospitalized with congestive heart failure and renal (kidney)
failure. She was 53 years old.
Teresa ended up on dialysis, which means she ended up receiving
Medicare to pay for this very costly care. She is no longer able to work – no
longer able to take care of her family – no longer able to contribute to our
society.
Tamara, on the other hand, ended up getting insurance. She
became fully insured by her husband’s employer, and the last time I saw her she
shared with me that her kidney function had improved significantly. She is no
longer in danger of having to go on dialysis, or worse – to need a kidney
transplant.
The difference in their outcomes: Insurance: Access to
healthcare. It is as simple as that.
So, why are we not providing access to healthcare to ALL
Americans? We can certainly afford it. When did access to healthcare become a
privilege?
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