My heart aches for Dan Frank, who described the economically crushing effect the U.S. health care system has on him and his family in a recent letter.
Here’s a story. I once had a medical professional say I was the most insured person she’d ever seen and, believe me, I am very aware of how lucky I am.
One of my primary coverers is the Veteran’s Administration. On Friday, I called them because a severe flu-like illness had me worried about being around my grandchildren on Christmas. They referred me to a local clinic and, when we arrived, I was happy to see that I was the only one there.
They refused to serve me because they “do not take Medicare.” Even a plea to just use the approved VA funding got me shown the door with a list of other clinics all over town, with two circled.
Zipping across town, I was turned away again because “We don’t take VA” patients. Medicare wasn’t even considered.
Luckily, I found some great, empathetic and professional people at Urgent Care in Mountain View (not one of the circled clinics) who took great care of me, and I got to torment my grandkids on Christmas.
The idea that anyone, let alone a disabled U.S. veteran, should have to have his sick behind hauled all over town to see a doctor, not because he is not insured but because he is too insured, should be appalling to anyone with any kind of compassion for others. We need to fix this.
Please.
Happy holidays to all, but especially to those like Frank and others who have been cast aside, sometimes to die or go bankrupt, in this system.
— Jim O’Toole
Anchorage
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