Forty million Americans have no health insurance, and with the economy in free fall, that figure is likely to grow as people lose coverage along with their jobs. Jody Steiner Kelly helps run a free clinic in the state of Virginia. She spoke to Al Jazeera about the crisis and how it impacts her.
25 Comments Already
April 11th, 2010 @5:04 pm
The worst part of this health care crisis is the cost of the obesity epidemic which costs 147 Billion per year. Why nobody talks about that is beyond me. Those who don’t have health insurance are also those who are most likely to be obese. Guess who’s paying for there care? You and I are paying for it.
Along with Health care reform, Obama needs to encourage better nationwide health, because it isn’t getting any better. One can only image what Health Problems Today’s generation will have.
April 11th, 2010 @5:17 pm
The emergency room is supposed to be for EMERGENCIES. It’s an atrocity that people without health insurance have to turn to the emergency room in desperation. It’s a horror to constantly worry about money with regards to your health. We desperately need universal health care.
April 11th, 2010 @6:04 pm
Emergency rooms and recieving care there is health care. Look up the definiton of health care. Emergency room care is health care.
April 11th, 2010 @6:28 pm
The reason why they go bankrupt is because they are dumb enough not too negotiate a montly payment plan with the hospital. Most people don’t even know that you can negotiate a montly payment plan if you can’t afford the entire cost of the medical care in one payment.
Why is the infant mortality rate worse in us then other countries? Because of immigrants. 1st gen immigrant communities generally have a higher mortality rate then the 2nd gen and 3rd gen and native born
April 11th, 2010 @7:18 pm
Clinics deserve to get help, Obama must help these clinics !
April 11th, 2010 @7:50 pm
Most health care professionals understand our problems. Just like most of our problems in the U.S. lawyers have screwed-up the normal process. As far as taxes go Now the top paid 5% of the people pay over 50% of the taxes. To over tax the people that hire the average people don’t help anybody . The answer is smaller government, not more tax and spend.
April 11th, 2010 @8:21 pm
you CAN walk into an emergency room and receive care, but that too is not healthcare, but the HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY and INSURANCE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
April 11th, 2010 @9:14 pm
NO MORE PUT IT ON MY credit card those day’s are over NO more zero down NO money no buying power the USA is made up of FREE credit but the world is not going to put up with it any more the USA is in so much debt that it will Collapse in two more year’s since it as no more PONZI SCHEME CALL SUBPRIME SCHEME BUT THE OTHER BIGGEST SCHEME MADE UP BY USA IS CALL FAKE Democracy No more super Power OR FREE MONEY NO MORE BIG GDP!!
usa and it’s double standard ’s
April 11th, 2010 @10:03 pm
ProsecuteCheneyEtAl, I have no insurance and have never been turned away for my medical needs. I also have never gone to a free clinic. This is making it look like the non-insured never gets medical attention in the U.S. People like you make it look like a person will die if you have no health insurance. I take several maintenance drugs everyday and have not paid for any of them from the time I lost my insurance. This is truly misleading.
April 11th, 2010 @10:43 pm
see heres what i dont understand sum people that are against obama taxing people that make 250,000 a year,is that theos people that much are normally lawyer ,doctors annd such that are supposed to be for the people that need help .just a thought ,people are tomuch about money these days and not about the people.peace to the world.
April 11th, 2010 @10:59 pm
If this is so misleading then why didn’t the people in the video go to their local hospital and get the free healthcare? Why is there a waiting list for free clinics? Why is losing private health insurance a disaster for Americans? Why is health care always at the top of the list of things Americans worry about? Why are medical bills the most common cause of bankruptcy in the US? Why is the infant mortality rate in the US worse than thirty other countries?
You are misleading yourself.
April 11th, 2010 @11:10 pm
This is very misleading. Anybody can go to a US hospital and get free treatment if you have no insurance. About 10% of the patience in our local hospital will be paid for by the government. Private practice doctors send people that can’t pay to the local hospital.
April 11th, 2010 @11:39 pm
HEHEHHEHEHEE
April 11th, 2010 @11:50 pm
derkzuk….man,well said.
April 12th, 2010 @12:36 am
This is a nice example of doctors with a social conscience, bravo. Seems like lots of doctors nowadays, and not just in the U.S., seem just over eager to line their pockets, instead of remembering the ethic responsibility oath they took as doctors.
April 12th, 2010 @1:05 am
Sounds about right.
April 12th, 2010 @1:16 am
The rich make laws and social engineering to force people to pay just to be a citizen, so without a tax base, the rich need to be taxed more. And go ahead and leave, that will end your monopoly and US workers will be free change laws and start new businesses again and rich swindlers will be out in the cold. You morons are stuck. Checkmate.
April 12th, 2010 @1:21 am
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April 12th, 2010 @1:52 am
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April 12th, 2010 @2:37 am
I respect what these doctors are doing. The United States can do better than this.
April 12th, 2010 @2:38 am
A country needs to take care of its own citizens before it goes out and tell the rest of the world what it needs to do.
USA is rich even if it is goign broke, and it is a shame it cant take care of its ppl.
April 12th, 2010 @2:45 am
third
April 12th, 2010 @2:50 am
second!
April 12th, 2010 @3:39 am
FIRST!
only insensitive selfish republicans and conservatives say emergency rooms are health care. Emergency rooms often provide the minimum tell you take a aspirin and see your regular doctor all the time. That’s my experience. The reason why conservatives/republicans are out of business is because they are selfish – and do not care for the have nots.