This weekend, the largest free clinic ever in the US was held in Houston’s Reliant Center:
It’s an epidemic here in Texas and Harris County — people without health insurance. On Saturday, the uninsured lined up to get their needs met.
More than 2,000 people came to Reliant Center to see doctors for free. Many of the people we talked to can’t afford health insurance, especially in the rough economy. Some say it shows the need for health care reform.
Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn advocates using charity as the final option for health care. So does Virginia Congressman Eric Cantor, as seen in a previous post.
Coburn and Cantor are obviously not people who have had the indignity of having to beg for something (other than more donations to their campaigns), yet they expect the uninsured to rely on just that. Become indigent, become poor, even sign up for a government-run health care system (Medicaid). And, if all those fail, “hope” that the goodness of others will keep them well enough to stay healthy and become productive members of society.
In my opinion, begging is not an option. It’s humiliating and no guarantee of getting health care. If someone can convince me that it is, I’ll be happy to hear them.