Piecing together medical care
For two years, Florida legislators have refused to expand Medicaid as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act. Their decision left an estimated 850,000 Floridians without healthcare insurance in the "coverage gap." Here are some of their stories.
After 25 years of working for Burger King, Cynthia Louis no longer was able to stand for long periods of time or to carry boxes of burger patties out of the freezer due to the pain in her arms and legs.
Soon after, in fall 2013, Louis lost her job. Since then, she has pieced together her medical care using the charity program at Jackson Health System and a free clinic through Florida International University.
Louis can see family doctors through both programs. But she often cannot afford the co-payments for specialists or tests, like X-rays. It costs her $25 for a visit with a family doctor through the Jackson program, but referrals cost $40.
“It’s frustrating,’’ she said, “when you don’t have the money to go to the doctor. You don’t have insurance, and then you’re trying to see what’s going on with you, but you can’t get there because there’s no funds or there’s no insurance.”
Louis, 57, has yet to receive a definitive diagnosis or a long-term treatment plan for her illness. Her family doctor has diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica, an inflammatory disease. But the doctor wants a second opinion from a rheumatologist.
Louis has been waiting a year to see a specialist who can help chart a long-term course of care.
Though she has no income, Louis falls into the coverage gap because she has no dependent children and she’s not disabled. She has applied for Obamacare, Medicaid and Social Security disability benefits repeatedly — and she has been turned down each time.
“When I get sick, it shouldn’t be a problem. It shouldn’t be always about money,’’ she said. “I know the hospitals aren’t run for free. But if I’m sick, come on, you should be able to see me.’’
- DANIEL CHANG and WILSON SAYRE
Falling into the coverage gap | Back to series homepage
More profiles
▪ “I feel left over, left back.’’ — Paula Bazain, caregiver
▪ “What kind of country are we? Everybody needs insurance” — Francesca Corr, single mother
▪ “I can’t live a normal life.’’ — Genesis Rodriguez, automotive tech student
▪ “Normally, you go to the doctor when something like that happens.’’ — Carlos Cuervo, salesman
▪ “One minute you receive Medicaid, and the next minute it’s gone.’’ — Ceslynn Watkins, former customer service rep
▪ “I knew exactly right away what it was because I’d felt it before. I was having a heart attack.’’ — Eric Schmidt, former construction worker
▪ “It wasn’t the welcome that I wanted from Florida.’’ — Harry Melo, student
▪ “They just tell me I’ve been denied. Every time.” —Timothy Lane, former landscaper
▪ “I wish I had insurance, so I can go to a private doctor.’’ — Cynthia Louis, waiting a year to see a specialist
▪ “It’s totally unfair that when you’re in need of help, you can’t get it.’’ — Vanessa Wilcox, former phlebotomist
▪ “They won’t give me a chance. That’s not right. ... I can go blind.” — Edith G. Camacho, homemaker
▪ “I would benefit more from Medicaid expansion than charity care.’’ — Vincent Adderly, former security guard
This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Piecing together medical care."