Guaranteed Healthcare

I am one of the 45 million Americans who are uninsured and who has no means to pay for their own health care. My home is in Colorado, and I am a full time student working on my bachelor of science in healthcare administration. You would think I was someone who would not have a problem with getting health care. Yet I have had a problem.

I was running to catch the bus and I fell and broke my arm. To be technical that is my shoulder (left humeral head fracture). I did go to the emergency room and an x-ray was taken to confirm that it was broken. I was lucky the emergency room did see me, some places people are not as lucky especially if they have no insurance or money. I was given my x-rays and the name of the follow-up doctor and sent on my way.

The next day I called the follow-up doctor to set an appointment for my arm. The first question they asked was what insurance do you have? Of course the answer was I don't have insurance. I was told to bring $200.00 or no appointment. Guess what?  I got no appointment I don't have that kind of money. I am a full time student, and I work part time to survive. I asked if they had some kind of payment plan. They did not have any kind of payment plan. So I called the emergency room and asked them if I could see someone else. They gave me two other names of doctors. I called the first office and same thing lots of money or no appointment. The next place I called did have a payment plan. The payment plan was $150.00 to start a payment plan with their office.

Of course I did not get my follow up care like I should have. I called around was referred to someone who might help, yet I would call and they could not help, so I was referred to someone else. I had friends, family, people from my school trying to find help for me. I was desperate to get my arm looked at, so I went to the University hospital because they're suppose to be the place where indigent patients can go to for care. I got all the way to University and they turned me away. I was put into a room, but not a treatment room. A female physician's assistant told me "I cannot force the doctors here to see you and we do not see people for free here." Then before she stormed out of the room she said to me "I don't have time for this I have other patients to see."

So I left with my broken arm and in disbelief of what just happened. I did report the incident to the patients advocate at the University on the rude behavior of the physician's assistant. It is being investigated. Finally after two weeks of desperately trying to get my arm seen before it would get worse, people from my school and co-workers raised $200.00 for me to finally get the care and treatment.

I broke my arm Dec. 7, 2007 right before the holidays. If it had not been for the kindness of the people who raised money for me. I do not know what could have happened. I went to a different doctor not the follow- up doctor, and my arm is fine now. So if you're in Colorado do not break any bones unless you have insurance and a lot of money.