Patients flock to free clinics despite Obamacare
By Patricia Borns, The Miami Herald | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"We're seeing a tremendous increase in people coming to us," said Lozano, executive director at the clinic, where applications for charitable care are up 25 percent since October.
From
"We had 8,016 patient encounters last year and don't expect a change any time soon. We're looking to expand," Lozano said.
The nonprofit clinics, which are run largely by volunteers, provide healthcare to uninsured people with incomes up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The ACA should provide an alternative for many of their patients, but it's not playing out that way so far, at least in
Some of the clinic patients don't earn enough to qualify for a tax credit that would help them afford insurance premiums. Others lack the required immigration status. Still others are caught in lags between charitable and other coverage. Clinic staff members say that as long as
In Lozano's case, applicants tell her their certification for the free care they've been receiving at
At another free clinic in
"Because of Obamacare, funders are asking, "What do we need you for?' " Rickmann said. Her answer? The 600 patients served by the clinic who haven't made the transition to private insurance. So far, only one --
At
The clinic, which last year served 890 patients, offers primary care and basic specialties such as cardiology and ophthalmology, all free. Staff members refer patients to community navigators to learn about the healthcare marketplace, but Cabrera estimates that only 20 percent of them have incomes sufficient to qualify them for Obamacare tax credits.
"A lot of patients are confused about the ACA and have questions. They're concerned about the co-pay. They want to know how much they'll really have to pay," Cabrera said. To her knowledge, only one has enrolled on the healthcare exchange.
In
"They can't afford the care because of the deductibles and co-pays. The practical value is zero," Daily said.
If patients meet the free clinic's criteria, Good News will accept them, ACA or not.
About 800,000 Floridians fall into what's known as the "coverage gap" -- too much income to receive
"Undocumented people are automatically eligible for our clinic because they're not eligible for anything else," Daily said.
About 40 percent of Good News' clients are part-time or seasonal service and farm workers without a legal status. Homestead grower
St. John Bosco also serves many new immigrants. While Cabrera didn't give an estimate, immigration status is often a factor in disqualifying those who apply for Obamacare, she said.
The situation is different in
"They're used to receiving healthcare for free," Rickmann said.
But Marcum,
He calls his low-deductible "silver" plan "the best health insurance I've had since I lived with my parents. When people say repeal Obamacare, I say don't you dare."
This story was produced in partnership with
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