By, Dr. Adam Sorscher, Hanover, NH
I see people struggling because of lack or insurance or insufficient insurance everyday in my practice as a family doctor. Not infrequently, one will say to me “I guess I am one of those stories about why we need health care reform” and I will reply, “your story is not that unusual — I see 3 or 4 people like you everyday!!
I have a patient who is 60 years old with diabetes and hypertension. He struggles to afford his medications (co-payments) and to afford healthy food choices. His wife takes very good care of him. When they came recently, she remarked that she wished she had me for a doctor but can’t afford to come to my clinic — instead, she goes to the “Good Neighbor” clinic which I guess charges according to ability to pay. I was surprised — the husband works hard for the city roads dept. “Isn’t your wife on your health insurance plan?”. “Can’t afford to add her”, was his reply. It made me reflect on what a sad state of affairs it is that he can have a full time job with the city and work long hours, and yet doesn’t make enough to purchase health insurance for his wife. I am sure that a generation ago, a full time job generally supported an entire family’s needs. When I mentioned this to the patient, he informed that he actually works two jobs and still struggles to meet the bills.