I work part-time and my husband is on permanent disability receiving SSI
I'm a post-menopausal woman who has just received a diagnosis of ovarian cysts, 30 to 50 percent chance of cancer. The left ovary is 8cm and must be removed. I have no health insurance. I do not qualify for medicaid.
I went to the largest hospital near me when it became clear there was no gynecological oncologist in my hometown hospital who could help me. I sat four hours in triage, six and a half hours in the waiting room before I even saw one of the ER docs. I was told there was a card for residents of that county that entitled them to reduced rates or even free care but that I didn't qualify because I lived in the next county but that if I contacted my local health dept., I could see about qualifying for the County Medically Indigent Program. I tried. I did all the running around, gathering documents, applying for and being denied medicaid and getting that in writing and guess what? I am over the limit for county medically indigent program.
So now what am I supposed to do? I need surgery, STAT!
Would you believe I had one physician actually look me in the face and say, "You have no health insurance. I can't help you."
What the hell is wrong with this picture?