Penalized for Being American?
Letter to Editor at:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd= ... _ID=374755
Bitter Patient
RANT: I was hospitalized for about five days in early February. The doctors have not found out what is wrong yet, but they are working on it.
Now here is the kicker. I was born in America, and have been in Texas most of my life. I need help with my medical bills and Trinity Mother Frances had me fill some papers out. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have no health insurance.
I have been approved for Social Security disability, but there is a 2 1/2 year waiting period before my disability goes into to effect Nov. 2005.
I went to the Medicaid office on South Broadway, they said they just have programs for pregnant women and mothers with children. Since my children are grown, that left me out, they said go to the Medicaid office in the Old Gibson building. So I did. The lady I talked to was very pleasant, but she said there is no program for me.
She did say if I was an illegal alien, I could get coverage, go in the hospital and get all the medical help I needed and not have to pay one penny. I asked her how someone in our country illegal to start with could get all the medical help they need and someone that is born and raised here, worked here and paid into our system cannot get any help. She said I am sorry, I am just telling you about the laws.
I have always been proud. I have never been prejudice against anyone. If they treated me right, I treated them right. To me that is how it is supposed to be. But I have to say I am prejudice against someone who is in our country illegally and can get all the medical help they need or want, while American-born citizens cannot get anything. I think this needs to be looked into and corrected.
The American-born citizens should get their healthcare needs met first and then if there is any money left over, we can help the illegals. Seems to me like we are getting penalized for being an American citizen.
Do I sound bitter, you bet I am?
Penalized for Being American?
Letter to Editor at:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd= ... _ID=374755
Bitter Patient
RANT: I was hospitalized for about five days in early February. The doctors have not found out what is wrong yet, but they are working on it.
Now here is the kicker. I was born in America, and have been in Texas most of my life. I need help with my medical bills and Trinity Mother Frances had me fill some papers out. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I have no health insurance.
I have been approved for Social Security disability, but there is a 2 1/2 year waiting period before my disability goes into to effect Nov. 2005.
I went to the Medicaid office on South Broadway, they said they just have programs for pregnant women and mothers with children. Since my children are grown, that left me out, they said go to the Medicaid office in the Old Gibson building. So I did. The lady I talked to was very pleasant, but she said there is no program for me.
She did say if I was an illegal alien, I could get coverage, go in the hospital and get all the medical help I needed and not have to pay one penny. I asked her how someone in our country illegal to start with could get all the medical help they need and someone that is born and raised here, worked here and paid into our system cannot get any help. She said I am sorry, I am just telling you about the laws.
I have always been proud. I have never been prejudice against anyone. If they treated me right, I treated them right. To me that is how it is supposed to be. But I have to say I am prejudice against someone who is in our country illegally and can get all the medical help they need or want, while American-born citizens cannot get anything. I think this needs to be looked into and corrected.
The American-born citizens should get their healthcare needs met first and then if there is any money left over, we can help the illegals. Seems to me like we are getting penalized for being an American citizen.
Do I sound bitter, you bet I am?
