I am a full-time undergraduate student. I am not a full time employee, hence I don’t have health insurance. Cysts were detected in both of my breasts when I was 16 years old. One of the cysts in my left breast has recently enlarged and has been causing me a lot of pain. I called a women’s health hotline that says they offer free breast exams. I was referred to Health Clinic #2 and was told to be there at least an hour before 7:30am, which is when they open. I was also informed that only 12 “walk-ins” were seen per day. When I asked to schedule an appointment and explained my situation, the first available appointment was the end of May. I arrived at Health Clinic #2 today at 6:30am and waited for them to open. The clinic opened, I went inside and waited again. I was seen at 10:00am. The woman who saw me asked me why I was there, I explained my situation, and she immediately told me to schedule an appointment. I explained my concern, my medical history, that the first available appointment was the end of May, and that cancer runs in my family. She proceeded to tell me that my case isn’t special, a lot of women have problems with their breasts, cancer runs in her family, welcomed me to “the club”, and completed her intake session by asking me why I thought that my case was special. I spent 3.5 hours in desperation trying to obtain assistance and an exam to answer the questions about the pain in my left breast only to be insulted and told to schedule an appointment that wouldn’t be for 3 months! I know that the health care system is having problems but it’s difficult enough for uninsured people to take care of themselves, then to be faced with the type of negativity and dead end responses that I, an uninsured student, was faced with today. Uninsured people deserve health care options just as much as an insured person.
-Name: anonymous
-Major: Biology
-email address: hazelbluebubbles@hotmail.com
-phone number: 2159172076
Be the first to comment