For many, the cost of insurance is too expensive, and dental, vision and medical services are put on the backburner so families can focus on essentials: rent, groceries, utilities and other basic needs.
Due to a lack of insurance and high out-of-pocket costs even for those who do have coverage, not everyone can afford preventative care. The U.S. ranks dead last as far as health outcomes when compared to 38 other high-income nations.
We’re dying earlier than our counterparts in the United Kingdom and France as two examples, and its likely due to a lack of health insurance for a substantial portion of the population. The U.S. is also the only high-income country that does not guarantee health coverage. Somehow private health insurers and pharmaceutical companies have convinced Americans and elected officials that universal healthcare is bad despite evidence to the contrary.
Remote Area Medical is stepping in to remove the cost barriers – offering care to anyone at a free pop-up clinic in Rockingham County this weekend, Oct. 25-26.
No identification or insurance is required for services from the nonprofit organization.
The clinics are designed to serve as a lifeline to underserved communities offering free dental cleanings, fillings and x-rays; eye exams, prescriptions and eyeglasses; women’s health and general medical exams; and HIV and STI testing.
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Americans are spending four times as much per person on health care than South Korea. And on average, we’re also two times fatter than people in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
In a nutshell, the U.S. spends more on healthcare per person, and we’re still a heckuva a lot less healthy. The data proves that all of these factors contribute to us dying younger from health conditions that are treatable or preventable.
Tax credits to make insurance more attainable for American families are currently at the crux of the government shutdown fight between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats are fighting for an extension of tax credits as part of any funding bill so millions of Americans don’t lose their insurance coverage because they can no longer afford it. Estimates show that without the tax credits, rates could double for families. House Republicans are refusing to discuss the matter until after a short-term funding bill is passed creating an impasse that has led to the second longest shutdown in U.S. history. Both of the longest shutdowns, including this one, occurred when Donald Trump was in the White House. In Trump’s first term, the shutdown went on for nearly five weeks.
Pop-up clinic details
The RAM free clinic will be offered at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, located at 44808 S. Valley Pike in Harrisonburg.
Patients will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis. The parking lot opens at midnight Friday and will remain open for the duration of the clinic. Treatment will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Due to time constraints, patients are asked to choose between dental and vision services; all patients are offered general medical care.
The clinic is offered in collaboration with Central Shenandoah Health District, Sentara, United Way Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Blue Ridge Free Clinic and RMH Foundation.
Since 1985, RAM has served nearly one million individuals at more than 1,500 clinics, delivering more than $200 million in free care.
For more information on the upcoming RAM Clinic, including how to volunteer or donate, visit www.ramusa.org or call (865) 579-1530.
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Crystal Graham
