Need for low-cost and no-cost health care grows

By Megan Baldino (mbaldino@wsbt.com)

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Patient files pile up as health care clinics offering financial assistance or free services see an overwhelming demand for care. (WSBT photo)

Patient files pile up as health care clinics offering financial assistance or free services see an overwhelming demand for care. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 11, 2008 at 6:19 AM EST

Story Updated: Dec 11, 2008 at 8:05 PM EST

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — Health care clinics that offer financial assistance or free services are seeing an overwhelming demand for care.

At the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center in South Bend, Clinic Director Carla Bice says she's never seen anything like it.

"It's really scary,” she said. “We are having physicians call us, the hospitals call us, and specialist call us and say you know I've been seeing this patient but the husband lost his insurance, can you take him?"

Bice says patients are also looking for food, clothing and help paying their utility bills, in addition to health care.

"We are trying to help all these people with their social problems as well," she said.

A doctor visit costs $5 at the clinic, and most of the staff is volunteer.

According to Bice, the number of people they've seen since August has more than doubled.

She says more people are waiting to get treatment, and those are the ones who show up in pretty bad shape.

"Health care is really down on the list until they get really sick," she said.

It's a similar story at The Healthy Family Center in Mishawaka.

Lory Kenney works in the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Eligibility Assistance Department, and says the last few months have been tough.

"It hasn't stopped, it hasn't stopped at all."

Healthy Family offers all sorts of financial assistance, and that's exactly what a lot of people are looking for.

"We have a lot of people calling, wanting to come in and apply for our sliding fee program," said Kenney.

Melissa Barnes and her son Drake have been patients at Healthy Family for about two years. Barnes says her husband hasn't been working as much, and she's thankful for the clinic’s services.

"Most places, if you don't have full insurance they won't take you or anything like that," she said.

Bonnie Bejma runs the clinic, and says the need is significant.

"Accommodating the need is a bit of a challenge for us, and we are looking at options to expand our service and have more accessibility," he said.

One trend Bejma doesn't like to see is all the people putting their health care off because they can't afford it.

"Do not wait until you are in a crisis, because at that point everything is reactionary."

For more information go to:
The St. Joseph Regional Medical Center

The Healthy Indiana Plan health insurance

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