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Where would local residents be without Chesapeake Care free clinic? Sicker. In more pain. Perhaps dead.
It is a tribute to this community - medical and dental professionals and concerned citizens - who volunteer thousands of hours a year to keep this place going. Since 1992, the nonprofit clinic at 2145 S. Military Hwy. has helped the poor and the working poor who don't have health insurance, Medicaid or Medicare. Health care workers provide medical, dental and vision services.
I'm fortunate I've had health insurance throughout my life. I'm thankful for a place like this for people who don't. Especially in the past 12 months. The recession has robbed so many of jobs, homes, even their self-worth. It shouldn't cost them their health, too.
The vision of Dr. Juan Montero founded this place; volunteers donate their time and expertise; supporters provide money to keep the clinic going; the staff is seeking to expand the facilities. They all deserve thanks.
People need help: More than 400 were on a waiting list last month, according to The Pilot's Vicki Friedman. Sometimes, even our best efforts aren't enough to satisfy the needs. On this Thanksgiving, I'm glad Chesapeake Care is helping everyone that it can.
- Roger Chesley
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Roger Chesley
First, Roger, Thank You for an uplifting and spirited column on this day of giving thanks to our loyal and earnest forefathers, and the treasures of family and abundance. Calling out praise is too often overlooked today, with all of the negative about.
Second, Mike, put a cork in it, for one day at least, please.
Move ahead
Yes Roger, the health clinics and the community health centers around this nation provide an incredibly valuable service to fill in the gaps for those who live in meducally underserved communities. Perhaps one could conclude this is enough. But the evidence shows otherwise. The one time health and dental clinics held in major cities with lines out the door, shows that we still have millions of underserved Americans. I simply cannot fathom why republicans would oppose health care reform. Who can support insurance which is cancelled if too many illnesses occur? Who can support denial for pre-existing conditions? Who can support insurance rates so high small businesses can ill afford to cover their employees? Fact is, so many citizens in Hampton Roads have government provided health insurance that is it surprising that many would deny that to others. Let us get this done.
Typical faulty argumentation
Once again you put up a straw man and then tear it down. You say "I simply cannot fathom why republicans would oppose health care reform." Who says that Republicans are against health care reforms? (Straw man). We are against the health care reform plans that are currently in Congress. The difference is that my idea of reform revolves around free market solutions and getting government out of the process. Tort reform, changing the laws limiting in which states a company can sell, allowing more pooling etc etc. Reid, Pelosi and Obama's "government option" will cause most smaller businesses to offload the cost of employee insurance to the Federal government. this increase in government control is EXACTLY what the Dems want. The fact that Fed involvement (including Medicare, Medicaid etc )is unconstitutional is never mentioned.
You're pretty generous, Mike
Especially where it comes to other people's money, but I don't see Runnymeade, the company you run, building homes these people can afford-oh, that's right, it would cost YOU and not others.....
Where's the blight, Mike?
sources
Where does the payment for any insurance come from but other people's money? Isn't that the purpose and basic premise of insurance?
Health care for everyone
If we are against the President's plan, let's clean house. Let's do away with VA health care, Medicare, and TriCare. These are not covered by the constitution nor gauranteed.
Volunteers - yes - Socialism - No.
Americans deciding to help other Americans is a good thing. Praise worthy. The federal government exceeding its Constitutional authority and forcing Americans to surrender their money so government can redistribute it as well as criminalize citizens that do not buy insurance - that's not something to be thankfull for - it is abuse of our government that we should ban together and stop.
I am not sure we are on the correct trail to reform
but at the rate we losing health care insurance due to costs and unemployment, we are going to need a heck of a lot of charity.
And the clinic is a great thing, to be sure, but when serious or ongoing illness strikes, more sophisticated and pricey treatments are beyond its capabilities.
As long as wages stagnate, but health care costs increase by double digit percentages, there will only be more and more "charity" cases.
What kind of way is that to handle health care?
I have read Don's treatise for reform, and it has a lot of merit.
Unfortunately, I don't think it addresses the fundamental problems of cost escalation. That will require universal coverage, private or not, so the healthy pay for the sick (true insurance, BTW) and that requires mandates.