My Healthcare Journey Part 2

My Friends Lately I was asked : Why I Did Not Use Clinics when I was Uninsured …. My Reply Was I Did …

So Today I Am Going To Explain My Experience with Clinics to Explain Why Medicaid Expansion Is Much Needed in Florida and 10 Other States Who Have Yet To Expand It .

We Begin On A Few Zoom Meetings I Hosted. One Person Asked This : Why Didn’t You Go To A Free Clinic ? In Disbelief that I had no Healthcare for over 30 years.

i did a few times…. When I lived in NJ for a few years From 1993 to 2005 My Family helped me with my Medicine and seeing a Doctor For My Asthma.  We Did This also while I was in South Florida for awhile too.
We Moved Back To Ocala  Fl in 1996.inwent a A Clinic for a while  But  care was not as good as the Doctor I saw who treated me from Age 16 to 23 then 3 yrs later until 2006. He was a Specialist and My Dad Paid Him Out of Pocket until 2006 .


Then went to  another Doctor in 2006 as Past Dr  refused to sign form for my Medicine at reduced or Free cost Still uninsured
And in 2001 Got Sick A Few Times between then and 2012 and Visited The Hospital ER and Received Hospital Charity

Then In  2012 moved to Miami Gardens Fl waited 1 yr for residency for my JHS Jackson Health Systems Card …At Time J002 Card in 2013
Almost lost it due to them not believing I live here but got it back… had to ask for help from the State Rep office and County Commissioner office at that time and fortunately got it back.
I Was in the system until 2017 . Then I  got a sinus issue and needed to be a walk in . However no walk ins then at that time at that Clinic. Clinic. So I went to Walgreens Clinic

I was so disgusted but the good thing where I live is that I met a Doctor who said she would treat me at reduced cost …. Her Name Dr Michelle C Powell DO I went to her and still do today.
Then we moved to St Petersburg Fl for 8 months. We paid a Doctor there for treatment… No Clinic was recommended there for me to use.
Then Back to Dr Powell who helped me get my Disability
I was Still uninsured until 2020 until I got my Disability and Medicaid which saved My Life As I Am Now Diabetic. 

Free Clinics Help Save Lives If there is one use it. However many are short staffed and not funded properly . And Quality and Availability of care and cost may vary depending on where you live. Plus they depend on State and Local funds to operate. As many are supported by counties and Hospitals.  In Addition to Federal Funds. However They Are Not Free. I had to Pay $40.00 to see various specialists. When I was in the system and had No Income.  

Medicaid Saved My Life  MedicaidExpansion Will Save Lives. .It provides a level of Care that the Clinics Free or Walk in Can Not. Clinics are not meant to handle the amount of patients they have. And IF you make too much you may not qualify.  So Then What ?? Walk Around Uninsured like I did over 30 years …. HOPING YOU WOULD STAY ALIVE … And No Accident or Illness would ruin you both physically and financially.  That is why Medicaid Expansion is better and needed. It Will Provide Patients with A Network of A Regular Primary Care Physician and Specialist. Plus cover Hospital Care where Charity Is No Longer Needed.

I Hope This Continuation of My Story Leaves You Educated Informed and Inspired to Help Us Fix Healthcare and Get All Insured.

Thank You All God Bless

Fred Christian #IMPACT  / AT IMPACT MEDIA INC Founder and President