The Walk for Healthcare
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© 2009,Ogan Gurel, MD
insurance (Ron couldn’t recall the exact name but he told me it sounded, “Something like ‘WellCare’”). What happened was that this ‘new’ plan didn’t cover the old lady’s particular type of insulin so, with her ‘brand-new’ private supplemental insurance plan in place, she ended up now spending $129 a month, out-of-pocket, for her medication. The insurance salesman is gone andnow she’s struggling, Ron tells me, on top of her fight to stay well, to piece together her wreckedinsurance and financial situation.
Rev. Joseph Felker
: Stopping by the Chicago Baptist Institute, I met Rev.Felker, the Chairman of that organization. A crowd was gathered and they were hosting an outdoor event—a ‘Healthy Walk” event actually. He told me,“We should have had healthcare for the uninsured years ago. It is a travesty, atrue travesty, but hopefully the change we are seeing is a start.”
Rev. Dr. Tyler
Well: those are thepeople I had a chance to talk with along the way. While I did meet a few more people but I hadto make time so I could reach Hammond before dark. Besides, thestreets along South Chicago Avenue were fairly desolate. Yes, there were people around but they seemed to be as forgotten as thestreets upon which they were walking. I’ve ran marathons and, yes,even while walking one can ‘hit the wall.’ It happened around the20 mile mark (approximately the Illinois – Indiana border) and Ifelt like giving up. Hard to believe but, yes, I felt like turning back. But hearing these stories notonly is important for the world to hear but also gave me inspiration to keep going. I reached theHammond Fairfield Inn (many thanks to them for providing a complimentary room) at 10:30 atnight. My hopes of walking only during daylight hours was a bit ambitious but I made it …
Back on the road. Once again, many thanks to theFairfield Inn & Suites in Hammondforproviding a reduced rate room. The staff was friendly and professional and the continentalbreakfast was more than continental. That is to say, I made sure I ate lots of sausage biscuits and waffles for the long road ahead. (Of note, I did not take many pictures on thisroute. First, the walk was painful enough and second, I had run out of spaceon my camera phone and would not be able to unload the previous picturesuntil having reached the hotel in Valparaiso).
Roderick
: Roderick from the hotel told me, “Everyone should have healthcareand it should be provided by the government, not by for-profit companies.” Iasked him if he thinks the current reform proposals are enough. He shook his head, “No.”Later, as I walked along 25th Avenue (on the way to Gary), I heard a honk from the road. They stopped, I looked over. “Hey, Doc—weren’t you on TV last night?” And so I headed over to say hello and get the next story of the day.
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