A local health clinic is preparing for a potential influx of new patients if federal subsidies that make health insurance more affordable are eliminated.Right now, the Samaritan Health and Wellness Clinic serves those who are uninsured or underinsuredThey have about 150 patients a week. However, if those government subsidies go away, staff here say that the number could double — practically overnight.Health care workers are already trying to figure out how they’ll handle the surge.Patient after patient, like Debbie Mear, faces health issues.If it wasn’t for Samaritan Health Clinic and its $55 visits, she isn’t sure where she would be.”This is affordable care,” Mear said. “I refuse to die just because I can’t get some reasonable insurance.”More than 4 million Floridians are at risk of losing their Obamacare medical insurance if the Trump administration refuses to fund it.”People like me, nearly 60 years old with no insurance, that should not happen,” Luis Almendares, a Samaritan patient, said.It’s all ages who will be impacted.He and others are likely to rush to Samaritan Health and Wellness.It means charitable clinics like Samaritan will need more money to operate. Nurse practitioner Dr. Sue Hook founded the clinic.Today, she has 10 employees and more than 3,000 patients.She expects her patient load to increase rapidly. Reminding folks she’s a lifeline for help.Samaritan Health Clinic doesn’t take insurance.They charge a small flat fee.If you don’t have the money to pay, they find help.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
A local health clinic is preparing for a potential influx of new patients if federal subsidies that make health insurance more affordable are eliminated.
Right now, the Samaritan Health and Wellness Clinic serves those who are uninsured or underinsured
They have about 150 patients a week. However, if those government subsidies go away, staff here say that the number could double — practically overnight.
Health care workers are already trying to figure out how they’ll handle the surge.
Patient after patient, like Debbie Mear, faces health issues.
If it wasn’t for Samaritan Health Clinic and its $55 visits, she isn’t sure where she would be.
“This is affordable care,” Mear said. “I refuse to die just because I can’t get some reasonable insurance.”
More than 4 million Floridians are at risk of losing their Obamacare medical insurance if the Trump administration refuses to fund it.
“People like me, nearly 60 years old with no insurance, that should not happen,” Luis Almendares, a Samaritan patient, said.
It’s all ages who will be impacted.
He and others are likely to rush to Samaritan Health and Wellness.
It means charitable clinics like Samaritan will need more money to operate. Nurse practitioner Dr. Sue Hook founded the clinic.
Today, she has 10 employees and more than 3,000 patients.
She expects her patient load to increase rapidly. Reminding folks she’s a lifeline for help.
Samaritan Health Clinic doesn’t take insurance.
They charge a small flat fee.
If you don’t have the money to pay, they find help.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.