MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Turning Points, a Bradenton nonprofit, is providing medical and dental services to uninsured residents in Manatee County, where recent census data shows 15.1% of residents under 65 do not have health insurance.

That rate is the highest among the eight counties in the Tampa Bay area, according to the data. Manatee County is the only county in the region above 14%, and its rate exceeds Florida’s statewide rate of 13.7%. 

Residents who don’t have insurance are usually left to find other resources, if not just go without.

Melissa Wentzel said she has been a patient at Turning Points for three years after getting sick and receiving a diagnosis during a weeks-long hospital stay while uninsured.

“I got really sick and I didn’t know what to do, and found Turning Points and it has been a blessing,” Wentzel said.

Wentzel said a friend directed her to the clinic, where she now regularly gets checkups.

“I am having a lot more better days than I have bad days anymore,” Wentzel said.

Kathleen Cramer, CEO of Turning Points, said the organization closely monitors the uninsured rate in Manatee County. The nonprofit also offers homelessness assistance.

“It’s not terribly surprising to me,” Cramer said. “It hurts my heart that there’s so many people out there who are uninsured because the majority of them don’t find a place.”

Cramer said medical bills are the number one cause of bankruptcy, which is why Turning Points offers medical help as a form of prevention.

“Just because you are uninsured doesn’t mean you should skip preventative care,” Cramer said. “Preventative care can catch things.”

Turning Points also offers dental services. Wentzel said that part of the nonprofit’s care is also making a difference for her.

“Now I will be able to smile because I haven’t smiled in many years because of my teeth, and they’ve helped me,” Wentzel said. “And now I’m going to have a beautiful smile again.”

Uninsured residents interested in Turning Points’ services can find the application online or go in person to the nonprofit’s Bradenton office.