TAMPA, Fla. — The weeks leading up to the new year were busy for the not-for-profit Pioneer Medical Foundation.

The organization connects people who are under and uninsured with health care. Its executive director said the recent expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits have created concern among patients.

What You Need To Know

Since 2015, Pioneer Medical Foundation has provided free medical and dental care, as well as other services, to people who are under or uninsured, free of charge

Its executive director says the expiration of the ACA tax credits led to an influx of calls from people worried about premiums increasing or about losing health care altogether

2023 NIH data shows the amount of uninsured people in Tampa Bay ranged from 13.7% in Pasco County to 17.6% in Polk County

The foundation is holding its annual Bridge the Gap Health Fair on Saturday

“In recent weeks, we have seen an influx of patients calling us, reaching out as they’re afraid and scared of their premiums increasing or actually losing access to health care,” said Executive Director Ano Kashumba.

“If you’re terrorized by not having health care, it is such a heavy weight,” said Wendy Koutouzi.

At Pioneer’s Fletcher Avenue clinic, Koutouzi did her part to ease that burden.

On Wednesday, she helped put together care packages to be handed out at Saturday’s Bridge the Gap Health Fair. Volunteers added items like toothpaste, nail clippers, and Liquid IV to drawstring bags. This is the sixth year Pioneer will hold the event that draws hundreds for health screenings, dental care, hair cuts, and showers – all for free.

Koutouzi said she started volunteering at Pioneer after experiencing firsthand what its help can mean.

“I haven’t had insurance in a long time, and I really didn’t need it,” she said.

That changed in 2022, when Koutouzi’s longtime hip pain became too severe to live with.

“It was destroying my whole life, and then that’s when I started looking. I didn’t necessarily look for a free place. I looked for someone who would maybe let me pay,” said Koutouzi.

A doctor she spoke with told her about his work with Pioneer. That’s how she ended up getting the surgery at no cost. Koshumba said some people may be surprised to know just how many of their neighbors don’t have health insurance.

“It’s not really the uninsured person that we think of, like a homeless person or someone suffering from substance misuse. It’s regular people with regular jobs with regular education, but they’ve lost access to basic health care,” Koshumba said.

According to 2023 data from the National Institutes for Health, the amount of uninsured people in Tampa Bay ranged from 17.6% in Polk County to 13.7% in Pasco County. In Hillsborough County, 14.7% of people didn’t have insurance.

The Urban Institute predicted nearly five million customers nationwide would drop their insurance this year because of rising premiums. Kashumba said those without insurance can face the choice of paying for food and rent or paying for medications. Some, like Koutouzi, put off getting care.

“A lot of people are missing their appointments, missing preventative care appointments, and later on, showing up to the emergency department with bigger problems,” Kashumba said.

She said her team is preparing to handle possible additional patients now that the tax credits have expired. Koutouzi said it’s where she’d turn if she needs care in the future.

“It’s an amazing, amazing place that makes you feel whole again, makes you feel like the humanity that’s here is amazing,” she said.

The Bridge the Gap Health Fair is being held January 10 at Water Works Park, located at 1701 N. Highland Ave. in Tampa. It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is aimed at people 18 years of age and up. Koshumba said providers will remain on site until all patients are seen.