FAST FACTS:
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Memphis 3/22/2010) Jennifer Vickery heads to the Church Health Center hoping to pick up health care. She hasn't had insurance on herself for five years.
"When I get sick, I don't go to the doctor, just hope it works out for the best. Like last time my mother just decided it was time to go to the doctor and she paid for it," says Vickery.
Jennifer is one of some 36, 000 uninsured who have turned Memphis' free Church Health Center into their doctor's office, because they don't have access to or can't afford insurance.
"With my last job, it was either I pay for health care or have a roof over my head and food for my kids. So needless to say, I don't have health care," says Vickery.
While health care reform will make insurance accessible, some doctors say there will be a price to pay with doctors having more patients.
"You are gonna see people work faster. Our old doctors attitude of people having their best friends in their priest and their doctor is gonna change to more a technical attitude. I really do not think this is gonna be a positive thing," says Dr. James Ensor, President of the Memphis Medical Society.
But at the Church Health Center, they are also focusing on wellness, hoping to stave off the illnesses.
"There will still be uninsured people needing access to health care four years from now when the health care bill hopefully is fully implemented," says Marvin Stockwell with the Church Health Center.
"It's sad. It's been frustrating and I know there are lots of people like me that don't have insurance. I am glad the bill passed. I hope it will affect me and others like me," says Vickery.
Another thing that has many doctors worried is the impact the reform will have on medical students.
They fear it's another cost that will have an already dwindling class choose another career field.
Of course no one has a crystal ball, so many are just waiting to see the real fall-out from the reform.
- Congress passes health care reform bill
- Uninsured in Memphis hope the bill will help them
- Memphis doctors say the costly measure will have serious fallout
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Memphis 3/22/2010) Jennifer Vickery heads to the Church Health Center hoping to pick up health care. She hasn't had insurance on herself for five years.
"When I get sick, I don't go to the doctor, just hope it works out for the best. Like last time my mother just decided it was time to go to the doctor and she paid for it," says Vickery.
Jennifer is one of some 36, 000 uninsured who have turned Memphis' free Church Health Center into their doctor's office, because they don't have access to or can't afford insurance.
"With my last job, it was either I pay for health care or have a roof over my head and food for my kids. So needless to say, I don't have health care," says Vickery.
While health care reform will make insurance accessible, some doctors say there will be a price to pay with doctors having more patients.
"You are gonna see people work faster. Our old doctors attitude of people having their best friends in their priest and their doctor is gonna change to more a technical attitude. I really do not think this is gonna be a positive thing," says Dr. James Ensor, President of the Memphis Medical Society.
But at the Church Health Center, they are also focusing on wellness, hoping to stave off the illnesses.
"There will still be uninsured people needing access to health care four years from now when the health care bill hopefully is fully implemented," says Marvin Stockwell with the Church Health Center.
"It's sad. It's been frustrating and I know there are lots of people like me that don't have insurance. I am glad the bill passed. I hope it will affect me and others like me," says Vickery.
Another thing that has many doctors worried is the impact the reform will have on medical students.
They fear it's another cost that will have an already dwindling class choose another career field.
Of course no one has a crystal ball, so many are just waiting to see the real fall-out from the reform.
