Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Lifeline

Forty-seven million Americans have no health insurance. Millions more are underinsured, unable to pay their deductibles or get access to dental care. Here's the story of Remote Area Medical, a charity founded by Stan Brock that was originally designed to bring doctors and medicine into the jungles of the Amazon. But these days RAM finds itself doing much of its business in the U.S. Scott Pelley spent a weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee taking a look at RAM in action.

Lifeline
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Comments

Sound off on this segment. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
All these nice middle class Americans can't get healthcare but millions of illegal aliens can. In fact, some Texas and California hospitals cater to illegals and hand all sorts of free stuff to pregnant illegal aliens who come to the U.S. just to have their anchor baby. At the same time they force Americans to go through lots of red tape to get the same free stuff. About 60 emergency rooms have closed in L.A. because of unreimbursed costs from illegal immigrants. The resulting medical care crisis shouldn't surprise anyone but the obvious has been ignored by government, politicians and the media. I doubt if 60 Minutes would make the connection between illegal aliens soaking up so much health care resources while Americans who subsidize it go without, but it would be a relief if some news network could drop its sanctimonious political correctness and finally make the connection between 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. and not enough health care for the Americans who pay the taxes to provide it for them.
Posted by farmerore on Thu, May 1, 2008 12:22 AM ET
2
If we do so much for other countries why not ours first.CHARITY BEGINS HOME.Why not make it a real HEAVEN P.S. I would like to see people with natural smile not plastic.
Posted by mujeeb123@sbcglobal.net on Thu, May 1, 2008 1:11 AM ET
3
hold on idiot person who wrote the immigrant comment. if you dont know immigrants increase the GDP for this country. also the people that affects is unskilled workers. the people that doesnt get affected are people that have an education. so go to school you lazy ass. Investors love this as well as consumers!
Posted by gluisamustang on Thu, May 1, 2008 1:22 AM ET
4
I think R.A.M. is wonderful Sure wish we could get it here in S. Texas. Maybe some day they will take a serious look at the middle age and elderly. Many of us are married to someone retired and on Medicaid. but us spouses aren't old enough for it and living on 800 a month doesn't leave any money for mrdical or Prescriptions or dentl or eye glasses. I haven't seen a doctor of any kind since my emergency appendectomy 5 yrs ago and i couldn't even go for a follow-up appontment. Even tho the surgeon told me i needed it cause everything inside was all messsed up
Posted by carlanbl1@att.net on Thu, May 1, 2008 1:45 AM ET
5
No one can analyse completely why these working poor did not buy health insurance, hence the sympathy factor has to placed in perspective. People often ask why is healthcare so expensive in USA. Do they ever question why other things also cost a lot in USA. By outsourcing we have obtained cheaper goods , however what cannot be outsourced will continue to cost more. Instead of waiting for free care these people could have voted with their feet and gone to Mexico for cheaper care. As for care for illeegal aliens , the medical care provided on this show, it is not available in ER's for the illegal aliens where they often end up at.
Posted by mdgastro on Thu, May 1, 2008 2:03 AM ET
6
This was wonderful.If the government cared half as much as this man did,we'd have a chance.My husband and I both are on ssi,disability.I have medicare & medicaid,thank the lord,my husband has medicaid.We can see a doctor.If you have this kind of insurance they charge you way more.A prescription with out insurance,at Rite Aide cost $43.95 and the same prescription cost $12.99 at K-Mart.I have a co-pay of $3.10 and have to beg or borrow that to pay for my meds with the 2 insurances I have.I get $648.00 a month,my husband gets $328.00 a month.We get $239.00 in food stamps.That's like $30.00 aweek for each of us to buy food a month.That's $976.00 a month to live off of.This is for a married couple.This is the most we can get to live off of.We can't work.I retired on disability and my husband is disabled.I know there are people worst off than we are and we aren't making it.The government doesn't care about old people.They just push them aside.Old people can't even afford to live in a nursing home.You have to have money for that.I don't know what is going to happen to this country,I'm afraid to know.We all need to wake up and see whats going on and try to get together a do something about it before its to late.and PRAY and PRAY HARD..........That's all we have is a prayer....God Bless America-----In God We Trust...........
Posted by nikki28306 on Thu, May 1, 2008 2:18 AM ET
7
To Hemant Shah - as a Indian myself I am ashamed by the wierd comment you have posted.
Posted by shirisharya on Thu, May 1, 2008 3:19 AM ET
8
Well, we could all sit here and argue who has rights and who shouldn't have rights. And I may agree but this is the problem we spend to much time on repeating these issues lets get beyond this! And do something about it get out vote and get someone in who care all "AMERICANS" stand up for what's our right and that is to speak out, not play the blame game but actually get out and be like a soldier on a mission. Provide some assistance somewhere pitch in to change what we've become and recreat who we really are "AMERICAN'S" I am afraid of where we are going to. Does our government care??? If so show your face and get past the politic and HELP! HELP US!! We've become the laughing matter!! Do we not have any pride? UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL!!!!! Wake Up!!! Peace and thank you RAM I wish there more charities/assistance like this to help people before they become helpless. Peace on Earth Good Will To All Men, Women and Child. AMEN
Posted by hessperez on Thu, May 1, 2008 3:31 AM ET
9
Hi, I am living in Thailand and feel so sorry for what hapening to your people in US. Thailand is very peaceful country eventhough we are not rich materially, we don't have much money but our people have plenty of foods and clothings. Not much polution, especially in Chiangmai city. We do not spent much to see the dentist or any medical doctors. You are welcome my friend to visit our country with your small amount of dollar and you will feel like living in heaven on earth. We have many millions of Burmese immigrants around us but we still can have the genuine smile ( not plastic smile as someone has said) And I belive if we can get the proper raining every year we even do need any goverments because the Democracy is the illusion and the politicians are the decease of the society. Share your ideas and enjoy the world. Van chachavls@yahoo.com
Posted by chachavals on Thu, May 1, 2008 4:36 AM ET
10
Paste maker + accommodation =$ 7,000 USD., Teeth cleaning = $19 USD for one visit, One cup of fresh coffee = $ 00 .60 USD. You can find in Thailand.
Posted by chachavals on Thu, May 1, 2008 5:01 AM ET
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