This article was copublished withThe Lever, an investigative newsroom.
Folks seeking treatment had begun filling the lot the night before, with many sleeping in their cars.
I had two really awesome people on both sides of me.
Gregory Tapler*
One gave me a robe to borrow, and one gave me a blanket.
So thank God for them.
But that insurance is inadequate to cover the treatment she needs.
Since August, Pennsylvania households on averagehave been seeing 16 ads a day.
In front of the triage were three primary zones: medical, vision, and dental.
While his tufting beard and wallet chain suggested off-duty heavy metal drummer, he exuded calm.
He had even been thinking of quitting and going to welding school.
Then the opportunity to work for RAM came up.
Now, he gets to do the one thing I want to do: bring care to people.
I dont have to make an insurance company happy.
I just need the patient present in front of me.
What happened to health care reform?
The conversations that have occurred have been stop-start.
Youre going to be thrown into a system where everybody gets health care, hewarned.
Not long after the debate, GOP vice presidential candidate J.D.
The Harris campaign respondedby accusing Trump and Vanceof ripping away protections for preexisting conditions.
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania Gov.
Josh Shapiro (D), a top contender for Harris V.P.
This is a national problem, with over 100 million Americans carryingmore than $195 billion in medical debt.
Harris has floatedher own plans to tackle medical debt.
He argued that the Harris campaign has been effectively narrowcasting their positions on health care.
He has a plan.
Its turn all health care over to the giant insurance corporations.
UnitedHealth would be in charge of health care.
Thats Donald Trumps plan.
His name was John Deffenbaugh, and he was an American expat living in Glasgow.
Thats why Deffenbaugh said he liked RAM: Its like a mini-Scotland.
The problem is they dont have access to get basic medications.
They dont have access to funds.
Doctors tend to shy away from people who dont have money.
Its just the milieu.
Turned out she had esophageal cancer, Lechmanik said.
Holy shit, you know, nice that we figured that out!
Nearby, Aaron Jaworek, a young ear, nose, and throat specialist, chose his words carefully.
It can get a little political, but this is a microcosm of a bigger issue, he said.
This highlights the need for preventative care, for everyone having access to care.
Thats what always resonates for me.
Were already halfway there.
What does it take to get to the other half?
But Im a physician taking care of patients, not a politician running for office.
Its, like, the best health care Ive ever had, he said.
I mean, theyregood.
They pulled a wisdom tooth; the next day, I was in no pain.
Davis later got flustered at the long wait times for his dental care.
But his disappointment was a rare sour note.
Mostly, people were beaming.
As one person put it, You dont have to pay!
And you dont even have to prove youre poor!
In a way, this is medicine at its best.
Later in the day, I caught up with Angel again.
And was informed I need two root canals but might end up getting them extracted due to money.
That would leave me with very little teeth.
I am in need of replacing teeth, hopefully with implants but financially seems impossible.
So praying for some throw in of replacement teeth that are in my reach financially.
Days before the election, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)
Perhaps aware of howobjectionable repeal would be, a Trump spokespersonquickly respondedthat this is not President Trumps policy position.
For seniors who rely on free medical clinics like RAM, the last item would have an obvious benefit.
Still, the profound need for RAM suggested how far the American health care system has to go.
In other wealthy countries, Weisbart said, pop-up medical clinics like RAM just dont happen.
Right before I left, I got lost in a meandering conversation with Betsy, a sixtysomething Pennsylvanian.
She hasnt had a new pair in ten years.
The last time she considered getting new glasses, she spent the money fixing the air-conditioning in her car.
Based on what shed heard about the costs involved theyoften drive Americans to bankruptcy she was worried.
