We must protect uninsured Georgians

In Georgia, 1.5 million people are uninsured. Over 300,000 of those without insurance fall into what is called the coverage gap. These are people who do not qualify for Medicaid under the current policies, yet do not make enough to qualify for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Sixty percent of those who fall into the coverage gap are low-income working age adults, individuals who would be able to seek medical services, including preventative care, if the coverage gap were closed.

One such individual is a gentleman I first met on my Emergency Medicine rotation at Grady Memorial Hospital as a new fourth-year medical student at Emory. He was in his early 30s and had noticed a growth on his shin for the past six months. He had sought care elsewhere and received a CT scan, but did not receive the results of the test because he was unable to follow up due to his lack of insurance. After receiving an X-ray in the trauma center that showed suspicious findings, our fear grew that he likely had bone cancer. After a subsequent chest CT showed that the cancer had spread to his lungs, this young man was faced with the reality of having Stage 4 osteosarcoma. He underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy but unfortunately, he passed away less than six months after he showed up at Grady and received his initial diagnosis.

Sadly, his story is not unique. Many other Georgians will find themselves in a similar situation. How much longer can we stand by and allow this to keep happening to our fellow Georgians? How many fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers, and sisters must be lost before we demand that something be done to protect those who are uninsured? —

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