I found a local program in Wichita called Project Access/Central Plains Healthcare, a charity for people without insurance. The results of my ultrasound came back and showed abnormalities, so I was back on the internet searching for options. In a few days, she called me back to tell me the hospital would cover the costs under their low-income program. I got lucky and connected with an extremely helpful woman in their financial aid department, who took all my financial information.

I didn’t know what to do, so I contacted the hospital where I was scheduled to receive the ultrasound and was simply honest. I suppose it should be called “Early Detection Lets You Know There Is A Problem Then Lets You Sit And Stew With That Information.” (Not as catchy of a title, I know.) After my exam, the nurse recommended I get an ultrasound.īut there was a problem: Early Detection Works doesn’t cover the cost of an ultrasound. I was sent to a clinic here in Wichita called Grace Med. I called the number, gave my financial information, and qualified. I found a Federal program called Early Detection Works for breast cancer and cervical cancer screening. When I started to show symptoms (and, no, I'm not getting into details) that something was wrong, I went on the internet and started looking for some sort of option for me. Like most poor people, I can’t afford pride.

My income is so low I qualify for Medicaid, but since the Republicans in control of Kansas opted out of Medicaid expansion, they are offering me in return “access” to $600-a-month insurance plans. Under that was a listing of the free-market insurance plans I had “access” to.

Will Love For Crumbs by Jonna Ivin