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Lisa first heard about the Remote Area Medical (RAM®) Clinic in Big Rapids, Michigan, when she brought her 5-year-old son for care last year. This year, she returned for care of her own.
Lisa and her husband are self-employed, so they do not have access to health insurance through an employer. Their family of three was quoted $1,300 a month for coverage. At that price, paying for insurance did not feel financially realistic.
“When they gave us a quote of, like, $1,300 a month for insurance, I was like, ‘Mmm … we’re healthy. I’m not paying for insurance,’” Lisa said.
For Lisa, spending a few hours of her Saturday at the RAM Clinic was worth the wait. A volunteer dentist repaired her broken filling at no cost.
When Health Coverage Costs $1,300 a Month
Lisa’s family is not alone. According to Data USA, nearly 8% of people in the Big Rapids area do not have health insurance.
But health insurance does not always guarantee access to care. A plan may exclude dental or vision services, require a high deductible or leave patients with out-of-pocket costs they still cannot afford.
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In just two days, the Big Rapids clinic served more than 285 patients. Regardless of their insurance status, they received dental, vision and medical care at no cost.
Some patients traveled hundreds of miles to reach the clinic. One drove more than 1,100 miles from Biloxi, Mississippi, for dental care. Another patient, Scott, traveled more than eight hours from Indiana after learning about RAM on “60 Minutes.”
Familiar Location, New Meaning
The clinic was held at Ferris State University, a place Lisa knew well. She worked there as a custodian for nearly 20 years. But that weekend, the familiar campus looked completely different.
In just a few hours, RAM volunteers transformed the gymnasium into a dental clinic with 40 treatment stations. Inside, patients received cleanings, fillings and extractions at no cost.
Other areas of the university became vision and medical departments. Across the clinic, volunteers served more than 285 patients during the two-day event.
Returning to RAM for a Broken Filling
Four months before the clinic, one of Lisa’s fillings broke. After seeing the care her son received the previous year, she knew she wanted to return to RAM for treatment of her own.
“We came to the clinic last year for my son, and I knew I needed a filling,” Lisa said. “So, I was like, ‘OK, I need to come today.’”
Lisa reached the clinic before the broken filling began causing pain. A volunteer dentist repaired the filling, which had originally been placed when she was a child. Lisa hopes the new repair will last just as long.
Although Lisa had not visited a dentist in several years, she continued taking care of her teeth at home. She said she had not developed a cavity since childhood and wanted to repair the filling as soon as she had an affordable opportunity.
“I haven’t had any cavities since I was a kid,” Lisa said.
With her filling repaired, Lisa left the clinic relieved that the problem had been treated before it became painful. She said she would recommend RAM to others who need care but cannot afford it.
Lisa’s husband and 6-year-old son did not need treatment that weekend. But after two visits to the Big Rapids clinic, the family knows RAM will welcome them when they need care they cannot afford.
Help More Patients Receive Care Before the Pain Begins
Lisa was able to repair her tooth before it became painful because RAM volunteers and supporters made care available at no cost. Your donation can help bring that same relief to another patient.
Donate to RAM today and help us bring free healthcare to more patients in need.
Register to volunteer today. We can’t wait to see you at a RAM clinic!
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