Access to medical care reveals gaps in coverage across South Carolina From the working uninsured to rural communities, many in state struggle to find care Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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TONIGHT... OUR CAROL: TONIGHT, OUR THESE 50 STATES SERIES TACKLES AN ISSUE THAT HITS CLOSE TO HOME. NIGEL: POLLS SHOW HEALTH CARE IS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN FOR SOUTH CAROLINA VOTERS, WE WENT TO THESE THREE CITIES, AND FOUND A MAJOR GAP IN MEDICAL CARE, THAT GAP SHOWS UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AS YOU CROSS THE STATE FRO MOUNTAINS, TO THE MIDLANDS, TO THE COAST. CAROL: OUR MICHAEL COGDILL IS LIVE IN GREENVILLE TO EXPLAIN. >> THE PEOPLE IN THAT GAP ARE THE WORKING UNINSURED. AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA, MANY DEPEND ON THE KINDNESS OF GIVING STRANGER >> THE MONEY THAT MEDICAL CARE TAKES, I WOULD JUST HAVE STAYED SICK. >> DEEP WITHIN AN ECONOMY, THAT’S MORE THAN WELL. THERE’S NO OTHER WAY I COULD HAVE GOTTEN BETTER WITHOUT THIS PLACE. >> WOULD HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. IT WAS HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE, AND I COULDN’T AFFORD MEDICAL INSURANCE. >> SHE WORKS FOR A LIVING. BUT HAS TO GET HER MEDICAL CARE AT THE GREENVILLE FREE CLINIC. GETS HER MEDS HERE, TOO. CHARITY DOLLARS AND VOLUNTEER HOURS, MEAN SHE STAYS WELL ENOUGH TO HOLD HER JOB. >> WHEN I’M REFERRED FROM HERE, THEY TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. >> IT’S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL THING. LOWCOUNTRY STANDUP, AND AN ESSENTIAL THING FOR SO MANY. THE GREENVILLE FREE CLINIC ALONE SEES MORE THAN 9,000 MEDICAL VISITS A YEAR. THAT’S WITH HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS NEARBY. WE ROLLED DOWN TO CHARLESTON, AND FOUND THE SAME NEED, AND CARE, ON WHEELS. DR. YOULANDA GIBBS, ROLLS THIS BRAND NEW 33,000 POUND CLINIC, RIGHT INTO THAT CRISIS. >> WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR THE UNINSURED AND THE UNDERINSURED. >> COMING TO THEM, TODAY IN NORTH CHARLESTON. THEY CALL IT PALMETTO PALACE. HALF A MILLION CHARITY DOLLARS, PUTTING MEDICAL AND DENTAL ON THE ROAD. IT’S BEEN OUT JUST 4 TIMES. 134 PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED. >> WE’RE NOT JUST GOING TO THEIR TOWN ONCE. WE’RE GOING EVERY WEEK. >> THERE’S A WAITING LIST. >> PEOPLE ARE WORKING EVERY DAY, AND THEY DON’T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. >> THE CENSUS BUREAU REPORTS MORE THAN HALFAMILLION SOUTH CAROLINIANS LIVE UNINSURED, ONE OUT OF TEN. SO PALMETTO PALACE IS ABOUT TO ROLL WELL UP THE ROAD, TO ONE OF ITS POOREST PLACES. > ORANGEBURG COUNTY, WHERE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IS THE ONLY HOSPITAL FOR 2400 SQUARE MILES. >> THESE ARE REAL SITUATIONS. I THINK ABOUT THAT MOTHER, WHOSE KID IS OUTSIDE BEING A KID LIKE ALL GREAT YOUNG AMERICAN CHILDREN AND A SNAKE BITES THEM. >> CEO CHARLES WILLIAMS SAYS THAT AMBULANCE RIDE COULD TAKE WELL OVER AN HOUR. TWO NEIGHBORING HOSPITALS ON ON HIS MAP, RECENTLY CLOSED. >> WE HAVE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT IT AS THEY IT IS WE WE ARE ONE AMERICA, WE ARE ONE FAMILY. AND IF ONE OF US IS IN TROUBLE ALL OF US ARE IN TROUBLE. >> THE DOCTORS HERE ARE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. WHILE TO THE GREENVILLE FREE CLINIC, PATIENTS LIKE WHITNEY KEEP COMING FOR THE MEDS. AND SOME, FOR THE FOOD. A FREE PRODUCE MARKET, EVERY THURSDAY. HELPING KEEP PEOPLE WELL. IN A TIME, WHEN MORE THAN EVER, THAT IS A MATTER OF CHARITY, IN A THRIVING ECONOMY SOME FURTHER IMPACT. SOUTH CAROLINA IS A STATE THAT SAID NO TO EXPANDED MEDICAID FOR THE POOR. THE KAISER FOUNDATION FINDS NEARLY 200,000 MORE SOUTH CAROLINIANS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, IF THE STATE WOULD ACCEPT THE EXPANSION O

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