SOLUTION.
SOLUTION. AT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES ON A
FIX TOMORROW, THE CITY
EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE TO SIGN OFF.
>>> YOU HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS TO
ENROLL FOR HEALTHCARE NEXT
YEAR.
YEAR. +@
YEAR. +@ HOPEFULLY TEXAS WILL DO BETTER
THAN THIS.
THAN THIS. IN THE LAST CENSUS, MORE THAN
SIX -- 17% OF TEXANS SAY THEY
WANT WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.+
THAT IS THE HIGHEST RATE IN THE
NATION.
NATION.
NATION. BRADLEY BLACK BURN SHOWS US
WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> Reporter: THERE MAY BE NO
BETTER PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM
WITH HEALTHCARE IN AMERICA AND
RIGHT HERE, THIS MOMENT IN FORT
WORT+@H.
WORT+@H.
WORT+@H. OUTSIDE THE WILL ROGERS
MEMORIAL CENTER, THE LINE
WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING,
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WAITING NOT
JUST FOR A CONCERT OR RODEO BUT
FOR FREE HEALT+@HCARE.
>> I DID NOT REALIZE THERE
WOULD BE SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: IN SEPTEMBER WE
REPORTED ON AS THEY HAP+@PEN.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CLINIC
IS WORTH A CLOSE LOOK.
>> MY DOCTOR WANTED ME TO GET A
X-RAY.
X-RAY.
X-RAY. I
X-RAY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO +@PAY FOR TH
X-RAY.
X-RAY.
X-RAY. >>
X-RAY. >> Reporter: THIS DR. FOUNDED +@
THE ORGANIZATION CALLED PATHWAY
TO HEALTH.
TO HEALTH. >> I WAS DUMBFOUNDED BY THE
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
>> Reporter: AND POSTED THESE
FREE CLINICS, A POP UP HOSPITAL
STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS.
+@WITH DENTAL CARE, EYE+@ CARE,
RADIOLOGY.
RADIOLOGY. EVEN AN ON-SITE OPERATING ROOM.
AND IF YOU ASSUME IT IS ONLY
FOR THOSE IN POVERTY, LISTEN TO
THIS.
THIS.
THIS. >>
THIS. >> THE MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS
ARE ACTUALLY WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE
HEALTH INSURANCE.
HEALTH INSURANCE. >> Reporter: WE KNOW HEALTHCARE
COSTS HAVE SOARED BUT NO
ECON+@OMIC GROUP HAS BEEN HARDE
HIT THAN THE MIDDLE CLASS.
THE LAST 30 YEARS, HEALTH
EXPENDITURES HAVE RISEN 60% FOR
MIDDLE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
AND POLITICIANS HAVE TRIED TO
TACKLE THE PROBLEMS BUT
INSURANCE PREMIUMS IN TEXAS FOR
A FAMILY OF FOUR CAN TOP $1000
A MONTH.
A MONTH.
A MONTH. WITH A DEDUCTIBLE OF $10,000 OR
MORE.
MORE.
MORE. >>
MORE. >> IT COMES DOWN TO THE
QUESTION OF, DO I PAY THE CO-
PAY AND DEDUCTIBLE OR INSTEAD,
DO I PUT FOOD ON THE FATE -- ON
THE TABLE?
THE TABLE? >> IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT
THE TABLE? >> IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT@
EVER HAS BEEN.
>> Reporter: EVERY PER+@SON HER
HAS A STORY.
RICHARD TONY CAME FROM
ARLINGTON.
ARLINGTON. HE HAS BEEN LIVING WITH AN EYE
PROBLEM FOR 4 YEARS.
>> HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: HE HAS A JOB WITH
+@INSURANCE BUT HIS HIGH
DEDUCTIBLE KEEPS THEM FROM
SPENDING THE MONEY TO HAVE THE
GROWTH REMOVED.
GROWTH REMOVED. MONEY HE SPENDS INSTEAD TAKING
CARE OF HIS TEENAGE SON.
>> I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM
AT ONE POINT AND THEY REFERRED
ME TO A DOCTOR.
>> Reporter: AND PATRICIA
HERNANDEZ DROVE 250 MILES TO BE
+@
+@ HERE.
HERE.
HERE. ALL
HERE. ALL THE WAY FROM NORTHERN
OKLAHOMA.
OKLAHOMA.
OKLAHOMA. >> WHEN YOU ARE MIDDLE-CLASS
YOU HAVE OBLIGATIONS.
YOU STILL HAVE THE INSURANCE.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR MORTGAGE.
>> Reporter: SHE IS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER BUT SHE HAS
+@
BUSINESS OWNER BUT SHE HAS SACRIFICED HER HEALTH.
KNEE PROBLEMS, SEVERE DENTAL
ISSUES AND SHE HAS SIMPLY NOT
HAD THE MONEY.
>> NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
+@
+@ I
+@ I RAISED+@ THREE CHILDREN AFTER
MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY AND TOOK
CARE OF MY MOTHER THE LAST 15
YEARS OF HER LIFE.
AFTER 27 YEARS I'M +@HERE TODAY
AND THEY ARE LITERALLY PUTTING
ME BACK TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: FOR PATRICIA ONE
+@ DAY WAS NOT E+@NOUGH.
THAT IS WHY WE FOUND HER AGAIN
IN+@ THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
OUTSIDE.
OUTSIDE.
OUTSIDE. >> THERE WILL BE ZERO SLEEP AND
WE WILL SIT ON THE SIDEWALK.
>> Reporter: SHE HAS NEVER
SLEPT OUTDOORS LIKE THIS.
ONE OF HUNDREDS WEDDING FOR
DENTAL WORK.
DENTAL WORK. THE NEXT MORNING, SHE GOT IN.
FIRST, AND EXAM.
>> I WILL BE ABLE TO GET
DENTURES OR IMPLANTS.
>> Reporter: THEN IN THE CHAIR.
WHERE THEY DID THO+@SE 10 +@
EXTRACTIONS.
EXTRACTIONS. >> +@WE WANT TO MAK+@E SURE SHE
IN HEALTH.
IN HEALTH. >> Reporter: THIS TIME PENDING
ANSWERS AND HELP.
>> I GOT MY LIFE BACK.
ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY. >> Reporter: FOR THOSE STUCK IN
THE MIDDLE, THE COST OF
HEALTHCARE IS MORE THAN MONEY.
IT IS PRIDE.
>> I GET TO BE HEALTHY.
>> Reporter: IN FORT WORTH,
BRADLEY BLACKBURN, CHANNEL 8
NEWS.
NEWS.
NEWS. >>>
NEWS. >>> IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW
NEEDS HELP