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Photos by Jess Pinkham While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pushes health care legislation through Washington, Gambit hit the streets to take the pulse of people's experience with the issue in New Orleans. We surveyed 100 New Orleanians at local grocery stores and asked if they are insured, who provides their insurance or why they are not insured, how much they pay per month for health care, what they need in a health care plan, if their needs are being met and whether they support health care reform. We were stationed at five different grocery stores across New Orleans, each reflecting different urban demographics. These locations were Whole Foods Market on Magazine Street (Uptown), Save-A-Lot on Franklin Avenue (9th Ward), Langenstein's on Arabella Street (Uptown), Zara's Market on Prytania Street (Lower Garden District) and Rouses Market (Mid-City). Of our sample, 70 percent of respondents are insured; 30 percent are not. Most receive coverage from an employer and generally need primary care services. Sixty-nine percent of respondents support health care reform, 14 percent do not and 17 percent are undecided. The experiences of the New Orleanians with whom we spoke are featured on the following pages.
Zara's Market  Sharon Carletto, 54 Professional photographer Uptown Uninsured because can't afford the premiums Needs primary care, access to specialists, mental health coverage, catastrophic coverage, just in case Supports reform: "I believe everyone should have the opportunity to take care of themselves. After all, we are paying so much money for research in order to maintain and cure our health issues, we cannot be wasting if we, as Americans, cannot take advantage of the taxes we pay." |  Aaliyah Muhammed, 24 Social work graduate student Terrytown Uninsured Needs coverage for chronic conditions Supports reform |  Michael Ashford, 26 Artist/barback Lower Garden District Uninsured Needs primary care and coverage for specialists, just in case Supports reform: "I think it is something everyone should get taken care of." |  Amy Rush, 23 Student at Tulane Insured through parents Needs primary care coverage, just in case. Supports reform: "The entire system needs to be reformed. I don't agree with the bill in full, but something needs to be done. Tort reform — [I'm] not 100 percent sold on the public option. care of." |  Henry Bostick, 29 Bartender at St. Charles Tavern Lower Garden District Insured privately Pays $100-$250 per month Needs primary care coverage Does not support reform: "Too much to explain." |  Bush Brighton, 32 Banker at Whitney Bank Garden District Insured by employer Pays $400-$600 per month Needs primary care coverage, access to specialists Does not support reform: "Change plan. Competition between states. No discrimination for pre-existing conditions. Medicare for lower class/poor. Not in favor of public option unless other reforms have no results." |  Margot Day, 55 Secretary Gentilly Insured privately Pays $400-$600 per month Needs primary care, access to specialists, treatment for chronic conditions, mental and reproductive health coverage, catastrophic care, just in case Supports reform: "Everyone needs to be able to have care." |  Jessie Harris, 45 Zara's employee Uptown Insured privately Pays less than $100 per month Needs insurance just in case Supports reform: "Because my wife is handicapped. She's been like this for 18 years. She's been diabetic since she was 14. I have a 9-year-old son." |  Donald Trout, 53 Self-employed Uninsured because can't afford premiums Needs primary care, access to specialists, coverage for chronic conditions (bi-polar disorder, depression, STDs, dental), mental health, reproductive health, catastrophic coverage Supports reform: "Something needs to be done." |
Langenstein's
 Cheryll Goodman, 63 Retired aerobics instructor Uptown Insured by partner's employer Unsure if supports reform: "Not what just passed the House, whatever is coming up in the Senate; we will see. I need to read the fine print on what I would support, but I'm not good at writing my congressman." |  Ann Klimas, 49 Physical therapist Uptown Insured by partner's employer Pays $400-$600 per month Needs primary care, access to specialists, mental health services and catastrophic coverage Supports reform: "To make it more affordable." |  Michelle Lackoric, 45 Health research Uptown Insured by partner's employer Pays $200-$400 per month Needs primary care and access to specialists just in case Supports reform: "Large number of uninsured. Improve quality of care/life. Reduce health care costs." |  Nora Lustig, 58 Economics professor at Tulane Uptown Insured by employer Pays $400-$600 a month Supports reform: "I believe that everybody is entitled to affordable health care and you can only achieve it with a well-functioning public health insurance system." |  Kaki Kohnke, 52 Homemaker Uptown Insured privately Pays more than $600 a month for family Needs primary care, access to specialists, care for a chronic condition, mental health and reproductive care, catastrophic care, just in case Does not support reform: "I don't want the government taking that over. I feel very strongly about that. I do not want socialized medicine." |  Mimi Ryan, 31 (with son James) School counselor
Uptown
Insured
Buys individual coverage
Pays $200-$400 a month
Needs general practice, reproductive health care Supports reform: "I think too many people can't afford [health care]." "It was hard just to find a good policy that we could afford that was going to give us the kinds of coverage that we needed and was going to be affordable.
When you are not with an employer, when you are self-employed, it is just more challenging. Just recognizing the limitations that those policies have even when we can afford to pay for our own — I just can't imagine someone who is on a limited income and is trying to do that. It is really impossible." |  Ted Alpauga, 85 Retired engineer Insured by Medicare Pays less than $100 a month Does not support reform: "I think it is a reform of our Constitution. They are trying to steal our freedoms, everything. And I am very much against it." |  Sabrina Durling-Jones, 37 Filmmaker Mid-City and Venezuela Supports reform: "Because I live in a Third World country where I have access to free (and very good) healthcare." |  Howard Russell, 71 Retired physician Uptown Insured by Medicare Pays $200-$450 a month Supports reform |  Barbara West, 81 Uptown Insured by Medicare Needs insurance just in case Does not support reform: "[It's] too expensive for future generations to have a huge debt." |  D.C. Hardy, 80 Retired archivist Uptown Insured by Medicare Needs primary care, just in case Supports reform: "Because it's the civilized thing!" |  Kenneth Landos, 41 Landscaper Uptown Uninsured Needs primary care, access to specialists, and chronic condition, mental health and catastrophic care Supports reform |  Marlene Friis, 39 Instructor of English as a second language at Delgado Hurstville Insured by partner's employer Pays $400-$600 a month Needs primary care, specialists, reproductive practitioners, catastrophic care, just in case Supports reform: "Just in general. People in modern Western society should have access to health care. I'm originally from Denmark, so it's a bit mystifying to me why it is an issue here. Part of being in a democratic society is to share the burden and benefits of health care. As it is, people who have it don't really care about people who don't, but in the end we are all paying the same bill." |  Mirella Cameran, 41 Stay-at-home mother Uptown Insured by partner's employer Needs general practice Supports reform: "Greater provision for less economically well-off." |
Rouses
 Francis Cole Retired Mid-City Insured by former employer and Medicare Needs insurance just in case Supports reform |  George Sartin, 49 Musician Uptown Uninsured (because he can't afford it) Does not support reform, because he is not sure what it is |  John M. Clark, 35 Roofer Uninsured (because can't afford premiums) Needs primary care Supports reform: Need changes in health care |  Nicole Jones, 30 Singer Carrollton Insured privately Pays less than $100 per month Needs primary care Supports reform: "We just need a change." |  Jamie Allen, 27 Barista Marigny Insured privately Pays less than $100 per month Needs primary care Supports reform: "Everyone should have health care." "I am not at the poverty line, but I am not in a corporate career that has benefits, so I am always going to pay the most out of pocket. I feel like I will never win, no matter what the reforms are. I am not married, I don't have kids, I don't have a lot of responsibility, but I will always pay the most for everyone else. I don't know what to do about it. I guess I [support health care reform] but I am not going to benefit. Everyone should have health care." |  Joe Hess, 45 Unemployed plumber Metairie Uninsured Needs primary care, access to specialists and mental health services. Undecided about reform "I was seeing double and the doctor told me one of the reasons I would be seeing double is because I have brain tumors. So I got them checked. I've got brain tumors. I tried to get medical assistance. I couldn't work because it would make me f—ed up in the head. I got one biopsy. One they can't touch. It is messing with my vision; I seem to be tired all the time. When I am tired, my symptoms are way worse. This has been going on for years. I can't even do anything. I am unemployed in plumbing. I am just doing side work." |  Darnesha Coleman, 16 Student Jefferson Insured by Medicaid Needs primary care services Supports reform: "It's helping me when I have a problem and can turn to my health care provider and not pay too much." |  Chris Martin, 46 Waiter at Irene's Mid-City Uninsured: "It isn't part of my plan. It's expensive and I haven't signed up for it." Needs primary care, just in case Supports reform: "I think it is a good idea — more affordable for the population." |  Cynthia Parker, 58 Student 4th Ward Uninsured "Because I can't afford it and I'm unemployed right now." Needs primary care Supports reform: "Because there's so many people unemployed and are not covered, can't afford insurance due to the recession." "Before my sister passed [away last March], she didn't have any insurance other than the six months free insurance they were offering at University Hospital. ... Not having insurance limited her visits. She had to go I guess whenever she (could be) fit in, and if it ran out she had to go through the process all over again for another six months. She had a heart bypass [after] a massive heart attack, but she had other little illnesses, like she became a diabetic, she suffered with her blood pressure, she suffered with having a bad hip. And since Katrina, doctors not really being here, she had to travel to Hammond just to get treatment for her hip. I think all of that [took] a toll on her health. If she ... had other insurance other than the six months free plan, maybe [treatment] would have been better or more frequent. Something that I am thinking, could have been prevented, her death." |  Arnold Johnson, 41 Post office worker Uptown Insured by employer Pays less than $100 per month Needs primary care |  Nathan McCullough, 30 Department of Defense mechanic (just returned from Iraq) Mid-City Insured by employer Pays less than $100 per month Needs primary care Supports reform |  Christine Ignacio, 23 AmeriCorps Treme Insured by employer Needs insurance just in case Supports reform: "Health care is important/needed." |  L. Hallaran, 74 Retired physician at Tulane School of Medicine Uptown Insured by Medicaid Pays $200-$400 per month Needs specialist care |  Augusto Martinez, 64 Unemployed Treme Uninsured Pays $100-$250 per month Does not support reform: "Too expensive for people." |  Reba Orvold, 66 Retired legal secretary Mid-City Insured through Medicare Needs specialist care Undecided about whether she supports reform |
Sav-A-Lot
 Arthur Smith, 77 Unemployed Homeless since Hurricane Katrina, previously lived in the Marigny Insured by Medicaid Supports reform |  Eric Blue Jr., 56 Retired mechanic 9th Ward Insured by Medicaid Needs primary care Supports reform: "Because it helps all people." |  Richelle Robinson, 29 Stay-at-home mother Gentilly Insured by employer Pays less than $100 per month Supports reform |  Joshua Stone, 54 Musician Bywater Uninsured because of cost Needs primary care Supports reform: "Change is good." |  Alcee Brown, 65 Unemployed Gentilly Insured by Medicaid Pays less than $100 per month Needs treatment for high blood pressure |  Josette Curvey, 32 Home health worker 9th Ward Uninsured because can't afford premiums Pays less than $100 per month Needs primary care coverage, just in case Supports reform: "If it is possible for me to get insurance and it's something affordable, I would surely support it." |  Willie Slaughter, 57 Groundskeeper Mid-City Uninsured because he can't afford premiums Needs primary care and mental health services and has a chronic condition Supports reform: "I feel that if other countries can provide free health care, this great country should, too." |  Louis Cousin, 80 Patrolman and journeyman machinist 9th Ward Uninsured because he's in financial difficulty Pays $100-$250 per month Needs primary care, access to specialists, treatment for chronic conditions: diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, cardiovascular problems, glaucoma and cataracts Supports reform "My last visit to the optometrist I was told that I am losing my eyesight. I take six drops of eye drops daily for glaucoma. I have been having huge cataracts for the last six or seven years, but I only take drops for glaucoma. I am taking those drops because they cannot seem to dilate my eyes enough to get the right reading. [If I had health insurance], they would operate on them. They haven't even suggested an operation." |  David Lanoix, 46 Construction worker 9th Ward Uninsured due to cost Needs insurance just in case Does not support reform: "I don't know that much about it. " |  Robert Snyder, 60 Retired Uptown Insured by former employer Pays $100-$250 per month Needs catastrophic care Supports reform: "U.S. needs (insurance) for poor people" |  Tameka Lewis, 26 No employment information available No neighborhood available Insured by Medicaid Pays less than $100 per month Needs mental health services Supports reform "If you need surgery done and all that, [Medicaid] don't cover none of that. You just don't get the surgery; if you do get it, you have to come out of your pocket and pay. Say if you need your appendix removed, they don't pay for that. If you have a cyst or something, they'll cover that. But surgery, they won't cover that. And staying in the hospital, they won't cover that. I had my appendix removed and they wouldn't cover that. My mom paid $3,500. It was about to erupt so I had to get the surgery right then and there. " |  Reggie Brown, 56 Janitor Insured by Medicaid Needs primary care coverage Supports reform and equal coverage "More people that need health care should be able to get it. In between the poverty line and the middle class, I think they are hit the most hardest. If you are poor, they will give it to you. But if you have got a little something, they are going to try to take it from you. So you can't keep your head above the water. If you are paying for the insurance, you are going back to the poverty line again." |  Setonya Nealy, 37 Private-care attendant Uninsured because can't afford to pay for it Supports reform We have to pay for [health care] ourselves. I really don't get sick, but (when I do) I just go to the emergency room, let them send me a bill and pay, you know, what I can pay on it. [If I can't pay, I] send them a letter explaining my situation. [Recently I went to the emergency room for] an ear infection. |  Michael Wills, 34 Roofer Downtown Uninsured because of cost Supports reform |
Whole Foods
 Louis Harris, 25 Student Broadmoor Insured through school Needs primary care, access to specialists, treatment for chronic conditions Supports reform: "Socialized medicine leads to healthier overall being, less infection, longer life span and equality among society." "I have subglottic stenosis. It is the narrowing of my airway. It is an autoimmune disease that started about a year and a half ago. I just started going to Loyola for the MBA program, so I had to forfeit my group health care with the employer I was working with until May of this year. Now I am under a student insurance plan, which is $1,000 a year roughly and only covers 80 percent of my bills, so I have to pay around $3,000 a year out of pocket. If we had socialized medicine, I would be able to get treated without any costs, just increased taxes, which I don't mind paying for. I am all for socialized medicine." |  Philip Sevia, 27 Waiter Garden District Uninsured because can't afford coverage Needs insurance, just in case Supports reform: "Because free or cheaper health care will be a blast." |  Tommy McConnell, 27 Waiter Garden District Uninsured Pays less than $100 per month Needs primary care Supports reform: "I have no insurance." |  Farah Arosemena, 34 Public health researcher Uptown Insured by employer Pays $200-$400 per month Needs primary care, access to specialists, reproductive health services, catastropic coverage, just in case. Supports reform: "Health care for all is the type of social change this country needs. " |  Dinah Rankin, 18 Student at Loyola Uptown Insured through parents Pays $200-$400 per month Needs primary care Supports reform: "I think that medicine should be aimed at preventative care and more available and accessible to a wider demographic. It also shouldn't bankrupt people." |  R. Silverstein, 32 Self-employed Lakefront Insured by Medicaid Needs primary care coverage Does not support reform: "I just don't think the government should be in charge of my health care." |  Allie Shipp, 23 Law student at Tulane Uptown Insured (parents pay premiums) Needs primary care Supports reform: "I think everyone should have the right to health care. I don't think the current system is working." |  Steven Hynn, 49 IT consultant Carrollton Insured privately Pays $100-$250 a month Needs primary care and mental health services, access to specialists, care for chronic conditions, catastrophic coverage, just in case Supports reform: "Because the cost of health care is out of control." |  Neal Bost, 23 Medical student Uptown Insured (father pays premiums) Needs insurance just in case and dental and ophthalmology coverage for eye problems Supports reform: "I think it's the best option for the people who are uninsured and can't afford it right now." |  James Cowan, 20 Student at Tulane Insured by parents' employer Needs primary care Supports reform |  Barbara McPhee, 69 Retired Orleans Parish public school principal Uptown Insured by Medicare Pays $180 per month Needs primary care, access to specialists, mental health services, treatment for chronic condition, catastrophic coverage, just in case Supports reform: "Good health care is a right, not a privilege." |  Ron Nette, 48 Receiver at Whole Foods St. Charles Parish Insured by employer Needs dental insurance Does not support reform: "Them people are crazy. I don't think the people who are in it — the Congress — even understood it. It seems you have to go to school for two years just to understand it. ... They're gonna educate everybody, which is great I guess, but there'll be nobody to work." |  Storm Ehlers, 25 Law student Riverbend Uninsured because it's too expensive and "not worth it" Pays less than $100 per month Needs primary care, access to specialists, mental health care, treatment for chronic conditions, reproductive health, catastrophic care, just in case Supports reform: "Because of instances like today where my husband has bronchitis and can't afford to get a chest X-ray. He might be able to if he had [insurance]." |  Alex Matkin, 24 Cook 7th Ward Uninsured Needs dental, dermatological coverage Supports reform: "Everybody needs help now and then." "I was leaving work on my bike, going to Halloween on Frenchmen (Street), got tagged by a car and ended up in the middle of the street, a bunch of people around me. The ambulance came and took me to University Hospital. They treated me." |  Mwalima Johnson, 72 Excutive assistant Central Business District Insured by employer Pays less than $100 per month Needs insurance just in case |
Tags: Health Care Reform, Harry Reid
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I have to agree with diedralattier, this is really terrible journalism.
What I learned by trudging through the comments is that the consensus seems to be -- I'm for reform because something needs to be done, and what is going to be done is irrelevant.
OTOH, perhaps it is valuable in showing the danger to the Republic of universal suffrage and an ignorant population.
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This is a very interesting piece, with much akin to like photojournalism. One thing that leaped out at me: how many people--of all demographics and of all opinions--have either a vague or a mistaken idea of what they're talking about.
The idea of "getting by" with no healthy insurance terrifies me, but I've never had to forego it.
It's the law that people who own cars have auto insurance. Yet the rates are high, allegedly because of all the unisured drivers.
So, how come people don't understand that that also is true for health care?
It's tiring hearing people blame the Federal gov for everything. I think they do a darned good job, for the most part, considering the size of the population.
This was a good and interesting piece indeed.
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The doctors office will be impossible to get an appointment with and if you're one of the lucky ones that get in, the doctor will not be able to treat you because of cuts in services to pay for the reform. Many doctors will just retire and access to specialty care will not be available like it is now. Hospitals will close or ration care. This isnt the reform I'm looking for, remember this has nothing to do with the compassion of our leaders or the needs of our people, its all about political power. Wake up America!
Consider across state line insurance, serious tort reform, and keeping politicians out of the business of medicine. (The 15 person panel or committee with all nonmedical people will be about as efficient as all the rest of the government run agencies). For me a simple cash for service with no insurances and no frivolous law suits will work better. Let the market decide what the prices are and I bet most physicians will continue to help the needy as they have for years. (Providing the bureaucratic beast is removed from his back.)
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I COME FROM A FAMILY OF MEDICAL DOCTORS.
MY GRANDFATHER, MOTHER, AND FATHER WERE
ALL MDs. I KNOW A LITTLE MORE THAN THE AVERAGE JOE. KEEP IN MIND THE GOVERNMENT
THAT IS SHOVING THEIR BRAND OF HEALTH CARE
DOWN OUR THROATS, IS THE SAME GOVERNMENT
THAT BUILT OUR LEVEES, RAN THE POST OFFICE,
RUNS VA HOSPITALS,THE FAA AND TSA,SOCIAL
SECURITY, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. WE
HAVE THE FINEST ARMAMENT THAT MONEY CAN
BUY AND A SUPERIOR MILITARY TO GO ALONG
WITH THE ARMS. YET, WE HAVEN'T WON A WAR
SINCE WW2. THE REALLY SICK FROM AROUND THE
WORLD COME HERE FOR TREATMENT, BECAUSE
THEIR COUNTRY HAS GONE THE ROUTE OF SOCIAL-
IZED MEDECINE. THIS WHOLE RE-DO OF OUR
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS NOT ABOUT IMPROVEMENT,
IT'S ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL. IF IT'S GOOD, WHY WONT CONGRESS SIGN ONTO IT? HELL NO,
BUT IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE PEONS. FACE IT,
WE HAVE AN AMERICA HATING,AMERICAN HATING
MARXIST PRESIDENT WHOSE ONLY QUALIFICATION
FOR THE OFFICE IS ACORN PIMP.
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As a physician (retired - I would not practice in today's climate), I think we do need health care reform. but not what is being foisted upon us by our completely incompetent and power hungry president and Congress. The things which need to be reformed are: 1.) Tort reform - most members of Congress and our president are lawyers. 2.) Allow intrastate competition between insurance companies and stop the cherry picking of states. 3.) Prohibit previous condition disqualification. 4.) Allow larger pools of insureds to be developed by combining companies' pools, individuals, etc. 5.) Regulate insurance companies' profits much like utilities rather than allowing unrestricted profits which are then taxed, and ultimately paid for by the insureds.
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