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Delaying Treatment
Lacey McLaughlin
Cornelius Harvey delayed needed treatment due to no insurance.
by Ward Schaefer
September 9, 2009
Cornelius Harvey was a 27-year-old barber when, in fall 2005, his stomach started hurting. Harvey could not afford health insurance, though, so he waited. Ignored his stomach pains for several days, thinking that he had a virus.
"Not having health care, you've got to put your priorities together," Harvey says. "You can't go to the doctor for a little cold. You have to weigh your options: Am I really feeling this bad to go to the doctor?"
So Harvey waited for four days, until the pain became unbearable. He checked himself into Central Mississippi Medical Center, where emergency room doctors told him that his appendix had been infected and then ruptured, probably three days beforehand. He needed emergency surgery, and because the infection had spread, a lengthy hospital stay.
All told, it took two surgeries and a 30-day hospital stay for Harvey to recover. In addition to the hospital doctors, Harvey also saw an infectious disease specialist after leaving the hospital.
"My doctors said that if I'd come in when I first started feeling sick, they would've run some tests and known what the problem was," Harvey says. "I could've probably been at home within a week."
But without insurance, Harvey was reluctant to act so quickly.
All told, his medical bills totaled $150,000, which Harvey has struggled to pay off in $300 to $400 monthly increments, with the money he makes cutting hair at Miracle Hair Designs.
"If I'd had health insurance, at the first sign of sickness I would've gone to the doctor," Harvey says.
posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 09/09/09 at 02:38 PM. [printer version] Share |
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Feb 10, 2012 | 02:12 PMHolland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: Thanks, Maddow, for the credit and the link love for this post: on.msnbc.com/yflZ4j
Feb 09, 2012 | 09:50 PM
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Feb 09, 2012 | 04:55 PM
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thabian: Loved this column not only for the very important subject matter, but because it contained a truly entertaining voice. I wanted to read more!!!!
Feb 09, 2012 | 04:35 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: Let's not forget when Rep. Holland tried to ban abortion back in 2006. Many of us weren't laughing about that stunt. Here's a 2010 report on him and a ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 04:15 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
Jason Meeks: brief mention of it in video :) by Colbert (via Twitter trending) http://tpmmuckraker. talkingpointsmemo.com/201 2/02/mississippi_rep_want ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 04:01 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: Oh, and I love it when Mississippi punks the nation.
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:57 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: I'm surprised anyone took it seriously. We heard about it earlier the week, and it seemed obvious before it was Holland. But we all deal with him. I'll ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:40 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
Lori G: I thought it was genius when I saw it. Of course, I knew the Colbert joke. I think that is the problem. In this state, there just aren't enough people that ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:20 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
DonnaLadd: I can totally see Holland on Colbert, both pretending to be conservatives! Ha!
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:16 PM
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rlnave: Attorney General Jim Hood was worried for nothing. Even though he was at the Supreme Court making arguments in the ongoing pardon case this morning, I'm hearing that Jackson Democratic Rep. ...
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:16 PM
Holland's Gulf of America Bill Sweeping the Nation
Lori G: This is an old Colbert joke! I wish someone would send this to Colbert. I swear, I think he'd cover it.
Feb 09, 2012 | 03:02 PM
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DonnaLadd: By the way, I looked up an image of the patch our captain friend gave us. Apparently, he is with the 25th Infantry Division; read more here.
Feb 09, 2012 | 01:23 PM
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Feb 09, 2012 | 01:19 PM
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DonnaLadd: This is a mixed blessing. They sell cool stuff, but they could shut McDade's and Rainbow down if we're not all careful about where we spend all our food money. ...
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DonnaLadd: Amazing column.
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