KLRU | Critical Condition: Central Texas

Central Texans' Stories

In conjunction with the project Critical Condition: Central Texas, KLRU is featuring the stories of five Central Texans and their struggles to obtain adequate health care. These stories show how the health care crisis impacts both the uninsured and the insured. These vignettes air during primetime the week leading up to the broadcast of P.O.V.'s "Critical Condition" on Tuesday, September 30.

Dean Johnson

Dean's position at an auto parts store was eliminated last year. He had great insurance at the time but never really took advantage of his coverage. While at home he slipped and broke his back. He was treated at St. David's Medical Center and now faces mounting medical debt. He was lucky to be identified as a candidate for St. David’s MATCH Program, which helps uninsured hospital patients find a medical home for follow-up care, and through MATCH was accepted as a patient at People's Community Clinic for treatment of diabetes and other health concerns. He wishes there was a state program so he could be covered by an affordable insurance policy.

Monty & Stephanie Seitz

Monty is a small business owner in Bastrop. He and his wife and son were in a roll-over car accident caused by another driver. He and his son walked away from the accident with minor injuries but his wife suffered severe trauma to the brain. He couldn't afford health insurance for himself or his wife, but he doesn't think insurance would have covered the astronomical bills they've incurred to this point. Monty's options for her care are limited to putting her in a nursing home or trying to find ways to care for her around the clock at home. How you can help: a fund has been set up to assist with medical expenses for Stephanie Seitz. The Stephanie Seitz Benefit Account # 56-130-4, Roscoe State Bank, 710 State Highway 71 W, Bastrop, TX 78602. (512) 303-1800

Susan Hammack

She worked in public health care for 25 years and is frustrated that she is now a victim of the bureaucracy she tried to fight. She has insurance but has difficulties getting the treatment and medication she needs so that she might one day go back to work.

Diana Wright

Diana was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident one year ago. The company she worked for was too small to offer affordable insurance to employees and coverage through her husband's company would have been too costly so she was without insurance at the time of her accident. Her doctor was able to get a scholarship for rehab for her at HealthSouth and she is also getting help through the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. Diana is now able to care for herself and do some things on her own that wouldn't have been possible without the rehab.

John & Nousha Pelicano

John was knocked down while on the job as a principal at a private school. He was taken to the emergency room with a severe concussion. His insurance picked up the tab but stopped covering his care when they found out it happened on the job. John and his wife now have to deal with worker's comp to try and find treatment. They've had to beg and plead their way into appointments only to find out doctors still haven't been paid years after their care. They wonder if John's symptoms would have gotten better if there wasn't such a lapse in the time it took to get appointments and testing done. They feel they'd be better off if they didn't have Workers Comp or insurance to deal with, even if they had to pay out of pocket, at least they'd be able to do something for his care.