The majority of uninsured Central Floridians are people who live on very low incomes and are struggling to make ends meet. Eight out of ten people who are uninsured come from working families. These are families who are working in low wage jobs many of which support our tourism economy. Sadly, these hard working individuals are forced to choose between paying rent, buying food and going to the doctor when they are sick. For these families, health care has become a luxury they simply cannot afford.

It’s probably hard for most of us to imagine being sick and having nowhere to turn because we cannot afford a doctor’s visit, medical tests or medicines. Many experience serious complications because they have gone weeks, months or even years without medical treatment. These are the people who come to Shepherd’s Hope.

Jonathan's Story

Jonathan is a seven year-old boy who attends special education classes at a public school in the Winter Garden area. Jonathan has been diagnosed with severe learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder, which requires daily medication. Unfortunately, Jonathan’s father became unemployed after being laid off from a construction job. He was offered the opportunity to purchase COBRA insurance; however with no regular income, Jonathan’s father was not able to afford the monthly premium, which was over $500 per month. Jonathan’s mother works part-time, and is not eligible for benefits through her employer. The family was able to pay the mortgage and buy food with money from their savings and unemployment, but, unfortunately there was little left at the end of the month for other family needs. For Jonathan and his family, medical care had become a luxury. This was particularly difficult because Jonathan’s ability to remain in school and learn was dependent upon his daily medication. Fortunately, someone at Jonathan’s school told his mother about Shepherd’s Hope. Jonathan came to one of our evening health centers where he was treated by a Shepherd’s Hope volunteer physician. He received his medical care and medication free of charge. Eventually, Jonathan’s father was once again employed and was eligible for insurance benefits through his new job. The family now has private insurance, and Jonathan is being treated regularly by his family physician.

Connie's Story

Connie is a fifty-five year old woman with emphysema. After being referred from a local Emergency Room, Connie came to Shepherd’s Hope seeking medical care. Connie had just been discharged from the hospital with a portable oxygen tank she must carry with her 24 hours a day in order to breathe. She also had hundreds of dollars worth of prescriptions she needed filled on a monthly basis. Connie had no money, no insurance, and no primary care doctor. She was terrified. She is a widow with little social support. Connie worked hard all her life and used to have insurance, but her severe respiratory problems rendered her unable to work. At first, she maintained COBRA insurance, but after a short while was unable to afford the high monthly payment. She became uninsured, went through all her savings, and eventually had to move in with one of her adult sons. Connie, at only 55 years old, didn’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. She applied for disability status through the Social Security Office, but her case was pending and would remain so for more than a year. She was sick and needed help now. That’s where Shepherd’s Hope came in. Connie came to see one of our volunteer doctors. We filled her prescriptions, educated her about chronic pulmonary disease, and perhaps most importantly, treated her with compassion at a time of crisis in her life. Connie has since become eligible for Medicaid through a disability determination and has a private physician.

We live in a caring community where many people and organizations are partnering with Shepherd’s Hope to bring medical care to those in need. Our inter-faith community is the primary resource for volunteer doctors, nurses and general office volunteers. Area hospitals generously donate laboratory and radiology services to patients referred from Shepherd’s Hope and many public and private schools and organizations provide health care facilities free of charge.

Although we are fortunate to have so many caring and generous partners, Shepherd’s Hope needs your help so that patients like Jonathan and Connie, who are low income and uninsured, can receive the medical care they need and deserve. Although all medical care is provided completely by volunteers, there are still costs associated with delivering free care that include medical supplies, pharmacy medicines, volunteer training and recruitment, bio-hazardous waste removal and evening security services, just to name a few.

Every $64.00 donation to Shepherd’s Hope provides a free medical visit for a man, woman or child, including most diagnostic tests and medicines.

All donations to Shepherd’s Hope are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to Shepherd’s Hope, Inc.

 

A copy of Shepherds Hope, Inc. official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling 1.800.435.7352 within Florida or 1.904.488.2221. Registration does not imply endorsement approval or recommendation by the State of Florida.