Hundreds Of ‘Working Poor’ Turn Out For Free Medical Clinic

More than 500 people in need of medical care showed up for free treatment Saturday at West Virginia Health Right’s first ever #WeCareWV day. 

The line for treatment snaked out the door of Health Right’s Charleston office, down the sidewalk and across the parking lot — including one couple who slept in their car to be sure they could be seen. 

Another patient came from Gauley Bridge tugging her oxygen tank. A small crowd had gathered by 5 a.m. though the clinic didn’t start for three more hours.

Health Right CEO Angie Settle says the response indicates how desperately West Virginia’s working poor need affordable medical care.

“They make too much for Medicaid. They can’t afford health insurance. Therefore, for day to day health care needs, it’s not not feasible,” Settle said. 

“So what we try to do is stand in the gap so that people are not forced to decide between whether they want to have health care or if they’re going to quit their job to get poor enough to qualify for Medicaid.”

The biggest request, she said, was for dental care and eye exams. Over 150 local volunteer doctors and staff treated patients at no cost without the need for ID, insurance, or proof of income. 

“We’re there to do that with dignity. We do that work with volunteers and everything to give people that leg up. They don’t want to hand out… they want to work. This is what stands in the gap so they can keep doing that,” Settle said.

Health Right will definitely repeat its #WeCareWV — but she plans to expand it to several days to accommodate more patients next time. Until then, they still offer free care Monday through Fridays. For more information visit West Virginia Health Right.

**Editor’s Note: This story was updated to reflect the official name of the event.