MICHAEL PEREZ / Staff Photographer
Kevin McKenzie of Cherry Hill plays in a band and had no insurance at his day job as a dispatcher.
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Have you used a fake name at a hospital because you had no insurance?
- Read all the stories, see video
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- Lack of insurance brought diabetic near death
- Getting emergency care under a fake name
- Facing a chronic illness with no insurance
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- Umps admit mistake in Game 4
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Getting emergency care under a fake name
Kevin McKenzie, 27, had a runaway heartbeat but knew he didn’t have any insurance. At the hospital, he made up a name.
But he said he couldn't afford insurance then and he can't afford it now. A hospital bill for a few thousand dollars would bury him.
Contact staff writer Michael Vitez at 215-854-5639 or mvitez@phillynews.com.
"I still do not have coverage," he said. "I try to make sure I get adequate rest, and I lay off the turbo iced coffee at Dunkin' Donuts."
"We've been asked many times to play benefit shows for someone who didn't have insurance," he added. "It happens all the time. It's a real mess."
What Went Wrong
Kevin McKenzie, 27, plays guitar in an up-and-coming rock band and says he couldn't afford health insurance. When his heartbeat soared to more than 200 beats a minute one night, he refused to go to a hospital, because he couldn't afford the bill. The ambulance crew, he says, advised him to go under
a fake name. He got care, but still feels bad about it.
Next Installment
Iyasu Habtemicael is an uninsured diabetic who had
to miss his city clinic appointment due to work. He couldn't get through to reschedule, and then gave up trying, which he admits is partly his fault. Two months later, he spent several days in the ICU and nearly died when his blood sugar soared. It could have been avoided with easier access to care.
Contact staff writer Michael Vitez at 215-854-5639 or mvitez@phillynews.com.
