One day Barbara carried medical insurance through her job at AT&T, where she had worked for 16 years. The next day, due to downsizing, she found herself with no access to medical care.

Barbara was denied access to other programs because her household income is too high, even though she had lost her job at AT&T and her remaining income is only half of what she needs for just two of the shots required to manage her diabetes. She learned about the Medical Care Mission through Access, a program that helps people over 55 years old to become more proficient with computers so that they can re-enter the workforce.

As a patient at the Mission, Barbara now has regular access to a physician who helps her manage her illness, and she is able to order a three-month’s supply of her diabetes medication for $3 per prescription.

Martin has been turning to Dr. Darrold Stoebner and the Mission for medical care during the past couple of years.

“Dr. Stoebner has really been helping me out and taking good care of me,” Martin said. “Truly, if it weren’t for the help I receive here, I don’t know where I’d go.”

Actually, he admits that he would to be forced to seek primary care at an emergency room, which he has done in the past. He still receives bills from those visits that he cannot pay.

At the Mission, Martin qualifies for the City of Abilene’s Medical Assistance for Area Citizens program. As a MAAC patient, he sees a doctor for $5. He’s also eligible for the Prescription Assistance Program, which enables him to receive a three-month’s supply of six medications for $18 total.

“I tell other people about this place,” Martin says. “Some say they don’t think they can afford it, but I tell them, ‘I see a good doctor for $5. The Mission can help.’”

Martin says he can only think of one change that would improve his experience at the Mission:

“It would be nice if you had the money to hire another doctor,” he said, “so you could see more people and the wait time would go down.”

Miranda once worked at Hendrick Health System, so she understands the strain that is placed on the Trauma Center because so many people who don’t have a primary care physician go there when they are sick.

So when she can, she tries to come to the Mission. She was here today because she thinks that she may have arthritis in her finger. Last time, she had strep throat.

“I called to schedule a time at 9:00 a.m., and I was told that the appointments were already full for the day, so I looked at my husband and said, ‘I’m not going to the ER, so it looks like we will have to scrape money together to go to our old family doctor.’”

(As is the case with all Medical Care Mission patients, Miranda and her husband are not covered by third-party insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. They have retained a relationship with the physician they saw when her husband had insurance, but now they must pay out-of-pocket to see him.)

“Luckily, though, I got a call back from the Mission, and Linda said Dr. Stoebner could see me the next day.”

She went on to say that she is so grateful for the care that the Mission provides, but she wishes that more appointments were available for day-to-day sicknesses, which she understands would be possible if funding were provided to hire another medical professional.