"Going to jail for health care"

[Xicano]

Verone had worked as a delivery man for Coca Cola for 17 years, but was laid off three years ago. According to ThinkProgress.org, "He eventually found employment as a convenience clerk, yet he began to notice a protrusion in his chest. He developed arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, and soon the pain became too much for him to bear. He filed for disability, but he was denied any sort of coverage by the federal government."

Increasingly desperate, Verone decided earlier this month that his only option would be to land in jail--where the state would be forced to give him health care.

According to the Gaston Gazette, on June 9, Verone drove to a local RBC Bank and told the teller he was robbing them for a dollar. He said he wanted to rob the bank in order to go to jail and get medical coverage:


Verone didn't want to scare anyone. He executed the robbery the most passive way he knew how. He handed the teller a note demanding one dollar, and medical attention. "I didn't have any fears," said Verone. "I told the teller that I would sit over here and wait for police."...


http://socialistworker.org/blog/couldnt-make-it-up/2011/07/01/going-jail-health-care

[LiberalLoner]

1. If more people start doing this, they will just start denying all medical care to all

prisoners.

[Rex]

2. Or just to the people trying to GET into jail for the benefits!

How fucking sad on so many levels I can't name them all.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. There was a story a few weeks about guy who did this - and probation not jail

because of his clean record.

[bainz]

4. Mental Heath Care?

If he wanted to get help from the state, he may have tried a crime that carried a lesser possible charge. Robbing a bank seems a little extreme.

Another option would have to walk into an emergency room. Sure the rates are high, but they can't squeeze blood out of a turnip.