Why Community Health Centers Matter

 It has been nine years since I graduated from college and I often think about how much I learned about life in the real world during those short, four years. 

Leaving for college was a shock to me because I was raised in a traditional household where topics such as sexual health were considered taboo. As soon as I graduated from high school, I had to do it all on my own without anyone to guide or supervise me. This included getting medical help and dealing with all the complexities in the healthcare system that many of us have had to deal with at some point.

I had finally moved out of my parents house and was ready to face the world as a newly independent adult when I realized I needed access to reliable birth control. At this point I had no one to go to. As much as my parents loved and cared about me, birth control was a topic that they never talked to me about and their parents most definitely never talked to them about it either. It was something that you were supposed to deal with on your own once you arrived at that stage in your life.

I was also in between health insurance coverage. I was no longer on my parent’s health insurance plan and I was waiting for classes to officially start so that I can receive my health coverage through my school. I also knew that I couldn’t walk into any hospital or doctor’s office because that would leave my uninsured and jobless-self with high medical bills to pay.

The only option I had at that point was to visit my local Community Health Center (CHC). I didn’t know too much about CHCs at the time, but I did become part of the 7.4 million patients that are served a year. I hesitated at first because I had no money to pay a medical bill and was not ready to accrue more debt than my college loans. Luckily, I was met with the kindest and most helpful staff that provided me with a peace of mind. They assured me a doctor would be able to answer all of my questions without any judgment and give me the medical attention I needed without having to pay anything out of pocket.

This positive learning experience made me realize the importance of community healthcare centers. CHCs play an important role in ensuring the most vulnerable communities get adequate medical attention when it comes to things like preventative check ups, cancer screenings and now COVID-19 care. These are only a few examples of the type of services that have to be protected from budget cuts so that medically-underserved Californians could continue having access to essential care.

Those that relied on CHCs at one point in their lives can’t forget about their importance, especially after having a well-established life with reliable healthcare. I hope my story serves as a reminder that CHCs are crucial to the well-being of marginalized communities and those without access to healthcare. This includes veterans, agricultural workers and about 363,485 patients experiencing homelessness. I know firsthand that without CHCs, access to proper healthcare is nearly impossible. Click here to learn how you can help protect California’s community health centers.

Ad paid for by Californians to Protect Patients and Contain Health Care Costs, a Coalition of Physicians, Dentists and Health Care Insurers and Providers. Committee Major Funding from The Doctors Company, California Medical Association, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and the Hospitals. https://clvr.li/ProtectHealth2022