2008- Denice Milligan's Testimony

By Denice Milligan
October 17, 2008

(*Editor’s Note: Denice is a long time volunteer and family member of WEAP.  This testimony was delivered October 17, 2008, at the World Eradication of Poverty Day rally at St. Mary’s Center, Oakland CA.)

Hello, I’m Denice Milligan with the Women’s Economic Agenda Project.  I know I don’t look it, but I’m 40 years old.  I’ve been poor all my life.  I was born with Cerebral Palsy.  My poverty and my handicaps don’t stop me from enjoying my life.  I have wonderful friends and a wonderful church.  But I don’t enjoy life when I get sick.  Because I’m poor, I have an awful time getting the medical care I need.

In 2007 I was hospitalized 13 times in 10 months with serious medical problems.  I have MediCal.  My MediCal card would get me admitted to the hospital.  But the doctors there kept trying to push me out before I was well.  I would still be deathly ill if my family hadn’t pushed and pushed and pushed on the doctors and the nurses to get me good care, not just minimum care.

My family doctor is one of the few who doesn’t turn down MediCal patients.  That’s why his office is always so crowded that when I have a morning appointment, I have to take lunch and dinner with me, the wait can be so long.  He truly cares about how much poor people suffer.  But there aren’t enough doctors like him to keep him from being badly overworked.

My doctor has referred me to many specialists.  Many won’t take MediCal patients.  And when they do, it often takes MediCal months to approve what I need them to do.  It’s a good thing I’m a patient person.  Otherwise this broken health care system would drive me crazy.