Reply #18: Yes,

[hyphenate]

I know that. The point was I couldn't afford to GO to a doctor. I didn't have insurance, my own ran out like three months previous (in time to take care of the first heart attack, BTW), and if they had asked that I see a doctor to verify it, I would have been MORE than happy to do so. I wasn't working, and wasn't able to collect unemployment. Catch 22, see a doctor to prove something, can't afford to go to prove it. And BTW, my old doctors would have been HAPPY to declare me disabled. But it costs FUCKING money to get photocopies of health records in California, where in most states IT DOES NOT.

And you're right---when IS a social worker a doctor? Hmmmmmmm?

As far as personal responsibility is concerned, why is it that alcoholics, drug addicts and promiscuous teens can get Medi-cal, but someone with a true HEALTH problem can't? And it's the STATE, not anything else. Massachusetts at the very least has a health care program for people who can't afford to get any kind of insurance. It's one of the reasons an all-encompassing and universal health care program is needed in this country.