I have students who say they cannot afford to see a doctor. Yet they have low-cost (and, for some things, FREE) student health care, and they pay out gobs of money every month for cellular phones that do everything but wash the dirty dishes. Then there are the students who can afford to be seen.
The other week, I asked a FEW students why, when they had suffered injury or illness, they could not get a simple note from campus health services. One guy went into a lengthy and involved explanation that I never could follow, an explanation of why he sought the services of a massage therapist who happens to be a personal friend. These services were not free; he paid a fee. But he never saw a doctor. And why, I asked, did he not also go to campus health, just for the note? Another lengthy excuse.
Another student said that she didn't WANT to use campus health services, but she didn't bother to get a note from her doctor, who was yet another personal friend. She was surprised that I wanted documentation so that I could give her an extension. I told her no note, no extension. She said that she would ask, but she seemed doubtful. I haven't heard back yet.
Another gal told me a very involved story about her regular insurance, which had lapsed without her knowledge, so she couldn't see her regular doctor. She then drove down to Tijuana to a doctor who refused to write a note. When I asked her why she didn't just go to campus health services, she didn't even know what I was talking about. She had no idea that she was covered. She eventually went, but the note she got was useless because she was completely well by then.
Another student came back to school after getting the flu. I asked her if she knew about the free flu shots for students. She didn't get one because she doesn't like needles and is afraid--get this--that the shot will make her sick. Honey, that ship has sailed. Get the damned flu shot. It uses killed virus, for Pete's sake.
I used to work with people at my old job who COULD afford health insurance but chose not to pay for it. They would say that it was too expensive or whatever, but after talking to them, I discovered that they just didn't want to part with the money and were gambling that nothing bad would happen.
I guess my point is that there are a lot of ignorant people out there. My students are covered for some things but don't use the insurance they have. Many of my old coworkers simply chose not to be covered when they COULD afford it. I'm not saying that these two scenarios describe all of the insured or underinsured, but, jeez, get a clue, people.