As long as health insurance is out of reach for so many, creative approaches to coverage are likely to keep sprouting up.
I knew a doctor 30 years ago who took care of elderly single people for life — and inherited their houses. He ended up with a lot of houses.
More recently, CBSNewYork/AP reported that “a new program lets uninsured New York City artists exchange their art for medical services.
“Tony-Award winning actor Lin-Manuel Miranda and rapper and radio personality Roxanne Shante helped launch the ‘Lincoln Art Exchange’ at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx” early this year.
“Under the program, artists will earn ‘health credits’ for every creative service they perform. In exchange they’ll be able to obtain doctor’s visits, laboratory tests, hospitalization, emergency care, dental care and prescriptions at Lincoln.” Read more at CBS Local.
I would be interested in other unusual examples of how people are accessing care today.
Photograph: nyc.gov
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
I knew a doctor 30 years ago who took care of elderly single people for life — and inherited their houses.
“Mind = Blown” as the kids say. I can see how that was a win-win situation, but my storybrain can see nothing but nefarious possibilities.
I like the art exchange idea, but the problem, it seems to me (ooh, watch me get my economist on) is how you’re going to assure what’s seen as fair exchanges all around–especially if more than one or two people wanted to do this, especially more than a couple of times a year.
Maybe it doesn’t matter… maybe whether it’s designing letterhead or juggling to keep waiting children entertained, that’s fine, so long as the health center seems happy.
I think it’s an interesting experiment but a poor substitute for health care for all. BTW, the doctor 30 years ago got a bit senile before he gave up his practice. His family said he still remembered everything about medicine, but I doubt that he learned anything new. Way better for everyone to have some kind of insurance.