About 600 local doctors, dentists and optometrists are expected to serve thousands during the next three days at a free Chicago clinic.
Patients started lining up at 10:30 p.m. Thursday at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren St., where the clinic begins Friday. Dental exams, teeth cleanings, fillings, eye exams and even a pair of eye glasses are being offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Organizers said they'll see as many people as possible.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates 50 million Americans have no health insurance, and millions more are underinsured.
That’s when people get bare-bones health policies that cover very little, or have a high deductible. And the idea of vision or dental care is low on the priority list for people who barely can get medical coverage.
These are the patients the temporary clinic's doctors are hoping to help for free at the three-day program.
The CURE Network, a new Chicago non-profit, spearheaded the effort to gather volunteer health care professionals from across the country, and bring them together in one location.
Dr. Ken Nelson, a family practice physician and one of the founders of the CURE Network, says they expect to serve around 3,000 people.
Call 877-278-7631 with questions and visit curenetwork.org for details about the program.
