There are not just poor people in the Wildwoods, or Villas or Woodbine, but in every town in this county, including Stone Harbor, Avalon, Cape May Point and Cape May.
“What?” you say. “In my neighborhood?”
Whether they’re next door or around the block, residents from every city, township or borough in the county utilize the services of Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), the private, non-profit health care service run almost entirely by volunteer doctors offering free health services to the needy.
The great divide between rich and poor might well be this county’s dirtiest little secret.
Although to many, it’s no secret at all.
What is clear is that there are at least 2,500 people in the county without health insurance who are under age 65.
Take Cape May, for example.
While Victorian mansions costing millions line beautiful Sycamore-lined streets and provide cool shade in summer to Cape May’s landed gentry, for the seasonal and part-time workers who live in shared apartments in the city or ride their bikes to work from Lower Township or Rio Grande, life is quite different. They are barely scraping by, behind those smiles, as they hand you your plate of perfectly crisped duck and asparagus, and refill your wine glass with vintage Cabernet.
Look into their eyes.
You’ll see it: a hint of fear. Its source — the wearisome uncertainty of making ends meet in a place where full-time work, let alone full-time work with benefits, is about as easy to find and keep as shoes are on a dog’s paw.
“Today’s special is crab cakes with coleslaw and your choice of vegetable or potato. What kind of dressing would you like on your salad? …”
The typical VIM patient is female, under 65, without health insurance, Caucasian, employed part-time or seasonally, a U.S. citizen, and most likely employed in the hospitality or retail industries.
I’m imagining, with the typical client being female: the waitresses and barmaids of this county, the desk clerks, the cleaning women, the sales clerks, perhaps even some small business owners.
“Bourbon on the rocks? Sure. Coming right up …”
The male patients are just as poor. Male VIM patients, 35 percent of the total, often work in traditionally male but seasonal occupations — fishing, construction or landscaping.
Hard-working, seasonal jobholders wielding dangerous equipment.
All of VIM’s patients must qualify by income level, be under age 65 and have no health insurance. They come from every one of the 16 municipalities in Cape May County, even Stone Harbor, one of Forbe’s Top 100 toniest ZIP codes in the country. The borough gives regular financial support to the organization, to their credit.
“You’re most welcome. Your chambermaid will be in shortly to replace those towels. Is there anything else we can do for you to make your stay here a more pleasant one this evening?...”
Just like Stone Harbor — Avalon, Wildwood, Middle Township, Cape May Point and Lower Township support this vitally important private, non-profit organization with nice yearly checks. The county freeholders support VIM with grant awards each year.
But what about the other towns? Cape May? Ocean City? Dennis Township? Upper Township? Woodbine? North Wildwood? Sea Isle City? West Cape May? West Wildwood? Wildwood Crest?
The breakdown by ZIP code of where patients come from is interesting:
Wildwood 27 percent
Cape May Court House 22 percent
Cape May 18 percent
Villas 13 percent
Rio Grande 6 percent
Ocean City 5 percent
Other areas 9 percent.
“The scallop haul isn’t as good as last week’s. Here’s your share …”
Not all VIM clients are seasonal or part-time workers, however. Besides the whopping 50 percent who are employed part-time or seasonally, and the 30 percent who are unemployed, 20 percent of VIM’s patients are employed full-time.
Yes, that deserves repeating.
Full-time workers make up one-fifth of VIM’s clientele.
“I just can’t afford to pay the premiums for health insurance. Business this year is bad. It’s just not an option.”
VIM began in 2002, has seen over 2,500 patients and conducted 9,000 patient visits over the past six years.
It celebrated its sixth anniversary March 12 at the Wildwood Golf and Country Club. Volunteer doctors who give their time for free went to a breakfast, along with corporate sponsors such as Sturdy Savings Bank, and local and state officials who have given both the official and financial support of their respective towns to the organization, to share in the success of an organization that fills a void for many in this county.
“May I help you find something? Who are you looking to get a gift for back home? …”
While there are a cadre of doctors who donate their services and time, the organization needs more volunteers. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants are always needed, according to Peggy Quinn, spokesperson for the organization.
“If we had more providers physicians nurse practitioners physician assistants, we would be able to take patients in a more timely manner,” said Quinn.
But what else is needed, is for every municipality in the county to pony up.
“Hello? Yes. I missed my appointment because we got this new shipment in at work and my boss told me I had to stay, we had to get it offloaded by tomorrow.”