At TVHC, we often meet patients who are doing everything they can to stay healthy under incredibly difficult circumstances. 

One of these patients, a 75-year-old man, came to us while working part-time at a fast-food restaurant to try to afford his diabetes medication, which cost over $500 each month. 

He first connected with our Eligibility Department, where our team recommended that he apply for Medicare. After months of navigating the application process and seeking help from doctors, pharmacies, and other providers, he returned to TVHC and revealed that he could not qualify because of his eligibility status. Still, he remained hopeful for another solution. 

This time, our team worked with him to explore other options. We connected him with a legal advocate and guided him through the Medi-Cal application process. 

Eventually, he was approved, and with his new coverage, he can now access the diabetes care and prescriptions he needs, free of charge. 

The patient later came back to express his deep gratitude for the support and advocacy he received. His story is a powerful reminder of the essential role that safety-net programs like Medi-Cal play in our communities and the importance of having caring, knowledgeable staff who can help patients navigate complex systems to get the care they deserve.