The dear wife and I went on down to our local social services office this afternoon to try and make appointments to sign up for Medicaid and WIC, you know, trying to keep the little zygote going. We were feeling a little weird about being there, this being our first experience on the receiving end of public assistance.
And you know, they make it abundantly clear that you are officially among the dregs of society.
All the other government offices in our town are in a picturesque old brick school building in the center of town, flanked by several stately churches and the quaint shops of Main Street (and yes, it's actually called "Main Street").
Not social services. It is stuck in behind some tired old strip development, adjacent to a couple of check-cashing stores, a pawn shop, and that pinnacle of extortion, the rent-to-own store. There is no sign on the building.
So we walked in and found the person to talk to about Medicaid. She handed us a bunch of forms, and told us that the dear wife would have absolutely no problem qualifying, seeing how she is with child and her present (and non-cobra-able) insurance is set to expire four days after her due date.
Did I forget to mention that?
Anyway, the Medicaid receptionist then sent us down to the WIC office in the basement, and that was where we all of a sudden came to terms with what it means to receive government aid. The line into the tiny office was out the door. Young mothers, infants in tow, were sprawled everywhere. In the elevator lobby. Back by the restrooms. Just standing around, waiting for their appointments.
I'm sorry, what kind of office that caters to pregnant women and infants only has two chairs in its waiting area?
It was utter chaos. The employees kept shouting back and forth to each other, trying to figure out who was there for their checks, who was there for an appointment, and who needed to be somewhere else entirely. After waiting for 20 minutes in what we thought was a line, or maybe it was just a cluster of people in a somewhat linear shape, we decided to give up and try calling for an appointment. Of course, from the tenacity with which the receptionist ignored the ringing phone, I have a feeling that may not be much faster.
I have a feeling this will be an interesting adventure.
Hi Finn - I found a kabillion reports on various child health issues at the Institute of Medicine. Thought you might want to see it: http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3706.aspx
[I hadn't seen this. Thanks for the info! -ed.]
Posted by: Megan | 21 December 2005 at 12:34 PM