JUNE
14 SATURDAY
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Last year I saw an orthopedic surgeon about a swollen knee. When it turned out the consultation wasn’t covered by my insurance, I got a $400 bill–but after a long conversation with the billing department, I got off for half of that. That was how I learned what the folks behind the Service Employees International Union’s Hospital Accountability Project have known for a while: self-paying patients in Cook County often have to cough up more than double what insurance companies negotiate for the same services. The union released “Uninsured and Overcharged,” a study of discriminatory pricing, in January, and has been lobbying for hospitals to stop the practice ever since; it’ll host a free town hall meeting on the topic today at 1 at the IBEW Hall, 600 W. Washington, Chicago. Speakers include Physicians for a National Health Care Plan national coordinator Dr. Quentin Young, state senator Barack Obama, and SEIU Local One president Tom Balanoff. The panel, moderated by WVON’s Cliff Kelley, will be followed by a rally at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W. Wellington; shuttles will be provided. For more information call 312-541-9588 or see www.hospitalmonitor.org.
Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive will be closed between 57th and Hollywood this morning for the second annual Bike the Drive; some 18,000 two-wheelers are expected to take part. Organizers emphasize that there’s no typical rider for the event–“We have everyone from little kids on training wheels to professional racers,” says the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s Cathy Haibach–but the 30-mile round-trip should take an intermediate-level biker about three hours; those not game to go the distance can do less, as long as they get off the road before 10 AM, when LSD reopens to automobile traffic. Cyclists must register in advance and can start pedaling between 5:30 and 8 AM from Grant Park at Columbus and Balbo (laggards be warned: if you show up after 8 you won’t be allowed to ride). The $35 fee ($20 for kids under 14) benefits the CBF and includes water, snacks, help with flats, and admission to the postride festival in Grant Park from 8 to noon. Helmets are required; to register call 312-427-3325 or go to www.bikethedrive.org.
18 WEDNESDAY
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Michael Brosilow.
