James Verone Robs Bank For Jail Health Care (VIDEO)

James Verone said he walked up to a teller at a Gastonia, N.C. bank and handed her a note.

It said "This is a bank robbery, please only give me one dollar." Verone then told the teller he'd be sitting in a nearby chair, waiting for the police.

The 59-year-old said he did everything he could to get caught so he could receive free health care in jail.

Verone has a growth on his chest, two ruptured disks and a problem with his left foot. With no job, Verone thought his desperate plan was the best way to provide for himself.

Verone was charged with larceny.

Courtney Boyd Myers at The Next Web notes Verone's plot provides clear evidence of a flawed medical system.

"As his fellow American, I have to say, our national health care is in a very sad state," Myers writes.

Though Verone said he's receiving good care in jail, Slate previously reported that health care in prison is at best as good as a low-income health plan and at worst, almost nonexistent.

From Slate:

The majority of ailments are treated on-site, but inmates who are gravely ill can be taken to the nearest hospital. Sick prisoners must make a nominal co-payment for each visit to the jailhouse doctor—usually $5 or so, taken from an hourly wage that typically runs between 19 cents and 40 cents an hour. Costs above that are covered by the state.

It's been more than a year since President Obama signed landmark health care reform legislation. The bill was designed to provide health insurance to millions of Americans who currently lack it. But one year later, the number of uninsured remains roughly the same. That's largely because most of the bill's major elements aren't due to be implemented for another three years.

This month, Republican governors fought against federal rules requiring states to maintain current levels of health-care coverage for the poor and disabled.

There is also an effort, spearheaded by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) to change Medicare from a government run program to a voucher system. Critics of the plan said it would mean seniors would have to pay more out of pocket for care.

Late last week, AARP, a powerful lobbying group for older Americans, said it was open to cuts in Social Security benefits.

Verone's plan was to go to jail for three years, then be released in time to start collecting Social Security.

WATCH:

Comments

[PukkaDemocrat]

09:25 AM on 08/19/2011

This is an absolute OUTRAGE. Every American should be outraged upon reading this news. I don't think people looking for health care through the prison system should be charged for the "token crime" of getting into that system.

I think they should all be jailed and fined for being without health insurance.

I applauded President Obama and the Democrats when they made the health care law. The only issue I had with it was that the fines were way too low. They should be much higher, and include jail time. Still, I wont let perfect be the enemy of the good. Half a loaf of bread is better than none.

I think the vast majority of the tens of millions of people in America without health insurance are irresponsible fools (for the exception of people who were BORN with pre-existing conditions). I think they should all be fined and jailed.

Anyone who is even tempted to commit a crime to get health care should be aware that the "High Risk Pools" have been in effect for some time now.

http://cciio.cms.gov/

[necrochildk]

12:12 PM on 08/19/2011

I'm sorry, but that is an incredibly ignorant and narrowminded view of it. Do you know how hard it is to get insurance with a pre-existing condition? I had cancer when I was 18. That was nearly 14 years ago, and my husband lost his job three years ago and had to find a new one with no insurance benefits. I'm disabled, unable to work because of the damages chemo did to me. We have tried and tried and TRIED insurance after insurance after insurance and they have all rejected me due to having cancer 14 years ago!
We have applied to the "high risk pool" and have been rejected twice now! THEY DON'T WORK!
So before you go putting people down and spouting idiocy about how people like me with no insurance who have tried their damnedest to get SOME help should be charged even further for something we can't even get approved for, know the system. I lived a healthy life before it was ruined by cancer and chemo. I DID NOTHING TO DESERVE THAT HELL! It's not just people born with pre-existing conditions, there are other pre-existing conditions that come about during a person's lifetime through no fault of their own.

[necrochildk]

12:12 PM on 08/19/2011

What's even worse is there are companies out there parading as insurance, preying on people like us. "Yes, you're accepted!" Oh, thank god, I have health insurance! And then you pay them $250 a month, month after month. And when something goes wrong, how much do they pay? $25. OF ANYTHING. Doctor visit? $25. ER visit? $25. That happened to us. We were taken for a ride for half a year and money we couldn't afford to lose sucked out of our account for $25 coverage of anything.
YOU are the real cause of outrage, and I sure as hell would like to call you a great deal worse if I didn't think it would get flagged on here. HOW DARE YOU assume so much. Yes, there are people that abuse the system. But what the hell makes you think everyone without insurance is? That is infuriating ignorance to the nth degree.

[Matthew McGlashing]

01:02 PM on 08/18/2011

The problem with this is that no one is reading the facts of the article. The major factor is that this man has no job. Why do people just think they are obligated to get health insurance? Where in their life did they see that it was free. I just feel like everybody has the same opportunity in life to make the same amount of money have the same benefits. I'm not in anyway saying our health care is perfect but some me one that is better.

[samantha82]

05:25 PM on 08/18/2011

I don't know if you heard, but the job market isn't what it used to be. Also he is an older man and disabled (ruptured disks and foot problem), so that decreased his that decreases his chances of getting a job even futher. What if that growth is cancerous, what is he supposed to do? Desperate times call for desperate measures.

[wc12753]

12:28 PM on 08/18/2011

Me and My wife has drop AARP. I really hope many will follow. We have work to Long and Hard to have everthing taken overnight.

[naturegirl]

10:54 AM on 08/18/2011

So this is how low citizens have had to sink in order to receive medical treatment. Unfortunately, there are thousands of individuals out there today who have bankrupted themselves, who have committed suicide, who have practically sold their souls in order to receive basic treatment. These are hard-working, law abiding citizens - people like you and me - who have had the misfortune to have a "pre-existing condition" or a medical condition that required expensive treatment (and what treatment isn't expensive these days?) Unless greedy corporations and callous polititians are made to change their ways, it will most likely condition. Shame on them! Stay healthy, people.

[Zacky Ahmed]

08:38 AM on 06/27/2011

Why Sicko was downplayed and attacked in CNN
was exactly because of this, Michael Moore just wanted to let you know
that Guantanamo prisoners receive the best health care something you guys can only dream of.

Dont believe me ? watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBtdsjAMfJI

[Chockolate]

08:37 AM on 06/27/2011

Oh, so you thought you were entitled to health care? Actually you are entitled to pay for it, and others are entitled to profit from that, and you should hope (for the faithless) or pray that you don't get sick. That way not only do you pay someone else's profits, you also pay for someone else's health care indirectly anyway.

It's a great system, only the unpatriotic seem to have a problem with it.

[Mithrall]

01:01 PM on 06/25/2011

Does it strike anyone else that this is something that seems straight out of a Dicken's novel? I see a great opportunity for novelists in the future.

[Mithrall]

12:54 PM on 06/25/2011

It's funny how Republicans are shocked and apalled when someone like this guy manipulates the system to get what he needs but when a wealthy individual or corporation not only manipulates the system but manipulates the framework behind that system to get even wealthier... that's just the free market system at work and it should be applauded.

[ShellyG2915]

12:06 PM on 06/24/2011

It's sad that this is what has to happen for people to have insurance nowadays:(. I know how hard it is for people with prexisting conditions to get medical coverage. In 2008 my father-in-law passed away in an accident, he had been a farmer/rancher ALL his life and it was a farming accident, he was 54 when he passed. He and my mother-in-law had been together since the 9th grade. She was on COBRA for awhile paying well over $700 a month, for just her. A few months ago her COBRA was going to go up to over $1,000 a month. So we started looking for other options for her, she is only 57 so not old enoudh for Medicare. She has had 2 back surgeries, one hip surgery, wrist surgery, so A LOT of pre-existing conditions. She was turned down by A LOT of companies, one even told her they couldn't coevr her because "she was depressed since her husband passed away" ,WTF!!! NO DUH!! of course she was, it's called the grieving process!! But they would not cover her because of it!! Anyway she finally found a company who could not, or would not deny her, however she is paying $650 a month just for coverage.

[grapost]

10:08 AM on 06/24/2011

Another example of how the PRIVATE SECTOR has failed to provide health for all Americans. And the NEOCONS want to keep it this way! Obamacare will make health care available to all those who need it!

[Glarravi]

08:14 AM on 06/24/2011

wow, after reading lots of comments, I see folks are paying upwards of 400$ monthly!!! for health insurance.
From someone who only had health coverage as a kid, and county aide during pregnancy, you don't need to.
I pay out TOPS 200$. I not only get health but knowledge/supplements/vitamins and ALL my personal care products in that 200$ a month. Add to that household cleaner too! I get enough for myself, my whole family, co-workers, neighbors or folks at the local CVS when I go in for? what do I buy at the CVS? I dunno, I think I was shopping for color markers for a student. Came to find the CVS charged 15$ for crayola markers, Safeway food store charged 5$. Yes, 10 dollars more for a 10 pack of BOLD markers, who is BOLD here? Imagine the price hike on your Rx?
Don't it will make you sick. Anyway for 200$ a month I get: health products/supplements/ vitamins ( because the environment/hormonal imbalances lead to degeneration) ALL my personal care ( from toothpaste, mouthwash, facial scrub, shampoo, deodorant, body gel towards staying healthy) &household cleaner (keeps bacteria from environment= clean/safe) for me, my family, my house and at work in my classroom!
I even get: rebates in free products of choice, free promotional products and checks! Anyone who wants to know how needs to look me up.
www.youRno1.org remember that ;)

[anitafeeney]

04:04 AM on 06/24/2011

VERY SAD that he had to resort to this

[Varun Sharma]

11:13 PM on 06/23/2011

As a resident physician at the largest public hospital in Virginia, every person who does not make enough to exceed the poverty line can receive free inpatient and outpatient care if they take the time and sign up for the hospital insurance. The patients will end up in residents clinic which can be pretty good at times. It just takes some effort.

[Psychotic Cyclist]

03:25 PM on 06/23/2011

Unfortunately his logic is flawed because now he'll get hepatitis from the a** r**ing he'll endure.

[Chockolate]

08:24 AM on 06/27/2011

Beware the massive sex demand from sick ageing bums in prison... they fetch the highest price.

[CherMoe]

08:12 AM on 06/23/2011

This guy should have run for office. He was looking for help in the wrong places. He would only have short periods of time to work, sit on his butt most of the time, suck up the perks, the dinners, the free rides, Cadillac health insurance for life, great pension, the WORKS. Just become a politician and you get everything, courtesy of the Middle Class.

[anitafeeney]

04:06 AM on 06/24/2011

sweetie i havent got squat im lower middle class and i cant even afford medical insurance and whats available for medical isnt worth paying for because they dont do anything for you anyway

[anitafeeney]

04:08 AM on 06/24/2011

and half the time im so broke i cant afford to pay attention i get just enough to get my broke butt home at the end of the week