Free health clinic draws thousands in L.A.
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>>> a sign of the times in los angeles these past couple of days. a sports arena transformed into the world’s biggest doctor’s office. thousands showed up to receive free health care services , a lot of them actually have jobs, but they either have no insurance, or even with it their medical care is too expensive. more on the story.
>> reporter: ken williams had not seen the dentist in four years.
>> just get the wrist band —
>> reporter: today, he waited with thousands of others at the largest health care clinic in the country to get the root canal he could never afford.
>> it needs to be done, it is almost close to 2 or $4,000.
>> reporter: the volunteers at this free temporary health clinic in Los Angeles , say many here have a job but not insurance.
>> they’re unemployed, people who are employed, people who are working two jobs. every ethnic group in America, a cross section of people in America.
>> reporter: but this person has diabetes, no health care .
>> i am employed full-time but can’t afford to pay my medical insurance .
>> reporter: in four days, this medical clinic will serve nearly 5,000 people. but volunteers say this is just a drop in the bucket.
>> reporter: in California alone, 7.4 million Americans are uninsured. across the country, the number is nearly 48 million. today, affordable insurance for many?
>> and can you read this bottom line right here?
>> reporter: remains out of sight.
>> many high deductible plans have $5,000 deductibles for a single person and ten,000 for a family, where they can’t afford it.
>> reporter: experts say this is part of a working family.
>> i have two jobs, believe it or not.
>> reporter: this man came to the temporary clinic with his brother, mother and father.
>> feel lucky, knowing that something so expensive is given to you at the palm of your hands, it is free.
>> reporter: a temporary fix for a long-term problem, ailing the country. nbc news, Los Angeles .
via NBCNews.com video: Free health clinic draws thousands in L.A..