By Christopher M. Riggs
Some of the people Marlene Dreiling assists don’t need to come to Guadalupe Clinic, a diocesan ministry for those without health insurance.
“We had a couple of people who had lost their jobs and didn’t realize that their health insurance was good until the end of the month,” the clinic director said. “They had paid the premium before they were laid off.”
Dreiling, a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing, said the clinic was able to explain how the laid off families could use their insurance to continue seeing their physician.
Guadalupe Clinic can minister to those without insurance, but they are also helping inquirers in other ways.
Dreiling recommends that those persons who have been laid off – and who can afford it – take advantage of COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which will allow them to continue receiving the health insurance plan they had while employed for nine months after their lay off.
The laid off employee must pay 35 percent of the total premium, she said, “but that is extremely important if they have an existing health condition that requires continued treatment.” In addition, Dreiling said, once they are rehired they may be able to get the same insurance or another insurance plan without problems regarding preexisting conditions.
Children of families who can’t afford COBRA coverage may be eligible for Healthwave, the Kansas state children’s health insurance program available to children and teens through the age of 18.
The clinic will be able to assist the adults who do not have health coverage.
“We have physicians and physician’s assistants,” Dreiling said. “It’s helpful if they call and make appointments because we have different physicians on different days. We don’t want them walking in to see a physician when we have a neurologist here.”
The Guadalupe Clinic provides health services for the uninsured, working poor, and those who are ineligible for medical cards or Medicare.

Need to make an appointment?
The Guadalupe Clinic is located at 940 S. Saint Francis, Wichita. The Holy Savior Parish Guadalupe Clinic site is located at 1406 N. Erie. Both sites are located in areas with the city’s highest number of uninsured citizens.
For an appointment call (316) 264-8974.
Hours:
Monday: 8:30 a.m to noon; 1 to 6:30 p.m.
Tues., Thurs., Fri.: 8:30 a.m to noon; 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 1 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holy Savior satellite
Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon; 1 to 3 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to noon