Man With No Insurance Dies Of Coronavirus: 'He Was Afraid'

GREENPORT, NY — A man well-known for his work on the North Fork as a tiling subcontractor died at home last Saturday of the new coronavirus because he reportedly had no insurance and did not want to go to the hospital and face daunting medical bills — and possible questions about his legal status.

Don Chuz, said Greenport business owner Brent Pelton, was "afraid to seek medical care because of his immigration status and because he lacked insurance and was afraid of the cost."

Jorge Gomez, owner of JG Quality Construction, spoke with Chuz the day before he died, and urged him to seek medical treatment but "he refused to go to the hospital," Pelton said.

"He was a nice guy," Gomez said. "He was a hard worker, a really nice human being — a very responsible guy. He didn't drink. His focus was on work, like most of us."

Chuz, he said, leaves behind a wife and three children in Guatemala, as well as two nephews locally.

"He passed away on Saturday morning and I spoke with him on Friday afternoon," Gomez said. "He didn't look too well. I told him he should go to the hospital and he said, 'I'm just afraid of being able to pay, since I don't have health insurance.' I told him it didn't matter, he should go to the hospital. But he didn't want to do it."

Chuz, he said, told him, "Hopefully, it's just a bad cold." Gomez said Chuz told him he'd had symptoms, including a fever, for about a week.

Gomez had dropped by Chuz' house to drop off paperwork but when he didn't come out right away, he got in his car and saw him coming out of his house with a mask.

The two spoke from across the street. Gomez never saw his friend again.

"He was just 55," Gomez said. "He was young. All he did was work, work."

Chuz, he said, was not alone in his fear of the hospital.

"Many in our community are like that. They are afraid because they don't have insurance. And most of the feel threatened because of their legal situations. But health comes first. There's always a way to take care of a situation," Gomez said. " I'm pretty sure he was not going to end up in jail."

Gomez said he feels terribly for the family he left behind. "Now they're not going to get to see him again. He was talking about going back this year."

Even the traditional funeral plans cannot proceed as they normally would, Gomez said; relatives are reaching out to the Guatemalan consulate to see if his body can be sent home. The likelihood, he said, is that Chuz will have to be cremated here.

"In a normal situation, what we do in the Hispanic community is we spread flyers and people collaborate to raise the money, about $5,000 — we get the money together and send the person's body home," he said. "In this situation, we don't know yet."

Reflecting on his friend, Gomez said: "I'm speechless. I would not like to be in that situation. It's jut terrible. His kids, they won't see their dad for the last time. Who knows if he talked to them that last night or not? And now, they might not even get to see his body. It's terrible."

Chuz, Gomez said, "was here working to take care of his family. To me, it doesn't matter what his legal status was. He deserved respect, and now he's gone."

But Chuz wasn't alone in his fear of seeking help due to his legal status, Gomez said. "Unfortunately, that's the reality," he said. "I don't think he's the only one in that situation. There's a lot of people that are afraid, in the shadows, because they are afraid of being judged by society because of their legal status. It's really sad."

Gomez said he and Pelton are working together on a fundraiser for Chuz's family; Pelton said details have not yet been ironed out.

Pelton took to social media Friday to try and raise awareness: "Eastern Long Island Hospital - Stony Brook Medicine today and they confirmed that they do not share immigration status with anyone and that everyone is able to get treated at the emergency room even if you can’t afford to pay. Please, let’s everyone get the word out that we can not have members of our community sick and dying at home for fear of immigration retaliation or an inability to pay," he said.

Other hospitals and health centers also said that those without health insurance or Social Security will still be treated, he said.

"You can seek medical help without feeling afraid of the expenses that this may cause you, because there are many payment solutions available, among them Medicaid or even payment plans — and the government will take care of the cost of COVID-19 exams," he said.

Speaking with Patch, Pelton said, "We're devastated that somebody in the community would be fearful of seeking treatment based on their immigration status and the possibility of having to pay a hospital bill. It's a huge issue," he said.

Pelton said he remembers Chuz as a hard worker who toiled long into the night.

His story is not unique: Pelton said he's heard about others anecdotally who are living in share houses, gotten sick, and, because they are afraid to seek help, may be dying at home.

"We need to do everything we can do to spread awareness that hospitals are not going to share your immigration status. You can go to the hospital without fear of having crushing debt later," Pelton said.

"He died of fear"

Pelton has been working with CAST for weeks to provide meals to the needy in Greenport on Wednesdays.

Alex Vinash, who works with Pelton, said Chuz had a strong worth ethic. "He never went out. He never even got a ticket. He died of fear. And it's scary that this could happen in America."

Those workers, Vinash said, are very much a part of the East End canvas, working in construction, kitchens, and as landscapers; many, he said, are unable to get unemployment and as essential workers must continue at their posts despite the risks.

Vinash said many of the Latino community living in the shadows in Greenport have told him that the infection is spreading among the population, many of whom live in very close quarters and cannot isolate. The numbers showing up for CAST meals has lessened, he said, "because they tell us some are at home quarantined," he said. "It's heartbreaking. You can have a grandmother with two children and there may have eight people living together in their home. If one gets infected, they all get infected. It's sad that they are afraid to go to the hospital."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone have both said in recent days that testing results higher numbers of positive coronavirus confirmations in the African American and Latino communities; both have said expanded testing in those groups is critical. Six mobile "hot spot" testing sites have been set up in those underserved communities across Suffolk County, not just to test but to share information in areas where language barriers may exist.

Everyone must have access to care, Pelton said. "This is a pandemic. It doesn’t get better for everyone unless everyone is taken care of."

Others in Greenport mourned Chuz and emphasized the need for outreach.

“CAST is saddened by the loss of community member Don Chuz," said CAST executive director Cathy Demeroto. "It is heartbreaking and troubling that one of our neighbors died at home because he was afraid to seek medical care. It is imperative that all members of our community know they can safely receive needed health care irrespective of immigration or financial status."

CAST, he said, has been using a text campaign, fliers, and verbal reminders during food distributions to provide critical information to Spanish-speaking North Fork residents regarding COVID-19 safety guidelines, coronavirus testing, and the importance of seeking medical attention if experiencing symptoms.

"We will continue to get the word out as we want to ensure that no more lives are lost because of fear of seeking help," she said.