Thousands expected at free health clinic at L.A. Sports Arena

Nicole Crooms traveled from her home in Mojave late Wednesday night to join a long line of others outside the Los Angeles Sports Arena for its third annual Care Harbor clinic.

The four-day event, which provides free health and dental care, starts Thursday and is expected to draw thousands of people who have insufficient health insurance or lack coverage altogether.

Potential health clinic patients were given wristbands on Monday and Tuesday marked with the day of the week they could return for free care.

Without the clinic, Crooms said she and her husband would not be able to have their basic needs tended to.

“That’s why we are here,” she told KTLA. “It’s very important for us to have shown up today.”

Her husband, Von, said that although he has insurance through Healthy Way LA., a no-cost program offered to L.A. County residents, not much is covered. He told KTLA he is looking into what the Affordable Care Act has to offer, but until then, the couple on Thursday hoped to receive dental and eye care.

Covered California, the state insurance exchange, will have representatives at the clinic to help attendees learn more about potential care plans and the enrollment process.

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