Patients pour into L.A. Sports Arena for free medical, dental care

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Dental patients are treated as hundreds of people attend the first of a four-day Care Harbor free clinic to get medical and dental care and to learn about their new insurance options under Obamacare. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteers Dr. Mehrdad Makhani, right, of Los Angeles, and dental assistant Damary Machuca extract a tooth from patient Nathaniel Hartfield, of Los Angeles, at the Care Harbor free clinic at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Stations were set up across the arena floor for specialized services such as AIDS testing, eye exams and immunization. Michelle Mijares gives Maria Sanchez, of Long Beach, an eye exam on the first of the four-day clinic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Volunteer Dr. Stephen Hook, of Culver City, sports a buccaneer hat as he cleans and gives a new filling to patient Freddie Chavez, while medical assistant student Abigail Cruz assists. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Nearly half of the space was filled with dental chairs; another large area had tables for patients to visit to learn about health programs and insurance options. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Hundreds of patients wait in line to attend the Care Harbor free clinic to get medical and dental care and to learn about their new insurance options under Obamacare. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

By Eryn Brown

Oct. 31, 2013 5:40 PM PT

An army of doctors, nurses, dentists and other health workers on Thursday began providing free care to a steady stream of patients at the annual Care Harbor clinic at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

Care Harbor founder Don Manelli estimated that 700 to 800 people would receive free care by the end of the day Thursday. In all, the clinic expects to serve about 4,000 Angelenos--many of whom don’t have insurance, or don’t have coverage for services like dentistry or vision care.

Stations were set up across the arena floor for specialized services such as AIDS testing, eye exams and immunization. Nearly half of the space was filled with dental chairs; another large area had tables for patients to visit to learn about health programs and insurance options.

During a morning news conference, Manelli and others praised efforts to enroll needy patients in coverage, but interest among patients seemed tepid. Some didn’t notice the information tables, leaving enrollment workers to sit and wait at times. Some who stopped by found they already had coverage without knowing it.

One mother, whose family would be automatically covered under the health care system overhaul because they currently have Medi-Cal insurance, said she didn’t want to hear about “Obamacare plans” until she was certain her family’s care would improve.

“I’m not signing up without dental or vision,” said 35-year-old Patricia Boutte, of Hawthorne.

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