(upbeat music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

Before the coronavirus pandemic hit Washington state, the King County Clinic was in full swing.

It's an annual, giant, four-day clinic that brings medical treatment to thousands of Washingtonians who might otherwise not be able to afford it.

Barriers to health care, take many forms, as Crosscut explores in a new video series called "Hidden Barriers."

They start with affordability.

Half of the patients at this free clinic have no insurance, even though Obamacare has expanded affordable insurance, many who are insured can't afford copays or deductibles.

So, they simply ignore their medical care and the coronavirus has strained an already stressed system.

When people lose their jobs, they lose their health insurance.

There's no King County Clinic this year because of the pandemic and the people in the middle are being hit the hardest, those who are not destitute or on Medicaid, small business people, and the self-employed.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

See all of the "Hidden Barriers" video episodes on crosscut.com.

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