Danny Muller, Executive Director, Oasis Free Clinics
Happy May Day!
Today carries two very different—but historically rich—meanings.
May Day marks the arrival of spring and is a celebration of fertility, growth, and the return of warmer days. May Day is also globally recognized as a day honoring workers and labor movements, and, in 2026, we will be seeing needed nationwide protests against growing–and often crippling– economic inequality.
At Oasis Free Clinics, we think about these dual meanings in the context of the lives of our patients, who come to us for free and accessible medical care. The start of spring can be a time for increased physical activity, but if you are sick, it can be a time of frustration or a feeling of missed opportunities. And many of us feel like we have less financial security and fewer financial resources each day.
One in three Mainers skipped or delayed medical care because of costs, according to a recent study from Consumers for Affordable Health Care. And their most recent 2026 report found six in 10 Maine households are just one major medical event away from financial disaster.
Unfortunately, access to medical care is only worsening. In early 2026, over 8,550 Mainers cancelled their health insurance coverage. More than 2,700 people cancelled their plans because they could no longer afford the monthly premium.
When medical care is not for all, when it is not a right but a conditional benefit contingent upon employment and earnings, it’s unattainable for the many Mainers who are securing and prioritizing transportation so they can work, and meals and housing for their loved ones.
Health care is often debated as a policy choice, an economic burden, or a political bargaining chip. But at its core, health care is something far more fundamental: it is a human right and should be for all. Recognizing health care as a human right means acknowledging that every person, regardless of income, geography, social, or immigration status, deserves access to the services necessary to live a healthy and dignified life.
There are compelling public health reasons to view health care as a right. Infectious diseases do not respect economic boundaries. If segments of the population lack access to vaccines, testing, or treatment, entire communities are put at risk. Ensuring universal access to health care strengthens a society’s ability to prevent and respond to health crises. Preventive care, early diagnosis, and timely treatment reduce the spread of disease and improve overall population health. Workers who have access to health care are more likely to remain in the workforce, perform effectively, and avoid long-term disability.
A community organizing to provide free health care for its members isn’t just an act of charity-it’s a practical, ethical, and necessary response to gaps in existing systems. When we come together to meet health needs collectively, as Oasis does, we are addressing something fundamental: the reality that access to care often depends more on circumstance than need.
Although I’ve only recently started working at Oasis Free Clinics, it’s clear to me that Oasis serves as a lifeline for a varied and diverse set of adults in our communities. It serves as a beacon that another world is possible. It provides an opportunity for our partners and supporters to build a lifeboat for community members who would otherwise drown–in debt, in isolation, and in contrast to the world so many of us want to live in.
Joining Oasis Free Clinics has been a humbling experience. I am in awe of the three decades of Oasis’ history where this community has worked so hard to take care of each other. I invite anyone interested in learning about the work we do to reach out and to get involved in whatever way is right for them right now– as a patient, a volunteer, a donor, or a friend.
You can find out more about us at oasisfreeclinics.org or by emailing me directly at danny@oasisfreeclinics.
Oasis Free Clinics, a nonprofit, no-cost primary care medical practice and dental clinic, providing patient-centered care to uninsured adults living in Freeport, Durham, Harpswell, Brunswick and Sagadahoc County. For more information, visit https://OasisFreeClinics.org or call (207) 721-9277.
Recent Comments