CHICAGO—When Shantell and Jason Jenkins rushed into the emergency room at a South Suburban hospital, March 14, the couple did not know what his constant rectal bleeding and stomach meant, but they knew one thing. They demanded to pay three times as much than the average patient for any medical services provided. The hospital refused to honor the couple’s demands and urged them

over and over again to consider charity care. The Jenkins held their ground and eventually left the hospital emergency room and drove across town to another Illinois hospital on the northside of town.

But much to their chagrin, that hospital was owned by the same non profit conglomerate and also refused to price gouge the hardworking, all American couple. “Who’s a girl got to sleep with to

get price-gouged in this city!,” said Mrs. Jenkins showing signs of frustration. “I may not have much cash

flow, but I’ve got money I’m saving for my children’s college education as well as my retirement money. I

can’t understand why they won’t just give me an inflated, overcharged bill.”

Activists throughout Chicago herald the Jenkins as an example of what poor people can do when they

decided to stand up. "We are not doctors, but we know about being working poor," said Ms. Jenkins. "We know we often must demand to be abused or else they'll treat you just like some upper middle

class suburban professional.”

“People should be free to be price-gouged if they so desire. This is America. This is a land of freedom.”

—Senator Keith Richards Dubbed a modern day Rosa Parks, the Jenkins have become the spokespersons for Getting Out from Under Generous Expectations or GOUGE, a watchdog group that

seeks to make sure that poor people are charged more for less services. The couple refused the numerous offers of charity care and demanded that the hospital immediately start the collection process. "We figured the quicker the collection starts, the quicker they'd drag us to court. Besides, I've never been to the Daley Center before. Hopefully they'll be able to get the lien on the house and garnish our wages before the summer is over. As long as my husband cooperates."

Apparently Mr. Jenkins, the self proclaimed little prankster said he was going to get a third job to make

the hospital lawyer have to contemplate which check to garnish. "Yeah, I know that's wrong, but a guy

should have a little fun." “We do this because it is the right thing to do,” added Mrs. Jenkins. “If the working poor don’t speak up about this crisis in health care, then bankruptcy courts will loose nearly half their business, and hospital lawyers will have to redirect their attention to making sure hospital employees have a voice at work, better pay and safer working conditions.” 

GOUGE is also pushing legislation in Springfield that will make hospital price gouging of the poor a law. Then they plan to petition the Pope and other religious leaders to declare it morally right and humane

to charge poor people two three times as much for healthcare anywhere in Chicago. “We must solve this crisis today. right now,” said Senator Keith Richards. “People should be free to be price-gouged if they so desire. This is America. This is a land of freedom.”

“People ask us why have we taken up such a tremendously uphill battle,” said Mr. Jenkins. “I look them in eye and with a straight face, I tell them, ‘the devil made me do it.”