Mexican immigrants say they are afraid of getting sick these days, with area hospitals cutting back their services or facing bankruptcy because of the poor economic situation in the United States.

Nevertheless, when health fails, some must run to seek help urgently. Such is the case with Miguelina Terrazas, a Mexican mother who had to get private medical attention for a case of food poisoning.

For Terrazas, the visit to the doctor and then the pharmacies resulted in a bill of nearly $200, not counting the cost for care she had to have to combat a stomach infection.

“If I had gone to the hospital, the bill would have come later, but it's not that simple any more. We prefer to go to a private doctor,” said the woman, who was happy to have been able to find a health care professional on a weekend.

Because of the financial situation confronted by New York City hospitals, some believe they are less and less likely to get attention at these health care centers with every passing day, even though it is common knowledge that hospitals cannot deny their services to anyone.

The Zavala family, who in the past got dental care services at Brooklyn's Lutheran Hospital, report these were transferred to a different health care center when their hospital cut back its services.

“We thought of going to look for an estimate of how much it would cost to get some braces, because our daughter bites herself a lot, but they no longer offer that service. Now we are trying to figure out what to do,” said a family member. Besides being very expensive, the [Zavalas] explained, medical services turn out to be a nightmare in times of crisis. “You need money even to get sick; if you don't, you won't get help and that's everywhere. Sooner or later you're going to get the bill,” they said.