Waiting to die, that's how health care professionals see many Southeast Texans who are at the end of their rope trying in vain to qualify for medical help.

In this special report, 12 News Brian Burns talks to a terminally ill resident who's trying and dying to get treatment.

"I've lived here 47 years and never asked for anyones help" said Stacy Campbell, who is terminally ill.

Campbell has lived in Orangefield all his life. Now doctors believe Stacy has liver cancer.

"Doctor says I'm dying at a fast rate" said Campbell. And his wife of 27 years says it's a nightmare.

"It's the most frightening thing I've ever been through in my life" said Janel Campbell, Stacy's wife.

Stacy has been given what he sees is a death sentence because while he was diagnosed with liver cancer, he can't get treatment because he has no medical insurance.

And despite the fact that Stacy's now unemployed because of his illness, he still doesn't qualify for help from the county.

"We applied for it. The wife makes too much money" said Campbell.

But too much money is relative. They were in disbelief when they applied to the county for help.

"You can't own a vehicle and you can't make over $250 a month to qualify for help" said Janel.

Local health officials consider 21 percent of the federal poverty limit as truly poor.

That means that after taxes, you can only make $190 a month as an individual.

And a family of two is only allowed to make $255 a month.

Only then can you get treatment from your county for medical problems.

"The state of health care in this area is very poor right now" said Troy Premeaux of Montrose Patient Advocates.

Premeaux manages the office in Houston. It's a company that helps those without insurance find doctors, hospitals, or nursing home care, and ways to finance that care.

And Premeaux says many Southeast Texans can only find help outside Southeast Texas.

"So they call me and we at that point refer them to doctors in the Houston area that will take them on a cash pay basis" added Premeaux.

Montrose advocates estimates there could be as many as 40,000 people in Southeast Texas that have no health insurance. And even if you do make money, some hospitals won't take you without that insurance.

And the man in charge of Jefferson County's Health Department says he hears of that happening at the hospitals located in the Golden Triangle.

"They're not too sure that if the person has the treatment that he or she's going to pay the bill" said Dr. Cecil Walkes of Jefferson County Health Department.

By state law, all Texas counties must spend up to 8 percent of their general fund on health care for the poor. But because of poverty and residential restrictions, the money spent by counties is usually much less.

Hardin county last year spent close to $600,000 on indigent health care. Orange county spent about $1 million and Jefferson county spent nearly $2 million.

And after years of contracting with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston for indigent care, Jefferson county officials believe the state is forcing the hospital to make it impossible for county's to pay for such care.

Dr. Cecil Walkes says there are a lot more residents in need and the general public doesn't realize there's a crisis.

"It's inhumane to diagnose a case of renal cancer in a young man, 27 year old, and no one to treat him and he dies. I could name off a lot more of these cases" added Dr. Walkes.

Dr. Walkes says he sees patients who have nowhere to turn every day. And for people like Stacy Campbell, he can only pray that Montrose Patient Advocates can find him some help in a bigger city.

"They could care less if you're here today or gone tomorrow" said Campbell. And with help, Stacy will be around awhile longer.

In Beaumont, Brian Burns, 12 News.

Dr. Walkes says more residents need to find out how bad the problem really is and then get in touch with political leaders.