So who else is without health insurance?

[undeterred]

I have a lot of meds I am supposed to take daily- 7 of them. I had them all filled this month even though my insurance ran out, just to see how much it would be. One of the drugs is $490. If I had the cash to pay for them all it would have been about $900. So I paid $50 for two and told them to put the rest back. I have the COBRA option but that would still be $400 and the copays would still be several hundred. So I am weaning myself off all but a few inexpensive drugs, hoping I find a job with benefits soon.

So, this is it. I have had a couple of contract jobs since I last had insurance in March so I have money, but there is nothing permanent on the horizon. COBRA gets more expensive all the time. The copays get larger all the time and the prices keep going up. The insurance companies cut back on the number of pills they will cover - I have migraines, and they actually determine what is allowed instead of the doctor. I have the sinking feeling that none of this is going to get much better in the near future.

And I know that for every one like me, there must be a dozen others who aren't getting meds at all. I had a friend tell me she knew someone who was actually going to the emergency room for insulin because he was diabetic... I guess he must have to stay pretty close to it.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. I'm one of the lucky ones that has health insurance, but....

... I live in Miami and know MANY people who have no health insurance and have health problems. It makes me want to cry when I hear all the crap that is happening in this country. The rich are bleeding it dry.

[undeterred]

4. The price of the meds infuriates me.

I have several for which there is no generic. And I've had migraines for so long that by now the 17 year patent should have expired and there should be cheap generic equivalents. But no, the company was allowed to reformulate so they could continue screwing the migraine patients for thousands of dollars for a few more years. I could pay cash for a very nice car for what I have spent out of pocket on Imitrex. The pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies are corporate pigs- and should be cut to the bone.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

39. The company was allowed to reformulate?

They change the formula? Doesn't that mean someone else can use the old formula?

[undeterred]

40. I don't really know how it works but there is no generic

in this country. It looks like they created a loophole to extend the patent time.

[truedelphi]

62. boy Do I agree with you. We are being squeezed dry by the corporate elite

You might try to find a doctor who will give you "samples" - this is becoming more and more a common practice.

Now that our Cobra has expired, My household just got on the County med program. (I think that COBRA stands for C-an't often Be Really Able to Afford it!) If we lived in the San Francisco Bay area as we did three years ago, this wouldn't be an option - all able boddied people are required to work, unless so ill they cannot get out of bed.

But here the unemployment statistic is high enough that no one needing meds is turned away.

We are very grateful for that.

When I lived in Marin, at least once a year, one of my disabled friends who didn't have a car would call me to ask if I wouldn't drive them up to the County building. They needed to be there in the early morning hours - like 7Am. And needed tohave a car to help them endure the wait.

Can you imagine being disabled and having to wait outside in the cold and rain?? In Marin, you are required no matter the weather to queue up outside the County building before 7:30 Am and then they allow a certain number of people in to apply for medical benefits and food stamps that day (IF you have kids, it is not like that - this is just for older people or younger people without kids.)

The irony is that there is a subset of the population that will be unemployed no matter where they live. Being fifty-six I am now to old for most legit companies to hire - they want younger people so their health ins premiums do not skyrocket.

[chknltl]

2. Veteran with VA bennies...otherwise i would not have anything. NT

[old guy]

20. Same here.

[Thothmes]

65. Retired myself,

Use Tricare until 65 then medicare with Tricare as the part B

[gateley]

3. I've been without insurance for about a year.

Luckily, my "have to have to stay alive" meds top out at $200 at the moment. But my doctor wants me to have a blood test just to check on whether he needs to adjust the doses or not. I don't know how much lab work costs, but I know I can't afford it. (My doctor gives those w/o insurance a break on the cost of office visits -- he's a good guy,)

I opted to NOT get COBRA and now I wish I did because I didn't realize that once your insurance lapses, when you next get insurance most likely pre-existing conditions won't be covered. I have Hep C, and although I'm trying to do all I can with diet, if it gets to the point where I have to have the treatment, I won't be able to. It's like $50,000 a year. So keep your COBRA if only for that reason, if you can afford it.

[undeterred]

6. Migraines don't count as a pre-existing condition

but hopefully sometime soon this country will get past that. I paid for it last year when I was out of work but I got behind on other bills. I think I will get a job sooner this time.

The bloodwork is expensive; I had to have some tests last year and I couldn't believe how much my copay was.

[gateley]

13. My heart goes out to you.

I used to be plagued by migraines for years, but then they just stopped. I hope you're as fortunate some day. It's a whole new world.

I'm glad to hear you won't get dinged when you next get insurance.

You know -- it's just absurd. Here we are in the United States of America, and worried about health care. :grr:

[Juche]

19. We are a joke country

As Bill Maher said 'this won't win me any support from the faith before facts crowd' but we are just pathetic now.

We were duped into voting for radical right wingers whose main agenda was making the rich richer and squeezing the middle class, and they got elected by preying on our fears. Our fears of mexicans, blacks, gays, communists, muslims, secularists, hippies, etc. If it weren't for the fact that we vote based on fear of blacks, communists or muslims, our politics would be totally different. If people voted because they desire something better instead of being terrified or disgusted by outsiders, we'd be in much better shape.

Now here we are, productivity is up 50% but wages are stagnant, we can't afford mortgages or healthcare. Our global reputation is ruined due to the war. Faith in the US system is at an all time low. Kids enter the real world 20k in debt and find it hard to find a job that has decent pay and any good benefits.

And they are still doing it. In 2004 they played on fears of gays & muslims. Now they are playing on people's fears of mexicans. And it'll work too. People will vote themselves into the shitter because they are terrified of the outside world and think the radical right wing will protect them.

[gateley]

21. I disagree on the statement that

"wages are stagnant". I think wages have FALLEN over the past several years. I remember hearing that in the 80's meat packers got $18/hr -- a good wage. A couple of years ago they were making $9/hr. I'm guessing their housing, clothing, food, gas, utilities didn't decrease by 50%. And it's like that in so many industries.

Other than that - I'm with you ALL THE WAY!!!

[undeterred]

26. Agreed.

I did a contract job last week with 4 other people. One was a young man right out of college so the $14/hr for what we were doing wasn't too bad- he was still living at home. The rest of us were way overqualified and it was the lowest wage we'd had in a few years. One man actually had to borrow money for lunch and asked me to buy him coffee. Used to have a salary of $60K.

[dogsmycopilot]

86. agreed.

What more can I say, you hit the nail on the head.

[Mojambo]

5. Right here

I should most definitely be on some anti-depressants, but I haven't taken any since I lost my insurance back in 2002.

I'm lucky I don't have any serious physical problems that require meds. At least that I know of. I haven't seen a doctor in 6 years.

[undeterred]

7. Some of them are not too expensive

but it depends what works for you. :hug:

[Mojambo]

10. Most of it is not being able to afford the doctor visits.

And I'm really worried about getting started on some meds and just having the uncertainty about when and how I'll be getting more etc... Uncertainty causes me a great deal of anxiety and frankly not having them is easier than having them and worrying about continuing to get them.

I'm in better shape than a lot of people though.

[gateley]

17. My doctor

gives me a break on office visits because I don't have insurance. There may be some in Seattle (where I assume you are because of you M's avatar) who might do the same.

And if you ARE in Seattle, there may be some resources available to you. I've also heard that pharmaceutical companies will provide you with the meds if you can't afford to pay.

[Mojambo]

18. I really should look into it.

I tried to call one of these sliding scale clinics a while back and before I could even finish asking, the receptionist lady interrupted me and said, "we're not taking new patients at this time. Go to the Emergency room."

It was not a real good experience.

Any suggestions on a starting place?

[gateley]

22. Try Seattle Mental Health.

About 28 years (!) ago I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. I went there because I didn't have a doctor, and they gave me Valium. (Turns out I was suffering from anxiety/stress because of my job. When I quit my job and I was fine -- but I know depression is different and chronic.)

Since it's been so long, I'm not sure what they're up to these days, but here's their link. They may be able to help you and if they can't themselves, refer you to someone who can.

http://www.smh.org/

Since I don't live in the Seattle area any more, I'm not familiar with what's available, but hopefully this will be a good place to start.

:hug:

[Mojambo]

23. Thanks very much. n/t

[gateley]

25. Good luck -- and Go M's! nt

[bobbolink]

41. "we're not taking new patients at this time. Go to the Emergency room."

Yet, we're told we're BAD for doing so, and the cause of high medical costs.

People, including liberals, need to understand the no-win situations we are in!

[Juche]

32. Treatments

I would read the books 'dealing with depression naturally' or 'depression free for life'. They address the dozens of biochemical anomalies that can lead to depression.

For me around last summer I would wake up every morning with a severe depression, and couldn't get out of bed. After I started high dose magnesium therapy the depression mostly went away.

You'd be suprised how many treatments are out there that can work.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

8. Have you tried Canada? There used to be quite a bit about it

in the newspapapers but I haven't seen much lately.

Good luck !

[brer cat]

9. The uninsured are dying an unnecessary death.

We can't afford meds to keep us healthy, or doctor visits to evaluate how we are doing. Forget ER...that could cost a year's salary, if we had one. So we die, slowly and with no regard from society except scorn. I guess the uninsured are the pits of society today. sigh.

[Juche]

11. I have shit healthcare

I am lucky to be 28, and I have 2000 deductible health insurance which is affordable, but I have no illusions that it will pay anything it can avoid paying for if I have a major accident.

A way to save on medications is to ask your doctor for a higher dose, but it from Canada then cut up the pills. A 100mg pill is usually the same price or slightly more than a 25mg pill, so cut it into quarters after you buy from a Canadian pharmacy or a US pharmacy with a prescription discount card. I don't know if it'll be deleted but there is a forum called "drugbuyers" where people look into ways to buy medications overseas with a prescription, since you can shop various pharmacies which are legit. 100mg imitrex tabs are $10.

I'm not sure if you guys already know that tactic (I assume so) but wanted to point it out just in case.

Drug companies try to stop countries like India or Thailand from making generic copies of life saving drugs like antibiotics or HIV drugs. I think India & Thailand told them to go fuck themselves (more or less). So score one for the public. Considering that about half of the R&D into these drugs is funded via public funds we deserve better than this shit.

[undeterred]

12. $10/tab is still ridiculous

I did check into Canadian drugs once but it wouldn't have saved me much. I should start getting my dogs drugs online though, because the vet really overcharges me.

My doctor will give me free samples if he has them (and just about everything works for me) but the companies really want to screw the patient. You'll notice that the tabs are never serrated and they crumble if you try to break or cut them in half- so even though a half dose would work and save the patient a lot of money, there is no way to take it. And the injection (which is even more expensive) used to actually be something you could control the dose- so you could give yourself a half dose and follow it with other half dose only if needed. That might save you money too. Well, with the "statdose" system thats impossible, so you have to use the full dose.

I discussed it with my doctor and he said the company claimed to do it for safety reasons. To which I sarcastically replied, my father injected himself with the correct amount of insulin every day of his life for 58 years without an automatic doser and I can't do it when I have a headache?

[Juche]

16. I see CIPA certified generic imitrex

I googled 'imitrex canada' and found a few pharmacies which are CIPA certified offering generic imitrex, some for $5-6 for a 100mg pill. It something to look into.

[undeterred]

24. Really?

I have a doc appt in 2 weeks and I will ask him about that. Great thing about having a liberal doctor, I know he will be ok if theres a way.

[Juche]

28. There is one

That is both highly rated from drugbuyers and certified with pharmacychecker and CIPA. GlobalDrugsDirect has 30 100mg pills of generic imitrex for $160.

[undeterred]

31. awesome

I would love to tell GLAXO WELLCOME to go out of business.

[bobbolink]

42. I did reply to you below.

I thought it made sense.

No?

[truedelphi]

53. I had heard of your tactic before and forgotten abt it Thanks for telling all of us!

Big Pharma has all sorts of excuses as to why we pay more than people in other countries.

They will lie and say anything - such as "Since the drugs are developped here in the USA, we ahve to recoup our research costs." Then they conveniently forget to mention:
1) Our government helps fund the research - so we taxpayers have already bitten the bullet on that!
2) Other nations certainly do go and develop and manufacture drugs.

Mostly we consumers get to pay so much more here in the USA is because the Big Pharma lobbyists make sure of it!

[Coyote_Bandit]

14. Ummmm

:hug:

I'm sorry. I really don't know what to suggest. But you are not alone. THere are many more folks in your situation.

I have an individual policy. Very high deductible with a co-pay above that. Many things not covered at all - including doctor visits. For all practical purposes it provides some coverage in the event of a catastrophe. Nothing more. I haven't seen a doctor for any reason in over ten years. Haven't had routine or preventative health care in fifteen years. And I'm afraid what meager coverage I have will be canceled if some possible precursor to a more serious health condition is ever noted. For all practical purposes I do not have access to health care.

Five years ago the COBRA coverage from my last employer was $900 a month. Sometime before that I worked for a company that was unable to meet its health insurance premium payments. Employees learned at noon that their health coverage would be canceled for non payment effective at midnight - some twelve hours later.

I'm still mostly jobless with the desk in the corner of a spare bedroom representing job creation. It seems inevitable that I will be forced to start a small business so I do not expect my health care options to improve. I do hope to use that small business experience as a springboard to get the hell out of this f*cked up country. I hope to immigrate to a country where I will have access to health care - and to start a business there. My first obligation is to provide for myself and my family. I cannot do that without reasonable access to health care. Since that isn't an option here I will focus my efforts elsewhere. I will survive despite the abuse I have suffered here. And, yes, I consider the lack of meaningful access to health care a form of abuse.

I keep hoping somebody in need of health care will bring an action against the federal government under the equal protection clause. The government provides access to health care for some citizens but not for others. Those who are denied are less than equal IMHO. It's a bold claim. Probably too far outside the box for most of the legal minds who might be called upon to the make such an argument.

[undeterred]

29. Thanks.

There is a doctor from WI who is in Congress (Kagen WI-8) who is putting up some bills about no discrimination against pre-existing conditions, and no discrimination against mental health I believe. Someone is thinking about these things.

Last year when I did the COBRA thing I also really used the health insurance. I went to every kind of specialist I needed, got prescriptions, dealt with everything. Then I got a mammogram and colonoscopy - preventive care was paid for 100% so I knew I should do it - and everything was fine.

The thing is- if I have migraines I will be unable to work. But presumably if I have work, I should have the insurance to have the meds I need to prevent the migraines.

I think that countries like Australia and Canada got it right but sometimes I hear they are becoming more like ours and there is nothing good about that.

[Ms. Toad]

15. A lot of drug companies

also have compassionate care programs for individuals without insurance. Contact the drug manufacturer to see if they can assist you. Also a lot of doctors get large supplies of samples - you may be able to get your doctor to give you samples to get you through the insurance gap.

[Warpy]

27. First, call your doc and make an appointment

Tell him/her you have lost your insurance. Explore whether there are cheaper, older drugs that will preserve your health so that you can go off the stuff that is fattening Big Pill on patent.

Check out the website of the drug manufacturer if there is no substitute. Most manufacturers have programs to supply meds to people with little or no income at nominal cost.

Good luck.

[undeterred]

30. thanks

appt is in 2 weeks... had it scheduled awhile ago

[bobbolink]

33. I think we all here know the answer.. there are THOUSANDS, MILLIONS in that situation.

The question is, where is the outrage?

When are people going to publicly put up a fuss?

Comiserating about it on a internet forum is fine, but ..... what action comes out of it?

What are WE going to do?

Just talk?

[Juche]

34. No idea

I intend to vote and donate money to orgs that are registering new voters. But I don't know if it'll be enough. Beyond that I am not sure what else I can do right now.

A million uninsured gathering in DC to protest would be nice, if we can work that out somehow.

[bobbolink]

37. I proposed some ideas in post #36. How 'bout we have a discussion group

to figure out ways to counteract the propaganda that the average 'Murkan has been subjected to?

How 'bout we strategerize how to overcome the tremendous power of the corporations, and get powerful grassroots groups going -- not just the people already on board, but the "great unwashed" who only get what the corporate media hands out?

We are smart people.. if we begin to come together and work on this together, we can figure out some things.

Really, we can.

We must overcome our inertia.

[undeterred]

35. I am putting together a Healthcare not Warfare event

and so are lots of people from Progressive Democrats of America all over the country - this is to really push the single payer healthcare bill HR 676, Rep. John Conyers' bill which guarantees comprehensive publicly-funded, privately-delivered health care for everyone in the U.S.

http://pdamerica.org/articles/misc/2008-02-29-14-19-42-misc.php

This is a great organization- I am trying to organize in my state. They actually work with the Progressive Members of Congress. Check it out.

[bobbolink]

36. Very good idea! I congratulate you on your activism!

:toast: :applause: :toast:

Does it include organizing local people to lobby their state reps and Senators?

What we need beyond that is some good educational materials.... brochures to take on door-to-door walks through neighborhoods.

PowerPoint programs and videos to present to church groups and civic groups. (Service groups are required to have speakers at their meetings, and are always hungry for programs!)

We need to reach BEYOND the choir, and counter the propaganda spun by the corporations.

[undeterred]

38. Well- I'm lucky

I come from the very progressive state of WI. We have Senator Feingold, who has been concerned about this issue for years. And we have some great progressive senators in our state government who have been working on universal state plans for a half dozen years. So what we really need right now is a Democratic majority in our Assembly, with is within reach... 3 seats.

So I am really asking my elected officials to spell it out for the grassroots that we have to get outside our own districts and work on campaigns to get what we need- a majority in both houses of our state government. We always elect progressives in Madison, but it doesn't help if they are in the minority and can't get anything passed. Our stupid republicans would not pay for childrens hearing aids for families that couldn't afford them. Spelling out stuff like this- even to Republican voters- should make people wake up.

[Cresent City Kid]

43. Just lost my insurance

I just got laid off, and I can't afford to keep the insurance. Even when I had it I couldn't afford to cover my wife with it.

Health care, medicine, and insurance are things this country not only has to find a pay for, we have to look for the real reason for the outrageous costs. There's always fat to trim in welfare, but drug prices are carved in stone. How about a few less commercials with state of the art CGI?

[undeterred]

44. I'm sorry

I hope you find another job with good insurance really soon.

Sometimes the insurance that jobs offer is not very good. I worked for Manpower last year, and they told me that Health insurance was available after 30 days- well the company paid 0, and for a single person the options were $95/week, $35/week, and $21/week. The only decent plan was the high end one which amounts to $5K/year. I knew people who chose the $35/week and they said the out-of-pocket cost was ridiculous. The low cost plan was just catastrophic. So, a lot of people chose nothing.

[Cresent City Kid]

45. I appreciate your concern

What sucks is that I have skills in 3 fields that have slowed to a crawl.

[undeterred]

46. Keep trying.

I'm off now too. I had a week of work last week, and I've has a bunch of calls this morning. All it takes is ONE.

[sandnsea]

52. That's what scares me about mandated health insurance

People will be offered that low cost catastrophic plan, and then forced to buy it because it's all they can afford - and the public thinks the health care problem is solved when all that really has happened is people will have less money to pay for medicine or a doctor's visit than they did before.

[truedelphi]

54. Also what is really bad is how little "catastrophic" covers these

Days.

Cancer used to be considered a catastrophic event. If a person was diagnosed with it, they were put in hospital, and treated with their bills covered by the insurance people.

Now much of the treatment is done on an out patient basis - so you could have one or even several types of cancer and not be covered under some "catstrophic" versions of a health insurance plan.

[truedelphi]

55. So what we need to start screaming at the top of our lungs is:

SINGLE PAYER UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

If it is good enough for Scandanavians, it should be good enough for us.

[bobbolink]

47. "There's always fat to trim in welfare"....??????????????

How many more people do you want to suffer and die?

I guess I'm just "fat", eh?

:wtf:

[caseycoon]

48. I'm sorry for your trouble...

So many are losing so much in these times.
I don't believe there IS always fat to trim in welfare though. It has been slashed considerably from the original program as it is. There are a lot of folks out there who need help, but can't get it anymore. I hate to see the few programs we have left for poor people get cut any further.
I hope you find a good job soon!
I wish you much luck, CCK!

[Cresent City Kid]

50. I meant they always say there's fat to cut

[varelse]

49. I agree with you about health care

and I hope things turn back around for you soon. However, I also hope that when you refer to the 'fat' to be trimmed from welfare, you're referring to corporate welfare, rather than aid to the poor.

[truedelphi]

83. The drug comanies HAVE TO HAVE the commercials

The commercials are not for the buyers' advantage - research has already shown the public is ignoring the commercials.

But how else can the Big Pharma Companies keep tabs on the local and national news teams? With all the advertising dollars tied up inside of the commercials, there is no way that a local station or a national station will really discuss health care in this coutnry.

I don't think I have even heard the term "single Payer" on the television. (Unless maybe if it was on a commerical for Dennis Kucinich back when he was running.) And the only time I heard of Michael Morre's movie "Sicko" (on TV) was when it was being dissed

.

[sandnsea]

51. I have subsidized insurance

and the state's pool for uninsurable people. Although I screwed up and missed my renewal deadline when the grandbaby was in the hospital. But it's still got a $500 deductible, and where I used to get my medication free, I now pay at least $100 a month and most of those are the $4 generics. So I still don't get as much medical care as I should because of the deductibles, co-pays, and 20%. I think subsidized insurance can be a solution, but they've got to get control of how much health care costs. That's what they do in other countries that really makes the difference.

[cutlassmama]

56. even with health insurance I can't afford the co-pays on all

my medicines. I'm supposed to be on 21 of them, but had to cut/wean myself down to 7 now. I just can't afford the co-pays. In September we are going to a new prescription plan...I can only think it will be worse since it's saving the company a lot of money. Maybe I'll end up like others and not take anything...then die a slow, painful death.

The "compassionate" programs that the pharmaceutical companies have is for "up to three prescriptions per month" and ONLY if a person has no other health insurance plan and ONLY for three months.

[undeterred]

59. I am applying for one of those programs now

Something is better than nothing... but we have to fix this system and that means taking the profit motive out of health care. People are making their fortunes off of human suffering.

Copays are awful- they keep increasing them. You pay a few hundred for insurance and then a couple hundred for copays. Its taking a huge chunk out of what people have to live on.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

57. Uninsured since 18...and I'm 26

Haven't had health insurance for 8 years. Don't know when I will.

[undeterred]

58. Today I went to the pharmacy

to pick up 2 more meds I just really need, even if I have to pay out of pocket. I expected to pay about $58 for one and $17 for the other. Instead the higher one was $11 and the lower one was $4. I asked "did you bill insurance" and they said yes and they told me the name of it.

Nothing has changed since I made this post. I don't have health insurace. I have asked my doctors nurse to fill out some forms for getting really expensive meds directly from the drug company. So I guess I am benefitting from some kind of error that I wouldn't even have known about if I hadn't decided to refill these two...
:shrug:

[truedelphi]

63. Oh that is great. I hope your "luck" continues

Though sometimes the doctor offices have access to knowing about programs that us normal people don't know about. At one point in mylife, when I complained that I hadn't had a mammogram in four years, they found a program that paid all expenses connected with it.

Anyway I hope it wasn't kluck or an error but an actual programt hat is on-going. Those are out there in some places.

[AccessGranted]

60. No Insurance Here - Luckily I'm A Vet

Well, I pay for insurance for my son out of pocket. I don't have any insurance. Employer doesn't provide it. I have to schlep to the VA Hospital for everything, which is okay. No dental benefits through because I didn't kill anybody.

[undeterred]

61. I finally got IMITREX through Glaxo's Bridges to Access program

There has been a bit of bureaucracy, but it finally came through. This drug is so expensive that even the copays for it when I am insured are ridiculous. Today I paid 2 $10 copays for 2 months worth of imitrex... the retail price would have been close to $1500.

For that price it should CURE migraines, not just offer temporary relief!

[bobbolink]

64. For that price, it should send you to Hawai'i for a good vacation to relax

and rejuvenate you!

Making obscene profits from medications is ... well, obscene!

Other countries don't allow it!!!!

Here's hoping it makes you feel a lot better!! :hi:

[JNelson6563]

89. Those who really do suffer from migraines

pay a high price because of those who don't. Sound confusing? I'm referring to hypochondriacs. Migraines are one of those things that you can't really prove or disprove and they are a common choice of hypochondriacs. And believe me, a true hypochondriac will invest any amount of time and/or money in carrying out the fiction of their illness. The makers of Imitrex probably profit off of hypochondriacs more than any other company.

Julie

[LBJDemocrat]

66. Me.

I'm fucked with or without it. Single-payer health care is the solution, i.e. not forcing me to donate a part of my income to Blue Cross.

[fizzgig]

67. i am

my daily med costs me nearly $300 a month (and that's generic), and my doc just put me on another daily med, which will run me about $60 a month. i'm singing up with the county's prescription assistance program and i'm hoping they can help.

[undeterred]

68. When you do get insurance

If you are lucky enough to get a job that provides insurance- make a doctors appt as soon as possible and ask him/her to write the prescriptions so that you can get 3 months worth at a time.

This may or may not save you copays but it does save a little time and trouble in picking things up if you use medication on a regular basis. Also, sometimes you can get them by mail.

And make sure you ask your doctor if there are generic products coming out for any of your medications. My doctor keeps up to date on this stuff so it saves me money.

[sarcasmo]

69. Kick back to the top, no one should be with out Health Insurance.

[.... callchet ....]

73. Because

youwould be a tax burden to these Wall Street guys making a hundred million a year. Plus you would cut down on the number of shows that have multi thousand dollar birthday parties for 16 year olds.

[OneGrassRoot]

70. No insurance for seven years....

makes a preventative, healthy lifestyle much more of a focus. :)

An incident with melanoma early on led to bankruptcy. I know I'm blessed to be well and shall continue to focus on that. For those who need medication to stay well, I get so upset about the situation that it may indeed lead to chronic hypertension.

It's appalling, it's inhumane. It must change.

[juno jones]

71. My family.

Aside from assistance when I was pregnant and state programs for my kid (which ended when he turned 18) we've always been without.

My husband is having problems working right now because of repetitive motion injuries sustained from years at his career as silkscreen printer. It scares me that we can't even afford a doctor to see if its 'merely' a tendonitis-type thing or if there is more signifigant damage there. Surgery, even if nescessary, is probably out of the question.

Good luck obtaining your medications. I hope you can get some insurance worked out.

Solidarity, we are all in this together.

and Happy New Year! :hi:

[.... callchet ....]

72. Help

Passive genocide.

[.... callchet ....]

74. Here' why

Because
youwould be a tax burden to these Wall Street guys making a hundred million a year. Plus you would cut down on the number of shows that have multi thousand dollar birthday parties for 16 year olds.

[geegollygosh]

75. I have health insurance...

but between jobs this summer I didn't. Made me real nervous, you never know when by pure chance you'll end up thousands of dollars in debt. Which, I suppose is still true when I have insurance, but less so.

I used to work at a school with a lot of low income students. Several of them told me that they went to the emergency room the night before... not because it was an emergency, but because they didn't have a general practitioner to go to.

[Sisaruus]

76. My COBRA ran out yesterday.

I started a new job in March but that health insurance won't kick in until July 1. I'm 56 - old enough that the lack of insurance for the next 3 months is unnerving.

[skatterkat]

77. My advice?

You should try to get on a single payer health insurance plan on your own. You don't want more than 60 days to elapse without creditable coverage, or else you may not be covered for what your current employer's health insurance plan deems a "pre-existing condition".

[right2bfree]

92. 56 no insurance, no COBRA. Anything goes wrong I get creamated I guess. nt

[YoungAndOutraged]

78. I don't even know what its like to have health insurance.

nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

79. Not since 2006.

My BF got laid off from his crappy job in May of 2006.
He doesn't take any meds but I do. He's 63. I'm younger.

Most of my stuff is generic, but not all - My antihitamine/decongestant is expensive (Allegra D)
and I stopped taking Spiriva b/c it was ridiculously expensive.

My eyedrops I use for my allergic itchy red eyes are $71.00 a bottle for about 5 ml. Tiny bottle.

Two of my BP meds are generic, one is not.

My monthly bill is about $400. My doc is good about giving me sample bottles of lipitor.

[gwashington2650]

80. About 45 million Americans

Tragic, isn't it?

[right2bfree]

93. Projected to rise to 57 M in the next two years. nt

[ginger14]

81. I have been without it since 2005; I really wish I had dental and vision, however

if I had to make a choice, that is. I don't go to doctors and I don't own property, so there is nothing much for me to lose, except that I need to go to dentists more than some. Luckily, I knew the dentist and could get a payment plan. It's probably impossible to do so otherwise.

[Whistleblowerjustice]

82. Kicked out without her Pension and Health Benefits!!

There is no justice for Whistleblowers in America, especially for Active duty military service members. Who I’m sure is exposed to military corruption everyday with all our taxpayers dollars going towards military defense or bailing out corrupt companies in the U.S.

Take a look at this video and you will see that even our own military would rather engage in a cover-up than to uphold a person's legal right. http://www.10news.com/investigations/20135300/detail.html

Mr. Holder, when are you going to hold Federal Agencies accountable for protecting the rights of Whistle Blowers and when is congress going to pass better legislation to ensure their rights are protected? Primarily the rights of our Veterans!!!

MilitaryCorruption.com

"POUND HER INTO THE GROUND" - VINDICTIVE
NAVY BRASS SET TO THROW FEMALE LCDR
WHISTLEBLOWER OUT OF MILITARY - SYNEEDA
PENLAND CONVICTED OF ADULTERY AND SENT
TO BRIG - OFFICER ONLY EIGHT MONTHS FROM
RETIREMENT - NUDE PIX USED TO HUMILIATE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN - 38 YEAR-OLD WOMAN
ILL - BEING TREATED BY CHEMOTHERAPY

By MAJ GLENN MacDONALD
U.S. Army Reserve (Ret.)

© 2009 MilitaryCorruption.com
With all the subtlety of a pack of wild dogs chasing a wounded deer across an open field, the Navy brass are out to destroy the life and career of a minority female officer who blew the whistle on contractor fraud.

Lt. Cdr. Syneeda Penland has been informed the Navy intends to kick her out of the military as of July 31, just eight months short of the former enlisted woman qualifying for an active-duty retirement pension.

[DeadEyeDyck]

84. can you give a list of the drugs?

Most ailments can be addressed with holistic mediciences. The Rx is just ripping you off for what mother nature provides for free. I don't take nothing but natural Rx's. Evolution would not have allow us to evolve to a sppecies that need complex chemicals. Think about it.

[dogsmycopilot]

85. my daughter

My hubby works for a very small business. There isn't a big enough pool to get decent insurance. We can pretty much manage but my daughter is downright uninsurable because she was diagnosed with asthma. I worry for her. We have bought a nebulizer for home use to cut the cost of meds, (the inhalers cost more than the stuff you put in the nebulizer)but I worry what she will do as she gets older. I am not taking my blood pressure meds, my mother doesn't take her diabetes stuff like she should. Luckily we really do live across the street from the ER if anything happened. My husband has been known to put in and take out his own stitches. That was many years ago, but still it was due to money. I worry for all of us. I was sickly as a child and my mom made it because she had good insurance working for the federal government. Judging by how much stuff has gone up since then I worry how my children will afford when they are my age. I think the docs and pharmacies could be more co-operative too. Tell patients how much things cost up front, don't prescribe the drug of the month to a patient that just asked you for a generic. They know what's going on in the economy, they need to stop acting like they don't. No, I haven't been taking my pills and you know damn well why. Don't pretend you don't especially when you are a doc that collects over 100 for less than 15 minutes of your time.

[WinterParkDonkey]

87. My situation....

I work in a hotel. We do have health insurance but it is very high and premiums are based on escalation of age. I am fortunate that I am in good health but I have extreme excema which although it is not life threatening is very painful -- especially during the winter months. The cream that my podiatrist perscribes is $175.00 per tube!! even with insurance. I use every drop. What I usually do is slater petroleum jelly over my hands and feet and then put on cotton socks and gloves before I get into bed at night. This really helps. As I said this condition is not life threatening but if you have ever had one of the fissures from excema break open on your feet you know what I mean -- they can get infected and that leads to other health problems.

[Name removed]

88. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[undeterred]

90. Tonight I picked up all the meds I need

for the first time since I posted this thread. Copays of $10 each. It feels awesome.

I have insurance through my contract agency. Its not what you'd call full health insurance. For $35 a week it covers prescriptions and doctor appointments pretty well. If I had to go to an emergency room it would pay $100 toward that visit and I would be stuck with the rest. It pays $600 annual toward diagnostic tests. Low payments towards hospital stays, surgery, and the things that you'd need if you had a serious illness... token payments.

I have what I need for now. But I sure hope I don't need anything else.

[GreenPartyVoter]

91. *raises hand* I just did the same thing as you with my meds, and now am getting the cheapies at

*ack* Wal-mart.