xpost: WHY WE NEED UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE

My 63 year old mother had open heart surgery 3 years ago and hasn't been able to work since then.  She lost her house and is now living in subsidized housing and just started getting Social Security payments - less than $900 a month - earlier this year.  She was not able to save for retirement, as she raised 4 children as a single mother, never making more than $20,000 a year.  She does not yet qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, from what I've found.

She had a STROKE last week because she hasn't been able to afford the meds she was prescribed after her open heart surgery because...she has NO insurance.  She had uncontrolled diabetes, outrageous cholesterol and sky-high BP.  She was in the hospital for 4 days.  There is NO telling how much her hospital bill is going to be.  She was sent home with 8 prescriptions, most of which are available at Wal-mart for $4.  However, one prescription alone is $138.  How in the HELL is someone who only receives $900 a month expected to buy a $138 prescription every 30 days???

Every time I hear someone argue against the RIGHT of every person access to healthcare, I want to introduce them to my mother, who should not be living like this!  And then I want to punch them in the face.

It's so scary, I am so sorry for you and your mother, I know the scary feeling very well after my mother had her car accident and she was afraid her disability was up but did not yet qualify for medicare, she paid the outrageous cobra payments and paid from her meger savings $5000 for Lifestar.  I remember my mother clearly telling me should would overdose her insulin before she would let the state take the house away from me and my son.  She died right after receiving an inheritance that would have let her live comfortably for some time.  It was the worst thing I ever went through watching my mother try everything to keep her health, in the end she lost in the midst of doctors telling her different things.  Three doctors in three days and after the third she went home and died, no one sent her to a hospital even though her PCP thought she was having heart failure.  I still want to scream.  I feel your pain, I hope and pray that your mother gets the care she needs without driving her insane over worrying how she will pay for it.  We should be so ashamed of our health care system.

Good Luck
Hugs Heidi

Thank you, Heidi.  I agree, that's exactly how we should feel: ashamed.  No one should have to suffer like my mother has and your mother did.  To be one of the most powerful countries in the world, we need to take better care of those less fortunate!!

I'm sorry about your mother and what you have been through.

Thanks, I hope that you can find a way to help your mother so she can get the care she deserves and the medication she needs to survive.  It should never be a choice between food or medicine, I can't even believe we live in a world where people have to think about dying because they can't afford to buy their medication.  It makes me so incredibly sad for your mom to be in that horrible situation.

Good Luck!
Hugs Heidi

Stacy,

Try contacting the drug manufacturer.  They sometimes have programs to subsidize the cost of their medication for those in need.  My sister did this (through her son's Dr.) for medication her son needed that her insurance wouldn't cover.  Out of pocket it would have cost her 1200.00 a month, she now gets it shipped straight to her home for a 30.00 co pay! 

And I am with you about wanting to punch people in the healthcare reform debate..I mean REALLY how UNinformed can people be?
Maggie

Thank you, I am working on different resources for her.  I filled out the application from Astra Zeneca (the Rx is Crestor) this morning. 

I'm really just trying to put a face to the debate, and show people how heartless you have to be to say that the less fortunate deserve things like this - or even worse!  If she had been able to take her meds, she might have avoided this...

There are a couple of things for you to look into:  First, contact Social Security.  Is your mother on Disability payments?  Have you asked at that office if she is ineligible for benefits?  I know that in California, if disability payments are awarded, medical benefits are awarded too.

Second, look at the prescription bottle for the $138 medication.  See who the drug manufacturer is and look them up on the Internet.  MANY drug manufacturers are now offering deep discounts to people with limited incomes.  They usually have that information online.

I agree with you on health care access.  I know that the health care benefit I have at my work is worth hundreds of dollars a month.  I feel blessed that I have not had to worry about this.  I know there are millions of people who should have this same sense of security.

Best of luck to you and your mother,

Valerie

She was denied disability.  She is received Social Security payments (reduced because she didn't wait until she turned 65).  I am hoping we can reapply based on her current condition and that it offers more help.

I filled out the drug manufacturer's application this morning.  I'll try every avenue I can - I just want people to understand what they are denying to those less fortunate.

Thank you.

Some resources for medications are Partnership for Prescription Assistance 1-888-477-2669 or www.pparx.org. Matches you with 475 public & private programs.

www.NeedyMeds.org

www.RxAssist.org-can search by med name

www.togetherrxaccess.com-sponsored by 9 major drug co's.

Good luck-I hope this helps.

Thank you so much for taking the time to post these!  You have no idea how much it's appreciated.