I've almost accepted the idea that since we are considered middle class, there is no help available for treatment medications for hepatitis. We have checked into drug assistance programs and changing insurance but I'm limited in options since I'm on disability. What's left is to challenge the insurance companies with "reason".
So, what is the "reason" I talk about? Doctors say I will have about 10 years on this liver without treatment. That means that in a period of 6-7 years, I'll start having problems and that means my health care dollars will increase significantly. Then by year 10, insurance will be faced with paying for a second transplant.
Does any of this make sense? Not to me. Why is it when two people get an education and work to provide for a comfortable retirement they can be wiped out by a medical crisis. I "GET" it now. Since hepatitis is slow moving, we do have time to try to figure out alternatives but what if this was cancer...where you have no options. We would be forced to completly wipe out everything we worked for...give up our house and cars to pay for medications. This I have a problem with.
I've read all comments and do look into options you pose. I appreciate you taking the time to post and I feel it's a matter of time and things come together. I do believe that everything works for the best...maybe not what we want but in the end, it's the best.
So...keep your spirits high...robin
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
If you are on disability (through Social Security) you may be eligible for your state's Medicaid program. The way it works here in WI, they set up a deductible for you, and if you can show medical expenses that add up to that amount in a 6-month period, they will kick in and pay those plus the rest of the expenses for that 6-month period.
ReplyDeleteWorth checking into, anyway.
It's ridiculous that the same insurance company that paid for your new liver won't pay for the medicines to fight the virus that's attacking it!
ReplyDeleteLike_____ said, after you've been on SSDI for a while - I don't know how long - maybe 2 or 3 years, then you're eligible for Medicaid, too, I think. You may want to find out how long you need to wait - and start getting rid of assets. My father had to do this when my mother went into a nursing home - transfer the title of their house into his name alone. That was 20 years ago, I think the requirements for Medicaid may be a lot stricter now...