Are there low-income health insurance options to help me get my meds if I have a pre-existing condition?
My family has had Medi-Cal for several years and we are justr now going to go over-income to qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 1 1/2 years ago and cannot lose my specialty medications for the disease. My husband is offered Blue Cross through his work, but that is very pricey and will only cover 55% of my specialty medication (Avonex). Avonex costs roughly 00/month and that leaves me paying just under 00/month out-of-pocket for my meds IN ADDITION to the 0/month in insurance premiums. I will barely be able to afford the insurance premiums and CANNOT afford 00/month for my meds. I looked into getting an individual health plan for myself, but no one will accept me because I have MS. Are there any insurances to help low-income people in my situation? Are there any programs that work with insurance providers to help pay for the cost of specialty medications?
If you make too much money to qualify for no cost medi-cal, the overage becomes your share of cost for each month. You will still have medi-cal, you will just have a share of cost each month.
welcome to the USA where getting health insurance and RX is for the rich and healthy.
http://www.freemedicinefoundation.com/application_form.html
this is a website to qualify for free/reduced meds; do not know if it will work for you.
others will probably tell you to go to the drug manufacturer to see if you qualify, but usually you have to be penniless.
http://www.ciparx.ca/
this is a site for canadian pharmacy’s that are ok
you are in a quandary; i found several in canadian drugstores online, but the lowest was $1,300 for 4 at 30 mcg;
i understand where you are coming at; my husband has Parkinson’s disease and managed by RX. the cost plus his other drugs runs over $500 a month; he is uninsurable since preexisting and self employed.
we found some of his drugs in canadian drugstores that are 1/2 to 1/3 less than the US; for everyone that states that canada is inferior you are wrong; even our family doctor recommends. also in canada they can get generics whereas the big pharma blocks it in the US to make their profits.
as for any insurance, even if you could find, they will have probably a max of $500 annual for RX; so wont work.
i get so mad when everyone is against universal health care. with so many people uninsured, only in the USA, if you get sick, no one cares.
i hate to say this, but your husband may need to quit this job so you can still qualify for medical. let the state pay you for food stamps and whatever you can qualify for.
or even if he keeps job; check to see if you qualify for assistance, via food stamps, or other help programs.
one other consideration; have you checked to see if you qualify for social security disability? call a lawyer to see if you qualify. the process takes about 2 years for a judge to hear. if you succeed, it takes about 2 more years and then you qualify for medicare. with medicare, it pays for any medical costs, but then you have to fight the donut hole with the RX.
good luck, you will need it
added after my husband got home; he is a lawyer who handles social security disability cases. he said has not had any cases with MS; (he gets cases denied and he appeals) some cases just by the disabilty/condition meets requirements so is awarded automatically) his belief is that you might qualify for social security disability or SSI; supplemental security income; (medical standards are same as social security, but their is a need requirement)
call social security and ssi and ask based on having MS would you qualify;
one other option which you will hate and so did my husband is to file for divorce; he had case where couple in their 60’s and they had to divorce so they could qualify for assistance. it stinks, but since if married, did not qualify, but divorced they could get help.
for everyone out there who screams they hate public assistance, wake up, she did not do anything to create her medical condition of MS; and would you trade places with her, or could you afford to pay what she will be paying per month????
Depending on what your income is now, you might qualify for the Simplefill Program. They help low income families who do not have insurance get all of their brand name drugs for a flat $65 a month. Since there are no generic options for treating MS this could be a great option for you. It is worth looking into since there is no application fee. Their website is http://www.simplefill.com. I hope this helps.