My husband's boss just canceled the health insurance for me and my two kids. I have fibro, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. I won't be able to get my medications. My son has CFS and POTS and needs medication daily. My daughter is 17 and I'm worried about something happening to her. I'm getting so depressed worrying about this. We are not low income so we can't get help. We are just regular middle class and can't afford insurance on our own. I honestly don't know what we are supposed to do?? My husband is looking for another job but the employment agency he went to said that jobs were scarce. I would work if I could. I've been managing my pain with just prozac and ambien to sleep. i went off my other meds because they were too expensive. Now I'll have to stop what I am taking. I really need to get a job and help out but how am i supposed to do that with fibro?? I feel so useless. What are middle class families supposed to do? Sorry for rambling on, I just don't know what to do.
Thank you! At least I have somewhere to start. Lori
Get a free card with http://www.pharmacydiscountnetwork.com/ . I used them when I had no insurance and got some pretty good deals. I was able to afford my metforman, and blood pressure pills. It gave me a great reduction for most of what I was on and My grocery store pharmacy. sorry to sound like a commercial but it worked for me and I do not think I got any junk mail from them. do look up the manufactures of each pill. if they do not have any offers for people that can not afford meds write them. It is something to do so you do not feel so helpless. Some states do have help. I know in pa we had a chip program that my kid was on that worked well and covered alot. As your son has special needs the state may have a program for him.
prozac and ambien are both available in generic form
i know sometimes generic doesn’t work as well, but these both work nicely (at least for me).
check at Walmart b/c I’m pretty sure they are both on the $4 prescription list.
Hi,
Not sure if this will help you. It says that you pay according to your income....
http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx Search page
This one is for Yonkers, NY
http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
Ally
I can't get the pills without a doctor. I don't have insurance to get a doctor. We don't qualify for state help for medical because on paper my husband makes enough money for medical, but in reality, we can't afford it. That's why I don't know what to do?? I've been on the computer all day trying to figure out what we can get or where to start. I looked up HMO's, PPO's, Insurance for people with pre existing conditions, etc. It's hard to figure all this out. I do know for sure we can't get state help because of my husband's salary. We are considered middle class, which means no state or government help. I'm from NY. Lori
Thank you. I just printed out the card and will try it the next time I refill pills. Lori
Hi lfeilji,
I brought up a page comprised by our friend Sheila Wall, that lists just about every possible avenue available for help. I hope there is something there that will help you. Please do not be offended by the title of "low income", there is really good info there.
Wishing you the best,
SK
Hi SK,
I'm not offended by "low income". Frankly it would be easier if we were considered low income. Everywhere I looked low income means $44,000 and under for a family of 4. My husband makes more than that.
How do I see the page you mentioned??
Lori
Just click on discussions, at the top of the page, scroll down and you will see the discussion I brought up for you entitled
"Help for low income Americans". I hope this helps you!
Hugs,
SK
Thanks SK,
I printed it out. I'll look at it tomorrow morning. I've been researching this all day and have a killer headache. It's time for me to quit for now. Lori
There are tons of places that understand that today middle class often means, made debt, lost job, now over committed. Have you considered debt consolidation? or calling people you owe money and asking for a lower interest rate or saying hey I cant afford this any more because I now have to pay for family health insurance, can I get lower payments. I have been about a month behind in many of my bills since May. Most companies I owe money to have been understanding and have non advertised offers available. It may kill your credit but as i have a house and a car I figure my peace of mind and health are more important.
I was on a state program for self employed people for a few years. sadly it has been discontinued but it was great when I was on it. It was more for people that could not get regular health insurance and the payments were based on my income.
It is a shame they killed it because it was great for me.
We don't have any debt. We don't use credit cards. My husband's boss cut my husbands salary in half and now canceled the medical for the family. We are trying to manage on half a salary. We are living pay check to pay check. After paying our rent, electric, phone and food there isn't much left over. A few hundred dollars a month for medical insurance will really leave us with nothing.
Lori, there may be more. If you go to the discussion page, at the top left there is a search engine, a place to type in something like "medical assistance", there may be more in the archives. This will bring up all discussions and entries on the subject that we have.
Hope this works for you,
SK
Hi, I just saw that you live in NY, I recently lost my health insurance … And have been freaking out… My company Cobra will cover me for 550. / month, I can’t do that, my other option was Healthy NY, it’s for those who make to much to qualify for Medicaid, with my disability payment Healthy NY will only cost me 230. Month, but there is a $1200. Deductible … Yikes, ok … So my daughter gets child health plus for my grandson only her husband makes good money, and its almost free for him… There are so many options for health coverage in NY, look up Family health plus & child health plus, also call Fidelis , when I went to get HEAP today a FEdelis rep said they will come to my home and do all the work,
Don’t try to go to work, I know if you lost your coverage Healthy NY can help you. It may cost, but maybe you can just get it for your self, and the kids can get child health plus or fedelis, I don’t know if this helps, the other thing is that if you call your county hospital, they have clinics for people with out ins. Here in Buffalo, Erie county medical center actually has a program that if you don’t have ins, even if your husband makes good money, it’s for anyone with out ins. And you can make reg dr. Apt. And get prescriptions for like $7
I hope something helps!!
There are ans. to making to much money and not having health ins…
Keep looking, especially google your county ex… Erie.gov , put in your county then . Gov & search
Ahhh do I know how stressful & upsetting this is
Hugs & blessings
All I know is that The Affordable Care Act for Preexisting Conditions doesn’t go into effect until January, 2014. I worked in social services during college summers, and it just doesn’t seem fair that those who try can’t get help.
Now don’t get me wrong, 95% of those receiving help deserve it. But I believe there needs to be emergency funds for people like you.
So sorry you are having these problems lfeijj. Hugs.
Lori,
Wal-mart offers a bunch of generic label prescriptions for $4. I believe you can find the list on-line. Probably by typing Walmart $4 medications or something like that. I also think that Target has the same program or something similar.
Contacting the drug company, as Avenk suggested, is another good idea. Some do offer free or lower priced drugs for a limited time.
Is your son eligible for Medicaid or disability? If so, it would be worth looking into.
Just know that I'm extremely sorry for your situation. It's horrible to see people losing their health insurance.
I wish I had more suggestions.
Warmly,
Petunia