Standing Up For the Allergic, Asthmatic and Uninsured

By Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Health Guide Friday, May 16, 2008

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A recent article featured on CNN.com chronicles the story of Mark Windsor, a man who has suffered with a rare bone cancer for 25 years. Mark's cancer could possibly have been cured in the early stages of the disease. Now, his prognosis is fatal. Like so many Americans, Mark was unable to af...

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fred

5/20/08 8:18am

Being uninsured is no excuse for not seeing a doctor when you have a health problem. Insurance does not provide healthcare, doctors and clinics do. These providers also will work with people who cannot afford the full cost of treatment. There are plenty of generous people and groups who will assist those truly in need. I don't know of one "generous" health insurance company. The cost of healthcare is increased by the lack of a cap on punitive malpractice lawsuits, which increases the cost of insurance for medical workers, which is ultimately paid by the patient. Health insurance companies, including Medicare pay less than a reasonable cost for procedures so that hosptals and clinics have recoup their costs elsewhere.

A free market approach to health care would lower the cost and strengthen the doctor-patient relationship by ending the stranglehold insurance companies have on healthcare. You are responsible for obtaining the healthcare you and your family need, not the government or the insurance companies.

Janice

6/ 1/08 7:33am

Really? Let's take this scenario....I am 57,white female, single mom, work full time and have group health insurance. I owned a condomninium in High Point, NC that I purchased in 1998. By 2001, I had developed all kinds of allergies, had a bacterial lung infection, progressing to chronic bronchitis, and was eventually diagnosed with asthma. During a 3 year period, I was hospitalized 6 times for respiratory inflammation and exacerbation. Finally in 2005, after a particularly severe reaction and taking high dosages of prednisone and leviquin, I decided to investigate around the condo to see if there may be any mold, mildew etc that could be triggering this. To my surprise, I found that the cold air return floor of the heat & air system was rotted out and I could see the dirt floor of the crawl space. I immediately contact the HOA Board of Directors and reported the need for repair to the subfloor and that the hole was pulling dust, dirt, mold, mildew, whatever was growing in the crawlspace, up into the H&A system and ductwork and blowing it throughtout the living space. I called my own homeowner's insurance and they performed an initial air quality test taking swabs etc.These test showed 4 types of mold. The Management company, after a year of my insistence that this was a problem for me, sent someone to investigate the problem,( a handyman), and after entering the crawlspace found 3+ inches of mold growing on the insulation in the crawlspace area. Still the HOA Board only replaced the insulation but did nothing regarding repair of the rotting subfloors. After 2 years of them promising to do something, then changing their minds and their layer trying to get me to sign medical releases for myself and my son, they got a lien against me for unpaid dues. This was caused because as you know, the cost of asthma attacks and medications and trying to clean the air ( I had to buy 2 air cleaners, back and forth to the DR weekly, lost my job due to absenteeism and hospitalization). I had to file bankruptcy in 2007 and leave my home and the equity I had accumulated to save my health, what was left of it, and perhaps my life.

The health insurance I have now is so that maintenance medications require mandatory mail order through Merck/MEDCO. I take 7 medications daily and so the cost would be $210 per month in copays through them or $630 for 90 days supplys. Merck/MEDCO produced so called generic formularies for some of my medications to reduce the cost but I happen to know, through my specialist, that there are NO generics for the medications I take. The company I work for refuses to let me get even my rescue inhalers from my local pharmacy and will charge me full price, $173 for one rescue inhaler, and full price for any of my other medications. I know that asthma medications are very sensitive to heat and cold and so mail order for me, with the USPS, and the fact that no one is at home to receive these medications and bring them inside during the day, is just not acceptible! My company still refuses, as well as BCBS of Western New York and Merck/Medco!

So in answer to YOUR comment, that each person should be responsbile for their own health care and not depend on the government? Well, in my case, even though I have health insurance I still can't afford my medications.I know that recourse should be out there for me, I have begged, pleaded, written everyone and their brother including senator's and congressmen, attorneys, building inspectors health, environmental deparment, everyone and their brother but there is no help for me! None of the pharmaceutical programs will help because I make too much, LOL, and so Social Services is out, community clinic is out etc.. I can't get assistance from anyone so that I can have my prescriptions and keep my asthma and allergies under control. No one will help and no one understands that asthma kills! And that the cost of the medications is very high and the need to have the medications is urgent! I suppose that a life is not important to the company I work for and the MERCK/MEDCO and BCBS of Western NEW YORK, have a greater need for MORE MONEY in their pockets than I do for my medications.

Insured but not rich

9/ 5/10 12:07am

Thank you for your comments to the other person who feels we can all afford to pay for our medical. I am in a similar situation, can't afford the co-pays or drugs because of multiple visits to doctors and hospitals. I have multiple bills in collections. All of them for medical, guess what? My credit sucks, not because I blew it buying stuff I don't need (food, water, clothing, housing, essentials.) but BECAUSE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY ARE NOT PERFECTLY HEALTHY!

You don’t want to get sick in your middle age when you live in America, unless you’re independently wealthy and have an insurance policy from getting elected as a member of Congress or the White House.

Who has time to deal with collections when you’re trying to get by with day to day living? To contact all of the creditors incurred when you have multiple family medical issues? I don't! Not to mention all the stress and worry.

I literally get sick trying to deal with it. Oh no, more medical bills!

The endless merry-go-round I got on and can’t get off!

What really sucks is not being able to get any help because you just make a little too much money to get any help!!!!! You and I sound similar in stories. You work to do the right thing but then some sort of financial or medical problem blows it all. It's not that we're asking for the Taj Mahal. We just want a piece of the fruit pie and not all the pits. We just got no more fight in us. What's the point? The those that have, such as the person you replied to, don't understand our situation.. We're the lower middle class and as the middle child we're screwed. They get us coming and going!

I am someone who may have collections after me, but I don't have any credit card bills, I did without. I haven’t taken any kind of fancy vacations, HAWAII what a dream. I didn't buy a house out of my price range (it ain't brand new either, so I have mold problems too. I can't afford to fix'em) I don't have a brand new car, but it does get me down the road. I'd love to have a more economical one but that ain't in the picture. I shop at second hand stores, do the food banks, shop at WALMART, cause I can't afford more. I rarely go anywhere, but the basics; work, gas, store, doctors, hospitals, school, etc. Remember: I don't have any CREDIT CARD BILLS. I didn't buy something I couldn't afford!!!! Oh, and another thing is, I refuse to put my medical bills on a credit card. I believe credit cards are for the extras and emergencies, like a new bed, clothes, trips, broken household appliances, not something I am forced to do because I am sick.

(Medical collections, credit bureaus, banks are legalized loan sharks)

What a crock, I wish I could move to Denmark or even Mexico? Ain't that another crock? I want to move to Mexico, so I can get better medical coverage! We have so many of them coming here illegally, who can get medical coverage, welfare, education, and a driver’s license. Hey let’s all become illegal aliens then we might get some help.

But because of family members in the past 7 years having major health issues (bills), I am being crushed; especially now with economy the way it is. And you know what really burns me? When people make innocent comments such as, "it's only $20". I hear that comment on a lot of these shows like OPRAH, and I love Oprah. I think she's one of the positives in our world. But sometimes the most innocent comments can be hurtful to those who don't have. My co-pay is only $20. And I can't afford it, let alone buy a new cheap pair of pants for $20. (I remember when $20 pants were considered expensive).

I also really resent the people Oprah helped on her show who were in debt to the tune of 10’s of thousands of dollars, because they bought, bought, bought when they didn’t have have, have the ability to pay, pay, pay. They still can get credit but I can’t because I try to live within my means. I know I would be a better credit risk then they were, but our society seems to continuously reward those who don’t deserve it.

Well enough of my self lamenting. It’s time for me to take my husband to the hospital again for his heart condition.

All that keeps me going at times are my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Exodus 22:25
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest.

Proverbs 22:9
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Deuteronomy 15:7, 11
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Psalm 41:1-2
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.

Tracy

11/20/08 10:04pm

Hi, I have a 1 year old son who is allergic to eggs and peanut products, I don't know what i can feed him. All I have been feeding him is his baby food with cereal to thicken it up. I was wondering if anyone out there would know what else i can feed him until we go see a his dr. again.

Standing Up For the Allergic, Asthmatic and Uninsured

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