Standing Up For the Allergic, Asthmatic and Uninsured

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.