My sister has been battling MS for several years now, each year gets a little worse, but she is a fighter, where we need help is with her bills; especially medications. They cost so much and her current insurance has even stopped paying for her Cimbalta and Somas. I am a social worker and really am at a loss on how to help her. I have tried the MS Society but it seems they know less then I do Why is it that Cancer and Mens Prostate and How to enhance male performance gets all the assist with financial when my sister and many thousands out there having to decide whether to eat or pay for their medications...If I sound upset I am! I dont' know where to find the help that we need. She is disabled can't work, gets SSI, only source of income ( which doesn't really provide her much of an income for one month to pay all her bills and still try to eat healthy) I have tried Public Aid assistance and they just keep saying she is too high of an income! IMAGINE TOO HIGH OF AN INCOME WHEN SHE CAN'T EVEN PAY FOR MEDICATIONS OUT OF HER SSI CHECK. My family and I try to supplement as we can but we don't have a large nest egg either. Isn't there something out there that can either pay for her medications or assist in lowering the cost or GET THESE DARN INSURANCE COMPANIES TO START PAYING FOR MEDICATIONS THAT ACTUALLY NEED TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, VS. THE VIAGRA THAT THEY WILL COVER AND ALL THE BIRTH CONTROL MEDICATIONS AND PLASTIC SURGERY..IT JUST SEEMS THAT KNOW ONE REALLY IS HELPING THESE PEOPLE AFFLICTED WITH MS! I am sorry I am shouting but if you can imagine how helpless, frustrated, alone and devistated as well as tired of battling with these companies and seeing my sister suffer can be. Please, tell us where to turn for her sake. Thank you, Victoria
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Q: Multiple Sclerosis financial medication assit
Victoria,
I understand your struggle and frustration here. If you feel comfortable doing so, could you please list the specific medications which your sister needs and which state she lives in. There is no single answer for where to find assistance.
Also, in many situations where public assistance is requested, there is a medical spenddown accommodation. Which roughly means that eligible medical costs are taken out of the income equation before determining qualifications for different programs.
Since you mention SSI, is your sister on Medicaid? Or would she qualify as disabled according to Social Security, ie get on SSDI and eventually Medicare?
But in the meantime, if you will at least list the meds, I will do a search for you.
Victoria, I feel your frustration. Now does your sister get disability yet, I am not quite understanding. If she does not then she needs to do the medicaid thing, this should help out with her meds and they should be able to take the info over the phone or go to her house. With Medicaid the cost of her meds should be greatly reduced, get her on disability asap, if need be, get a lawyer, you need to do this asap. MS aint gonna get no better, sorry to say, I am walking in her shoes.
I work for DSS. I feel her pain literly!
I still have insurance, without it my Beta cost $2500.00 per month, and they are not trying to take no less! It is about the dollar! Have your sister or you call your local DSS they have to help, be nice but stern! Keep us posted! Sherry/smomdukes
Hi Victoria ~ You might check on line at the website of the meds. I know on several of them they have help available to help with the cost. They want us to get the meds. I know that Bayer also has an assistance program. Search Montel Williams and go to the site that is listed for MS and he has an area that has telephone numbers of the different meds' assistance programs. You may need to switch the type you are on to be able to get it. But first, go to the website of the one you are on and it should have an assistance program. How about the low-cost local insurance. Can you get on that and have your med covered? Check with your local MS Chapter or your neuro's nurse to see if they know where you can go.
Has she appealed her insurance company's decision to stop paying for her meds? I don't know the story, but that doesn't sound legal. Has she called the insurance commissioner? You can always call the state insurance commissioner and you will get immediate action from that office. That may be a place to start. Best of luck to you and your sister. Willow
i truely understand because i dont have insurance bc of my illness and cant get ssi or medicaid bc i work. so there really is not much help for us out there. but some treatment companies offer ass. programs. im on avonex and it is $2400 a month for 4 shots but i qualify to get it free for up to 2 yrs which was a blessing. but after that i dont know what im going to do either. but reasearch some of there companies and see which ones offer assistance.
Victoria,
Your sister needs to contact National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc (NORD).
I have MS and they helped me in my time of need. Don't let the name scare you away. Call and talk to them about the situation. It was a ton of paper work but added years to my life I am sure. NORD Ph#1-800-634-7207.
I wish you and your sister the best of luck.
Julie
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