Have we been forgotten? Sometimes I feel like we have been pushed to the side. People with rheumatoid arthritis don’t just deal with pain, disability, deformities and depression and emotional turmoil. We also deal with many, many doctor appointments, hospital stays, and very expensive medication. So what about us?
How can we afford the cost?
If you are anything like me, you may be overwhelmed by the high cost of this disease. I see three doctors a month. I see my Rheumatologist, my Primary Physician, and my Pain Specialist. That’s at least three co-pays a month. Then I spend $400 to $600 on medications alone and that’s not including the $900 medication I can’t afford yet. Then, on top of all that. we spend $100 a week on health insurance. The price we pay is high and so is the cost of living with a chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis. So how can we afford the cost? What are our options?
Options in Fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis
With the presidential election right around the corner, we definitely do have options. Many people are proposing changes in our health care. These changes could benefit us. John McCain has proposed to make medications from other countries available for us. This in return would make many of our very expensive medications more affordable. Both Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama have proposed similar plans.
I don’t know about you, but after spending one year worrying about not receiving Orencia, an expensive medication that my rheumatologist says is a necessity, I could definitely go for more affordable medication. So the truth is that we do have options, but it’s up to us to make a difference.
Choosing a Leader
Who do you think could actually make our drugs more afforadable? Have you chosen a candidate to get behind? And how will you make your needs known to them?
See also:
Healthcare '08 -- Hilary Clinton on Drug Prices
Healthcare '08 -- John McCain On Drug Prices
Healthcare '08 -- Barack Obama on Drug Prices
John McCain Proposes Importing Prescription Drugs From Other Countries
