I'm screwed when it comes to medications even with Medicare. I'm on a medication that costs $1500/month (it used to be $3000/month but slowly lowered the dose). I hit the donut hole almost immediately & can't afford that amount $4000/year which they are now working on lowering but not enough to help. I am using patient assistance from the drug company to pay for it but that demands I can't have any other drug coverage.

If there ever is a time I do need to go back on a part D, the penalty per month for the rest of my life goes back over all the number of years I haven't had a part D....they penalize you for the rest of your life because their coverage was so crappy for the med I need that I can't afford to use it. I don't take any other meds & basically I would refuse to take anything on a permanent basis because I couldn't afford other meds without having some other coverage....just a good thing I'm fairly healthy I dont need anything but pain specialist has been complaining about my having higher blood pressure which has only happened since I had oral surgery & back to having the migraines more often since they lowered the med that really worked & after oral surgery the treatment only lasts just over 2 weeks now....before it had done well controlling the migraines with the other drop of meds but not so well now.

Talk about stuck between a rock & a hard place....the system stinks