Hi Wild Coyote. I almost wish your thread with your suggestions (and any that follow) would be made into a sticky in the "Bipolar Treatments" sub-forum, but perhaps with a more direct subject title. When first reading your title, I was a little confused by what the thread would contain.

I think it is an atrocity that people can't afford the medications they need. I realize that many medications are cheaper than others, but I am so sad that one must choose medications by cost over efficacy, at times. But without any insurance, I know that even the cheapest medications can be costly. And if those medications cause side effects, it can sometimes be a no-go.

Thank you for including those links. I guess at this time, I am not in need of special help affording my medications. I have the typical "big name" private insurance, and just so happen to take mostly all generic medications, many of which are even cheap generics. I do take Latuda, which is still only brand name.

Brand Name Drug Discounts: I urge anyone who is on a brand name medication to always visit the medication websites for company coupons. They can save lots of money on monthly co-pays. With my private medical insurance, with the Latuda coupon I save $60 per month in co-pays paying only $15 co-pay vs. $75. The problem with these coupons for others is that they often only apply to people with these big name private insurance companies (they're surely in cahoots in some way). I forget all of the small print, but I think those with Medicare may not be eligible to use some of these coupon cards. That sucks!!!!! I think those with no insurance can use the card, but there is a limit to the savings per month. For example, if the max per month savings is $400, that sounds all well and good, but if the sucker costs $1,000 per month, it's not so marvelous.

Medications in European countries, and many others, are significantly cheaper than in the US. It's all about the difference in medical coverage (i.e. universal vs. private) and basically...politics! Improvements can be made in the future, but it depends on the wishes of the voters. If you're in the US, I don't care what your political party is. If you want significant changes, enough people must voice that and hopefully it WILL change for the better, eventually. Vote and be active in communicating to your representatives. Ideally, representatives are supposed to represent the wishes of the majority of their constituents. Ideally.

My husband is nearing retirement age. He wants to retire at a reasonable age. Once he does, he'll be eligible for Medicare. I have Medicare as a secondary insurance, being on disability, but if I wasn't on disability and didn't have a job offering medical insurance, I'd have to do what many do. Either go without or pay into something on my own that is still too expensive for most. To me, this issue is NUMBER 1 in my life. Number 1.