[Eloise42]

I'm an independent contracter so I pay for my own insurance. They just bumped it up AGAIN to $500 a month and that's not including about a hundred bucks for med co-pays and the fact that I pay for every Dr. visit because my deductible is so high I haven't reached it for the last three years.

The thing is I don't think I'm eligible for SS benefits because I've been a little lax about taxes. I was hoping this healthcare bill would help but I'm realizing I need help sooner.

I'm 28 and spend around 7k a year on medical costs! I've applied to other insurance companies but they never accept me because of the BPD diagnosis.

Someone please tell me there is something I can do about this. I just can't afford it anymore.

[Yoda]

I ask for samples. Some drug companies will sponsor you and give you free or reduced cost meds, ask your Pdoc/pharmacist if yours are covered. Not sure what % of your income is medical expenses but you may be able to declare them with the IRS on federal taxes, assuming you live in the US. There may be other help in your area for meds.

[RRU96]

Depending on your monthly income, you may also qualify for different Patient Assistance programs. Find the maker of you medications... Name brand, not generic. Goto the company that manifactures the medicine, and on their site do a search for "Patient Assistance" . Sometimes they dont even ask about money so it all depends. You might also try calling the drug company directly and telling them your situation. I have no insurance, no income, and no medicaid/benefits. I am having to be seen at local "community clinics" that have $25 visits/ etc. Your community may have such type of clinics to look into. If you are purchasing your pills at full cost, do not forget to call pharmacies in your area for a per pill cost. The way pharmacies work, is they will price one med cheap... Script A... so that they can charge more for other meds they use less/more often. Each pharmacy has their own costs and you can save a substantial amount just by picking different mads up at different pharmacies. Another option (though not many choices in mental health) is to make sure that for some more common problems, your doc prescribes medications that are on walmarts $4 program.

[Perna]

The only thing that helped me when I was in your position was getting a full-time job with a company that had insurance. That brought my $500+/month insurance bill (in the late 1990's) that didn't cover much down to only half that and the best money could buy.

Does your State have any State plans that might be less expensive? I'm in Maryland and it has a plan for those who can't get insurance/good insurance anywhere else. A friend found it was much cheaper than the COPRA he was paying and switched.

[IndigoRose]

You've been given a lot of great advice here. You can definitely write off your insurance and prescription costs because it's a very large chunk. It has to be a certain percentage of what you make, so I'd look into that. Sadly, I agree with the suggestion of trying to find a job with insurance, even if it's just part-time, some still offer it. I know union jobs do.

If insurance companies are refusing to cover you because of BPD, you should appeal their decisions.

[DancingAlone]

Hi Eloise,
I don't know if this will help or not, but I found that getting into the state psychiatric system was a financial Godsend (1995). After years of working and paying high prices for the fancy pdocs and getting nowhere, I went to the state facility and was finallly dx'd with BPD. I'm still there. The meds and therapies, groups, etc. are based on your income. Since I was broke, I used to get free BPD meds. The pdoc was about $6 every 6 months, the therapist cheap too for talk therapy.

Note: I've since gotten on disability so Medicare has taken over (and the gov't only takes out around $95/mo. from your disabillity check for doctors--think I got that right, and ANY medical bill takes a huge writeoff, leaving you little to pay), but the state psychiatric system takes Medicare too. I only pay $8 per pdoc visit, $10 for a group once a month, and use a Medicare Part D plan for meds now (they are only $4 for 3 months generic by mail).

People bad-mouth the state system, but they have always been good to me, they listen, and they care. They also have in-patient care (not topnotch but do-able) if you are in a crisis.

[Eloise42]

Thank you guys. I really need to figure out what my options are and be more pro-active about it because it's too much right now. My pity-party got hijacked when I found out that one of my friends just lost coverage for treating her lyme disease. Her situation is way worse than mine. I told her to look into the ideas that you guys had so again, thank you.

[DancingAlone]

Originally Posted by Eloise42

...I found out that one of my friends just lost coverage for treating her lyme disease.

It may not be in effect yet, but I thought the new health plan is supposed to stop insurance companies for cancelling people 'cause they get sick. Just a thought. And I wish you good luck with getting your own coverage at a cheaper rate.