Qualifying income for assistance makes no sense.

I'm currently unemployed and have no medical insurance. Thank God we have public health care, so my basic health care needs are covered. Except that public health care doesn't cover meds.

There's a publicly funded program that you can apply to, if you have high prescription costs relative to your income, so today I looked into that. The problem is there's a quarterly deductable that you have to pay before trillium kicks in, and that's based on your prior year's income. Well last year I had a farily decent job, so my deductible is going to be pretty high. The problem of course, right now I have no income coming in, I'm waiting to be approved for Employment Insurance, and even once I get that, it's only 1.600 / month pre-tax. which is no where near what I was making last year. I still think it's worth applying to Trillium, since I will be slightly ahead, even with the higher deductable, it just makes no sense that they don't base it on current income.

Oh and go figure, my most expensive drug isn't even covered so I'm going to have to go off it. It won't massively negatively impact my health to do so, but it still pisses me off.
--splitimage

wow. :\
maybe your med they dont cover, is one of those if the doctor writes a letter to the company that they will cover it?

also it sounds like this aid is more for long term (just because they require a last years income thing). Is there any state or country or city funded programs there, like prescription assistance or anything that would be more in the immediate form?
i know of some here, but i dont know if Canada has anything like that or not.

Thats a stresful and sucky situation! I guess some help is better than no help.. :\
but have you tried to talk to the company about your situation and see if they would allow the current income for the past month or few months? (because they just want to see whats really going on in the income area i think)
i've also heard sometimes churches help with prescription costs as well.

I hope things get better for you soon!

.........

Can you ask your pdoc about free samples for any of your meds, including that expensive one? The drug companies sometimes give doctors lots of free samples. I've been on free samples of one drug for over a year, with only a couple short times when I had to buy it.

splitimage, the byzantine had a great resourceful thread for ppl in your situation. i'd advance search his threads and you will find it there. i hope the post will help you get the help you need. going to the manufacturer for your one drug may yield good results. for many they will give the drug for free if they qualify on income. hope this helps.

Is there anywhere you can go in person to the insurance people and plead your case; our friend did that when he was in your exact situation; first he sent "this" year's tax form (2010), misunderstanding that "last" year was not 2010 for taxes, the ones done and received back would be for 2009 since 2010 aren't due until April 2011 and they kept arguing with him (but he is always stubborn and sometimes thickheaded :-) but he kept showing up at the insurance offices and demanding to see people and seeing people and talking to local government representatives in charge of running the state insurance program, etc. and finally got his way.

My pdoc gave me samples when my company screwed up and accidently cancelled my insurance it took 7 months to get it back. She didn't have all of them so a lot of pharmacies have their own discount "insurance" card such as walgreens has the W card and it does save you a fair share. To be honest I went rogue on a couple and waited till I either really needed it and footed the bill or till my. Insurance kicked back in till I could afford it. However I don't really recommend that.