The cost of drugs....uh, legal drugs that is! - Depression Message Board

MissieMouse · 09-15-2002, 06:16 PM

I'm writing this message because I feel it's important and that I may bring something to the table that others may need to know.

Back in March, I was laid off from my job....and my health insurance went with it, so I was...well, between a rock and a hard place. What was I supposed to do in regrads to medication?? Here I was, unemployed, un-insurable, and without much money. I turned to the County Mental Health Department. They took me in on an "ability to pay" basis, and my cost, for a whole year, while just being on unemployment insurance, would cost 86$, which included monthly, medication management/maintainence meetings with my therapist as well as monthly get-togethers with my psychiatrist, plus all the medication I would need. I am currently on 300mg of Wellbutrin SR, and 250mg of Zoloft. (Since then, through HIPPA, I was able to get health insurance for 300$ a month, but, I will probably go back to the mental health department as soon as I recover from this tonsillectomy.

If you haven't done so already, and you don't have health insurance and you rely on medication to hold down a job (as was in my case)...to be safe, sane and semi-normal...(as was also in my case)...then I do urge you to contact your county mental health facility to see what they can do for you. I have had better treatement through them, than I do now, paying 300$ a month for seeing a psychiatrist who gives me medication that I have to pay 50$ a month (through my prescription co-pay)....I can't wait to go back to the mental health department.

I'm here to assist in any way I can.

Sincerely,
MissieMouse

[ ~~ Missie Mouse, it is not permissable to request or post personal contact details. Thanks, Minerva ~~ ]

[This message has been edited by minerva (edited 09-16-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MissieMouse (edited 09-16-2002).]

bev52 · 09-16-2002, 10:55 AM

Yes, it is very sad.

How I wish that we had the same laws here, (re ins), as you have in England and Australia, (not sure where else).

Many people here suffer just because they cannot receive help, and due to the greed of money.

For many years people were able to go to the emergency room and could not be turned away. Oh, yes you were dunned until the day you died, especially if it was a large bill, (or small - for that matter), but you could pay it out, and that gave some people a little relief.

I understand even that has changed now, and many - if not all, are turning people away if they have no ins - I never would have thought it.

Thank you for the info.

Bev