Why is having HIV so expensive? Really think about it. People diagnosed with HIV have to go through an awful phase of accepting that they have this virus attached to them for the rest of their lives and will now be judged and treated like a leper by most people. But that’s not enough, let’s make one month supply of medicine over $2,000. Thankfully there are state programs for assistance but of course there is an income cap. Unfortunately it’s not very high, which I am experiencing right now. I have just enough to pay my paper bills, buy food, put gas in my car, and save maybe 5% of my net income. I’m so afraid of going over the income cap that I got a job that pays less and limit my hours there so I don’t lose the government assistance.
I found out the other day that if I lost that assistance, I’d basically be screwed. I would then be responsible for paying the premium for my marketplace insurance, the deductible ($600) and then 20% of the meds until I reach the out of pocket maximum (which I believe is $1,700). This means that the first month of the year I would pay $1,040 for 30 pills then $440 for the following 3 months. WHAT!? It’s not like the income cap is $60k. Can you imagine if it were someone who had a family to support?? This system is better now that I can get insurance through Obamacare, but having to shell out $3,500 in the first 4 months of the year isn’t exactly what I thought I’d have to handle.
What exactly are the drug companies charging $2,200 a month for this medicine for? Am I secretly ingesting gold!? I don’t want to hear about cost or labor, we all know the pharmaceutical companies are not hurting in the least. What makes these pills almost $74 each? Can you imagine if someone had insurance through their work, if they lost their job or simply got a new one and switched over to another insurance. They’d have to wait 3 months until you can be eligible right? That’s $6,600. Sounds fair.
What happens if they can’t pay that? I know I couldn’t. If it were me I’d be forced to forego medicine and allow my virus to grow and no longer be undetectable and most likely become resistant to that medication. Great now I get to try a new drug and see what kinds of side effects I’ll have. If a person switched jobs 6 times they’d end up resistant to all of the meds and die of AIDS. There has GOT to be a better way.
Keep in mind this is only meds. Nevermind the labs being done every 3-6 months and doctor visits just as often, most likely more often with multiple specialties.
After hearing how much I would be responsible for I became so frustrated with the way things are that I decided I should write this. It’s just a venting and I feel better 🙂
Oh! I almost forgot! While on facebook I complained about it as well, haha, and someone showed me this organization called Patient Access Network. If you have insurance and a chronic illness, check it out. They can help with a few thousand bucks and there are tons of eligible conditions. Even things like asthma! I hope that’s helpful at least!
Have a great week everyone!
HIVegan 