Poverty and Bipolar

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2007
Poverty and Bipolar
7
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 2:26am

I am bipolar 1, I take lexapro and Lamictal, I currently have no insurance however and I am terrified because I can't afford my meds. I have about 5 days left..eeek! I am planning to ask my doc for samples(a serious longshot on the Lamictal but possible for the Lexapro) and I may qualify for the program through the pharmacuical companies for 3 months of meds for the needy. It will be great if I qualify but I will have run out of meds long before I know. I have been off meds before and it was terrible and I know that not tapering off is even worse. I don't know what to do.

Merlin

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2006
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 9:15am

If you don't work you would probably qualify for medical assistance at your local welfare/socail services office. They also offer a pharmacy assistance program for those who do work and fall in the income bracket. Check it out. I know it isn't the most dignified way to go but it is there if you need the help.


Hope that helps. Good luck !


Tina




     ~ Tina ~

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2002
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 10:26am

I feel for you. I could not imagine life w/o my meds, and I couldn't afford them without my Medicare part D.

Which brings me to this: could you get into your state's Medicaid program? Could you at least try? I know some states, like Arizona where I used to live, have a program for the mentally ill that people of any income could qualify for (they did it because so many insurance programs have crappy services for mental disabilities). More states should do that!

If you qualify for SSDI, you should also get Medicare. That means you would qualify for Medicare part D, which makes meds so much more affordable.

Best of luck to you. Hang in there!

Express!
Beth "Petrouchka"

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 2:54pm

Hi :)


You might want to see about contacting your doctor as soon as possible about the Lamictal.

Snowman Siggy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2007
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 5:51pm
I had medicaid until quite recently but my husband just got a job that knocks me out of the program but doesn't provide insurance. Now I have no coverage at all and my meds are about $1K a month.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2007
Thu, 02-01-2007 - 5:53pm
Oh no! Not that again, that settles it, I will buy my meds instead of paying rent.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2007
Sun, 02-04-2007 - 10:48pm
I'm a pharmacy tech and I've found that there are a lot of places you can get help with meds, you just have to find them. In my area the local free clinics have a program that will give you 30 days free and then they will sign you up with a gov't program that will pay for most and you only pay $5-$15 per month. Also there is a program thru a church that is privately funded. These are both income based but they are there to help the people who make too much to receive medicaid but not enough to afford it own their own.

I know that even though there are strict income guidelines with medicaid sometimes you can get extra benefits if you really need it and can show proof. See what you can find out, calling a local crisis center or information referral would probabaly be the best, otherwise you can talk to your caseworker becasue there are also gov't programs that will provide you with healthcare if you pay a portion of the costs every month. The problem is these programs are very well hidden so only people who really need it end up finding them.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2007
Mon, 02-05-2007 - 2:34am

Thank you , that is good to know.

merlin