Question:
Have any of you run into problems getting insurance due to asthma? I
have adult onset asthma. I am so broke that I am just trying to pay
my rent. My asthma has been getting progressively worse and the only
medication I have is albuterol which I take about every 1-2 hours. I
know this is too much, but it is the only way I can breathe. On top
of this, my albuterol prescription is expired on 4-14. I'm so scared
of how I will breathe after that. I know that with the right meds I
can get this under control, but I can't afford it with no insurance.
Has anyone else run into this and what did you do about it?
Answer:
I use to be Director of Social Work in a hospital and use to help
patients do this often. Please follow these directions. Most drug
companies give free medication if you meet their financial criteria
which is usually up to lower side of middle income for most people.
1. Call your library and ask for the reference research person for
assistance. I am assuming you cannot get to the library yourself.
2. Tell her the name of each medication and then ask her to look up
each medication in the PDR (Physicians Desk Reference). You need her to
tell you the name of the drug manufacturing company and their 1-800
telephone number.
3. Call the drug companies and ask to speak to someone regarding their
indigent program or free drug program. Get their fax #.
4. Ask if you meet their criteria and get the application faxed to you
some place where you can easily pick it up to save time. If you live in
a small town. your local first aid or police depart. may let you use
their fax. The application is usually a very easy one page application.
5. Call your doctor's office or better yet talk to him in person,
explain your situation and tell him you need a new prescription for each
drug so you can send it to the drug company. They will usually send out
90 days at a time, The drug companies send the drugs directly to the
doctor's office. They will not dispence medication directly to patients
since they are not allowed to by law. Many doctors do not like to do
this because of`storage space so explain you will make arrangements to
pick up the drugs as soon as they come in. If you cannot make
arrangements for fast pick up, of course do not say you can.
