Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

8,884 Members

129,554 Posts

1 Online

HannaHana 09/30/2009

I'm on SSDI...have been for 2 years now. I just got Medicare. So for 2 years I had to go without any insurance...now I get insurance and it doesn't cover anything. It only covers 50% of psychiatric visits and I have 0 (yeah, zero) Rx coverage.

The Rx coverage I "could" get is too expensive for me to even afford my medications. Now I've been having hallucinations for the past week and I can't get in with any pdoc (still haven't found one, and no one is calling me back).

WTF?? The system is so screwed up. I'm on disability and they're not giving me the help I need to get better, so I'll be eternally on disability b/c they're not helping me!

That, and I don't know if I should go to the ER or not...I'm waiting for a call back from my regular GP. Not sure if he can help me at all.

deleted_user 09/30/2009

I am prayig for you

deleted_user 09/30/2009

if you are having hallucinations i would definately go to the hospital.

deleted_user 09/30/2009

Hang in there.

deleted_user 09/30/2009

For me, Lincoln is large enough that my Psych PA hooked me up w/ the local Medication Society which gives me several of my psych meds at no cost... would this be an option for you Hannah? That is, to attempt to call around and get some of your meds locally?

Or is there a Public Health Clinic at all near you? Or a Mission? I went to the Mission for Homeless People when I first arrived in Lincoln... this was when I was in the middle of getting my thyroid levels stabilized.

HannaHana 09/30/2009

I've applied for probably every assistance program around. I get rejected b/c most of them are income based and between SSDI and child support I just make too much money.

I make too much money for help, and not enough money to get help. F'd up.

deleted_user 09/30/2009

Have you thought of getting on some really low cost prescriptions. Lithium is relatively inexpensive and there are others. I am sorry medicare is not paying for anything. I have medicaid and medicare or I would be sunk.

HannaHana 09/30/2009

I'm facing the fact that I'm going to need a whole new medication makeover. $4 list all the way. It's the only way I can afford my meds. Except for my $40 xanax, but I'm willing to sacrifice that money for that. I might go back on lithium...although I've tried it before and even though it worked (when it worked) it was really hard for me to keep my levels stable.

bosley 09/30/2009

I'm with you, I recently got my disability...haven't got the medicare yet. Like you we make to much money for help, but not enough to cover all the 'scripts, let alone residential treatment which several of my docs want.
Let us know what your GP says
and be careful
hugs
bosley

HannaHana 09/30/2009

My GP has me headed for the partial hospitalization program. At least it's not full hospitalization. I just have to learn the details of it, and see if I'm going to need some daycare help.

deleted_user 09/30/2009

have you applied for medicaid-you might be eligible because your disabled-good luck!

deleted_user 09/30/2009

You may not need full hospitalisation so i hope they find a way of getting the right meds.
Psychosis has no endpoint otherwise.No defined edge.The madness is customised.I still keep a lot of what I experienced to myself.Mad

One thing is true. You should accept the help no matter what.
All the best.

ZanyBeeper 09/30/2009

Hey Hanna baby. Sorry you are having to go through this. Have you actually called Medicare? Is your SSDI and child support the only income in the house? I think my premium for my meds is $35 a month. I do get extra help to pay for my meds. You might qualify for that also as it has it's own pay scale thingie for lack of thinking of a better term right now. What is your current premium for RX coverage? How much does that leave you paying for your prescriptions? You might be able to switch plans also and find one that pays better. I think it would definitely warrant a call to 1-800-medicare for follow-up if you haven't called already. Love you girl.

HannaHana 09/30/2009

I sure as hell don't want to be hospitalized. No thank you.

I have called medicare to find out the part d piece of it all. It's still too expensive. The premium is $54/ mo, but my meds will still cost from $30-$75 per Rx, then after 2 months I go into the gap and have to pay full price (about $1300/mo) for another 4 months...I obviously couldn't pull that off.

deleted_user 09/30/2009

Get on all generics, the HEB and walmart pharmacies both participate in the generic program. You don't need ins. you just need you RX, if its generic they give it to you for $5.

Join the Conversation