Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
First let me set the mood ; I am 49 years old and have had insurance all my life until 6 years ago.For years I have paid into some of the best cancer policies and never used it. I have paid into medical ins. and went years with never using it. When my home burnt 6 years ago and 6 months later I lost my job I lost my health ins... When I went back to work ins. was not offered to me and my income was less than half of my previous job therefore I could not afford to pay for it. Timing for diseases is impeccable. With all my stress out came Fibromyalgia and RA. I am no longer able to do steady work (I worked in landscaping and loved it) and for 2 years I have been going to a Free Clinic for everything except for RA Research treating my RA.
Last Thursday I get a call from the clinic telling me they can no longer treat me because I live in a different county. I have lived in a county called Greenville since I was 3. I have always and still do pay Greenville taxes. 14 years ago I moved to the country and am borderline with a county called Anderson. I am now being told, years ago they split my town due to fire dept., schools, etc. I pay taxes to Greenville for these services but my base residence is in Anderson. My postal service is still serviced by Anderson therefore they say I am Anderson.
Sorry so long but please hang with me alittle longer!!
Last Thursday I called and left a message with Anderson Free Clinic. I have yet to hear back from them. I looked them up online and it could easily take months to get an appt. and if I do they can no longer afford to cover new patients meds.. Sooo I pay taxes in a county that can afford to help me but I don't live there.
I went on the Health Well Foundation to see about assistance and ARE YOU READY they don't help you if you don't have insurance! "That is why I need the help, HELLO!!"
I was going to a nice Christian operated clinic and was treated like a human with real diseases. The thought of going to another excuse me but QUACK that makes you feel like it is all in your head and you don't know what your talking about and sends you crying all the way home.
Oh and did I mention I had called in all of my refills prior to them cancelling so I am about to be out of Cymbalta, Tramadol, Zofran, Naproxen, Voltaren, and D3. If I could afford ins. I could get a grant for the meds.. lol I have to laugh done cried enough. Praying for approval on disability then I can take out insurance and see a Rhuemy!
Ok, I am so sorry, I have fought saying all of this since Thursday but I got weak. Open for all feedback. Thank you all for listening. Love and hugs sent to all of you, Terri
Last Thursday I get a call from the clinic telling me they can no longer treat me because I live in a different county. I have lived in a county called Greenville since I was 3. I have always and still do pay Greenville taxes. 14 years ago I moved to the country and am borderline with a county called Anderson. I am now being told, years ago they split my town due to fire dept., schools, etc. I pay taxes to Greenville for these services but my base residence is in Anderson. My postal service is still serviced by Anderson therefore they say I am Anderson.
Sorry so long but please hang with me alittle longer!!
Last Thursday I called and left a message with Anderson Free Clinic. I have yet to hear back from them. I looked them up online and it could easily take months to get an appt. and if I do they can no longer afford to cover new patients meds.. Sooo I pay taxes in a county that can afford to help me but I don't live there.
I went on the Health Well Foundation to see about assistance and ARE YOU READY they don't help you if you don't have insurance! "That is why I need the help, HELLO!!"
I was going to a nice Christian operated clinic and was treated like a human with real diseases. The thought of going to another excuse me but QUACK that makes you feel like it is all in your head and you don't know what your talking about and sends you crying all the way home.
Oh and did I mention I had called in all of my refills prior to them cancelling so I am about to be out of Cymbalta, Tramadol, Zofran, Naproxen, Voltaren, and D3. If I could afford ins. I could get a grant for the meds.. lol I have to laugh done cried enough. Praying for approval on disability then I can take out insurance and see a Rhuemy!
Ok, I am so sorry, I have fought saying all of this since Thursday but I got weak. Open for all feedback. Thank you all for listening. Love and hugs sent to all of you, Terri
We have cash clinics here (TX) - they are few and far between but a visit is $40. They don't give sample drugs though, so that wouldn't help you on the prescription side.
My parents have a similar living situation - live in two counties technically...and pay taxes to both, but school taxes to just one. They are entitled to both county's benefits though.
So sorry you have to deal with all this - Hope the disability goes through!
Bcatz, I called the clinic and left a message requesting at least one refill to allow me time to figure out what to do without dealing with extra added pain and stress. I also requested ideas from them on how to handle this. I will let you know what they say. I am glad your parents benefit from both counties.I always thought TX would be a cool place to live: )
Thanx again, love and hugs, Terri
Sorry living on these tiny state health funded medical attention islands makes me glad to be unimportant and insignificant in the global scheme of things. Feel mad for you. How unfair!
1)call legal aid and see if they can deny you service since you are paying taxes..Your county offices should be able to direct you to legal aid and they are usually free
2)Ask the greenvile county social and/orhealth department why you cannot receive services you pay for. Call the auditors office and ask them, too. Make an appointment to be on the agenda at a county commissiones meeting to bring this situation to light. Call the lawyer for the county and ask him for a letter of explaination as to why you have to pay taxes, but them are denied the right to services in his county
3)Contact the DSHS department in your state, or look up there webpage and apply for everything you might qualify for..if your income is very low and your assets low (not including a dwelling) you may qualify for a tanf grant. Stress to them that you need these medication immediately! Be polite, but firm.
4)Go to your local hospital and ask them what to do, they may know of other resouces, or have a person who helps patients apply for benefits, ask them also what to do if you run out of needed meds
4)Call your church, or a local church and ask if they help people who have to have their meds, and ask them of any other resources they may know of. Sometime churches will form a group that stays low on the radar, but will help those they can.
5)Go, in person, to the new clinic and ask to speak to a nurse. Even if you have to wait a while, the nurse can get you in sooner if she believes you need it. Bring list of med with you and some type of paperwork showing you are on a clinical trial.
6)Call your clinical trial people and explain the situation to them. It may affect their trial if you cannot get a script for the meds you are on, and they may be able to get your presriptions from a doctor they have on staff, just until you can find a new one.
7)Call you local newspaper and tell them the story. Often smallish newspapes will print these stories...and that may help you get services faster. If you want, you may be able to set up an account at a bank where people can donate, and ask the newpaper to print this with the story.
8)That's all I can think of now
Hope something helps!
Buracrats... what they don't know won't hurt them.