So, if you are waiting for help with the nation's healthcare problem, this is the person who has avowed to help us. I found out two weeks ago that Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe was being forced to make drastic cuts in the state's budget. Something to the tune of 100 million dollars. The major departments that would be experiencing a cut were the Department of Health and the Department of Corrections.
"Just like any family or business, state government must live within its means," Beebe said. "Despite our conservative budgeting, it appears that our recovery from the recession has been slower than anticipated. There are still positive signs in the revenue numbers, and we maintain hope that the recovery will accelerate."
Governor Beebe in the same day pleaded with state and local government officials to find more construnctive ways to deal with criminals than jailing them, particularly nonviolent offender. I have to say that I agree with the governor on this point, but the cuts from the Arkansas Department of Health will have far reaching effects. Keep reading to find out my own personal consequences of the state's economic crisis.
I've been coinfected with HIV and Hepatitis C for almost four years now. I will never forget the day that I got this news. Fortunately I did have some health insurance coverage with Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shileld. The insurance had been in effect for about six months at the time so I was free from the risk of my insurer labeling my new diagnosis as a preexisting condition. I remember thinking "Wow, this is definitely going to be a life changer!" That was an understatement.
After a healthy first year of being infected and not requiring medication, my doctor chose to put me on medication. I am taking the following medications: Atripla ($1500/month), Bactrium ($15/month), Lexapro($30/month). Atripla is the HIV drug that I need to keep my immune system strong, Bactrium is the antibiotic that will hopefully keep me from catching the pneumonia that the Atripla may cause, and the Lexapro is to help me deal with depression. As if I might deal with depression.
I went to the pharmacy to pick up the first prescription. With the fortunate 50% copay that my insurance policy afforded me, the pharmacist greeted me with a grand total of almost $800 out of pocket expense. Really?
I called my doctor to inform him that I would not be picking up that prescription. As a college student, I could not possibly afford this type of monthly pharmacy bill. The good doc put me in touch with a godsend of a nonprofit called the Arkansas Aids Foundation. For the last two years the folks there have been able to pick up my monthly copay for the last two years thanks to private donations and some money that they are given by the Arkansas Department of Health. Sound familiar? Yeah, they are the ones I listed above that would be taking a budget cut. Keep reading.
Well, I remember thinking when I heard the news that this wouldn't possibly affect the help that I get with my drugs. Psyche! I was called in this week for a sit down with my caseworker. He told me that where he had been able to cover my $800 per month copay, he would now only be able to cover $50 per month of that copay due to budget cuts that the Arkansas Department of Health had sustained. He handed me a card for a patient assistance program from the drug company that promised to take $200 more off my montly bill. This still left me with a monthly balance of $500+ at the pharmacy.
Needless to say when the prescription that I currently have runs out, I will not be picking up a new prescription. I have been unemployed since last April until this past week. I finally got a work study job on my college campus that will pay me about $400/month.
So, right now I'm relying on the Democratic party, Barack Obama, and Nancy Pelosi to come up with a healthcare system soon enough to keep me alive. If they can't, well you fill in the blanks. Oh well, that's my first rant for my new blog. Please feel free to chime in with some more topics for future blogs. And in the meantime drop a note to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500-0004 with some lobbying. There has to be someone there who cares, right?
Good night everyone, and don't forget to fall back at 2 am.
