AARP Bulletin Online will showcase a reader's letter every month to bring to life the issues that are most important to AARP members.

October 2002

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On facing the loss of Rx drug coverage
I would like to tell you my health story. I am sorry it is so long, but I don't know how else to tell it. There are millions of Americans in like situations. For the record, I am 64. For about the last 25 years, I have not smoked. I exercise daily for about an hour, walk two times daily, drink moderately, and am fairly toned with pot belly and love handles. I take several vitamins daily and see a doctor regularly. I had heart bypass surgery last year and need to take cholesterol and blood-pressure medication. About average, wouldn't you say? To keep blood pressure and cholesterol within normal limits, I need to take 6-8 pills per day. With my doctors' assistance, I have tried to stop or cut down on the dosage and/or quantity, and we check the results through blood tests. It always comes down to the fact that, if I want to live, I need to take these medications. As of now, I have medical insurance that covers drugs with a co-pay. I pay approximately $60 per month. (My wife has a similar health scenario for about $65 per month.) At 65, my health insurance coverage will change, and I will not have drug coverage. We live in a remote area with no HMOs available. We retired and have changed our lifestyles to do so, but, with no drug coverage, the price of our medication will be about $2,800 per month. That much extra just isn't possible. What do we do? Stop taking our meds and die—or stop eating and die? Let me remind you that there are millions of people out there with this problem.

Ron Ames
Valley Springs, CA

September 2002

On the cost of medications, healthcare
I recently received the latest AARP Bulletin, which headlined the battle over drugs. The article listed a phone number, which I tried calling without luck. I decided therefore to write a letter with the hopes that the information provided can help someone else.

In October 1999, my husband underwent surgery. He had always been self-employed, so I carried the insurance for both of us through my job. The surgery didn't go as planned, and as a result he spent almost the next two-and-a-half years in the hospital. This is not a typo! The situation was and is something of a nightmare.

To continue our tale, my employer lost the insurance through [Health Insurer A], and we were changed to [Health Insurer B]. My premiums for medical and prescription coverage went from $90 a month to almost $180. Six months later, my premiums went up to $360 per month, and I was laid off. After another six months, my premiums went to $964, and, finally, as of February this year, my premiums reached $2,108.30 per month—and this is now without any prescription coverage.

Due to the extensive and complicated problems my husband had, he still needs several medications. He has two open wounds, one on his tailbone and one on his abdomen. His lower bowel is protruding through the abdominal wall, and he cannot eat solid foods. He receives TPN through a central line, and I also have to medicate him with IV antibiotics several times a day.

To say that the cost of prescription medicine is high is an understatement! For us, his weekly TPN, needles, site care for the central line, and miscellaneous items is over $7,000 per week.

The wound care [and] ostomy bags are $100 each. The prescriptions for pain medication run $1,110 per month. His other medicines for depression, pain, energy, vitamins and other salves run another $1,000 per month.

My husband's disability is $1,145. This is the only source of income we have right now.

Since I lost my job, I have been attending a local college, which Job Service is paying. I need a career that will be in high demand, and I can possibly work from home, as I am the full-time caregiver for my husband.

My husband went from a self-employed, independent, active, energetic, and forceful individual to someone who is dependent on others for everything. He is in a wheelchair; he cannot drive, walk without assistance, clothe himself, wash himself or do any of the myriad tasks we take for granted every day.

To say that we have problems affording prescriptions is an understatement. We cannot afford the health insurance premiums either! The doctors' offices have helped us find some drug assistance, but it isn't enough. We need more help.

The states have turned us down for assistance because we are above the poverty level. Our income exceeds $850 a month. We have sold everything we can, and our house has been on the market for over a year. We have fallen behind in our other obligations, and the doctors and hospitals must forgo any payments, but we still need treatments.

My husband is anticipated to have another surgery in September, and I don't know if I will be able to continue his insurance for that long. I don't know what to do anymore.

If you have any suggestions or ideas, I would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Dian Hoyt
Cambridge, IL