Am I the only one w/o Insurance
 

It seems everyone tries a lot of different testing, meds, supplements etc...so I am assuming there is insurance involved.

Seriously, I have never even been tested for neuropathy, have just done a lot of research to find out what was causing the incredible pain and it was the first thing that popped up in relation to my diabetes...that and other family members who have it....(which is where i get my neurontin supply by the way). People who don't have insurance REALLY fall in the cracks. On the one hand I make too much to get any help (yet i can barely pay my bills) and on the other hand I can not afford ANY medical care.

Anyone else in this predicament. Am not whining, have learned to accept it...but would also LOVE to know if there are any solutions. I would try so much more to manage my pain if I could afford to.

I don't take any drugs, but if I did I would get them from the LEF pharmacy. The non-profit Life Extension Foundation (which has been providing the best in information for decades) has started a pharmacy with the express purpose of cutting the exorbitant cost of pharmaceuticals.

http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/Ms...%20pharmacy%20

rose

Belinda, you can also go on the website of the pharmaceutical company that makes your medication and look for their Patient Assistance Program. sometiimes you can get free drugs that way. Also, in a place as large as Fort Worth, their might be some charity clinics. Being without insurance is terrible. There is definitely a gap in our healthcare system...

i live in the same area as belinda.

if you have income, but no insurance..you are sol. same boat as me. it sucks. :( i haven't had insurance for over 3 years.

i'll do some checking belinda..i have for myself. i have very good dr, but pay for the visits, so i don't go very often. rx's are way too expensive.

I am not far from either you Belinda, or Curious. Doesn't Tarrant County have a county hospital or health program that offers sliding scale charges based on financial need for people in this situation?

My friend here, in a similar situation, has gotten some very expensive meds from the pharmaceutical manufacturer after applying for help through their website, or her doctor, I cannot remember which. Other meds she got were received from her doctor who provided her with a series of samples of various drugs.

I don't know if this will work or not, but recently I approached my surgeon to see if he had any ideas on how to help my friend's husband, who has a TERRIBLE hernia and also no insurance. He told me he would see him at no charge, but he also told me that where the husband would really get hurt would be with hospital surgery charges. I have no idea how or if he would adjust his fees for surgery... Meanwhile, my friend and her husband are considering other options too, like surgery in Monterry, Mexico, which is said to be good and considerably less expensive.

Since you don't have a hospital to deal with, I was wondering if there are any sympathetic docs left around the area. I have never known anyone to approach a doctor in this manner, but if I were going to try this, I would attempt to find a General Practitioneer, someone who had been practicing for some time and not currently paying back medical school loans, and just write a nice, brief note and ask if there is any way that he/she could help with your care and inform them of your ability to pay. The answer might be no, but then I would never have thought the surgeon might be open to helping either...


Cathie

For those who live in the DFW area of Texas...let me tell you...for Tarrant County John Peter Smith (JPS) is the "County" hospital. I again checked with them just yesterday for their "connection program" and was again told I make way too much money for assistance of any type in this area. One day, when I am on disability, then I will qualify for Medicare/Medicaid and can perhaps then (if I am still alive) :) get some decent healthcare. Until then I will just keep on keeping on and doing the best I can!

Ridiculous that the only way you can get help in this situation is to just max out every credit card you have!!!

Sorry to hear this.
Cathie

Belinda:

Do they have clinics where you live? Here in Brooklyn, NY, and in other places in New York City, there are clinics where you sign up, and you pay a certain amount to be seen, they give you a prescription, you go to the clinic pharmacy and you pay something like $5.00 or at the most $10.00 for any prescription.

Do they not have anything like this in your area??

Melody

part of the problem here is the cost of insurance if you aren't on a group plan.

we have very few claims on our insurance. just dr visits and 1 er trip for hubby, when he got his finger caught in a treadmill motor. our regualr dr took care of him at no cost after the er visit.

our rates more than doubled in less 3 years. bcbs...went over $900 a month. i had not one visit about my back. very few rx's. this was just hubby, lil'monkey and i. we don't smoke..drink...the rates were just crazy. we couldn't afford them.

but i'm not considered disabled. we have income which doesn't classify us for help.

catch 22.

i am lucky to have a wonderful dr who is a family friend. in an emergancy..i wouldn't hesitate to call him.

but i'm not giving up trying to find something. :)