POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Insurance, Benefits Programs & HIV => Topic started by: Klehman89 on March 07, 2013, 11:02:15 am
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Soooooooo....I've been going to the doctor for several months and it was "suggested" that I start medicine but since I don't have insurance and I can't afford medication I filled out a medicine assistance application but supposedly I make to much money smh I'm trying to be proactive with all of this but how can get better if I don't have the medicine to do so????? Any advice????
As of: 04/2013 cd4 470
VL 10,000
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Weeeeellll....how about this: What state and metropolitan location are you in?
We have members from all over the globe so a location would help.
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@DrewEm
O ok lol well I live in Dallas TX and I'm under the Ryan white program as of now some ppl advise that the program takes care of medicine but some ppl say that's false so it's a bit confusing
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but some ppl say that's false so it's a bit confusing
And who, pray tell, are these "some people"?
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The woman I filled my medicine app and also my so-called advocate ...are you saying that Ryan white program does help with medicine???
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The woman I filled my medicine app and also my so-called advocate
I'm not sure what you're saying here. Was it a case manager from an AIDS Service Organization?
Technically it's called the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and it's one of many components that falls under Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. While there are federal guidelines for the program, each state sets qualification levels. It's also required that it be "payer of last resort" so if say, if you're on Medicaid, then that should pay for things before ADAP did. But basically if you have no coverage, and your income level is below the whatever the cut off is for the state of Texas, then you will have your HIV meds covered.
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the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) is Part B of Ryan White services (http://hab.hrsa.gov/abouthab/partbdrug.html). In Texas it's called the Texas HIV Medication Program (THMP) and administered through the Dpt of State Health services http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/hivstd/meds/default.shtm
If you are not financially eligible for assistance most of the pharmaceutical companies offer patient payment assistance programs from their websites ;)
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@Miss Philicia
Since I've been under the Ryan White program I have been going to doctors appointments at Bluitt Flowers. My Doctor suggested medication in order for me to be proactive. She suggested that I apply for medication with the pharmacy rep at bluitt flowers as well(which i did). The representative told me that the program covers up to 3 years of medication and then I would have to reapply again. After sending my information to her we discussed the requirements in order for me to be approved for the program and due to my income being higher it was apparent that I would not qualify. So she told me that we would just try another program to see
if i was eligible for that and if I'm not we would resort to the Ryan white program... so here is my question is the Ryan white program I'm already under "part A"(for doctor visits) and the medicine portion I'm needing is it "part B"???
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Ryan White Part B is for medications
http://hab.hrsa.gov/index.html
due to my income being higher it was apparent that I would not qualify. So she told me that we would just try another program to see
do you have insurance? If so ADAP can pay premiums to help you get your medications. Also pharmaceutical companies have programs to help with co-pays.
The pharmaceutical companies also have programs (perhaps this is what they are looking at for you - Patient Assistance Programs) to help people who don't have insurance and aren't eligible for ADAP.
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No sir I don't have insurance unfortunately :-( I'm trying not to stress out but it's kind of hard not to because I really want to be cooperative with everything but the medicine portion is pretty difficult so far
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I'm trying not to stress out but it's kind of hard not to because I really want to be cooperative with everything but the medicine portion is pretty difficult so far
I can sympathize. I remember how it felt like I was "selling my soul to the devil" back when I first signed up for various benefits. ;D
However, take a deep breath and relax. If you haven't been sick lately, your numbers are no where near bad. Until recently, they didn't even talk about starting treatment until your cd4s dropped to 350. More recently, it was at 500 (and with the 100pts a day cd4s can change, you're still well within the "safe" zone). It's just been in the last short while, that they've talked about starting treatment immediately. So you still have plenty of time to get things worked out.
hang in there since it sounds like you have someone working on a solution to your case and best wishes for some quick resolution to it all. ;)