Free Meds. How?

[positiveboy]

Hey guys. how you doing?

I'm not sure that I'm posting in the right place. But, I have just one doubt. Could you guys help?
I'm brazilian and I would like to move to NYC. I've lived in NYC 2 years ago. But 4 months ago I started the HIV treatment (with medicaments). If you guys don't know, the HIV medicament is totally free in Brazil.
I use Efavirenz, Lamivudine and Viread, those medicaments price is very expensive in EUA (like $350 each medicament, i saw months ago).

So, I have this question: Have some way to take this medicaments totally free in NYC? Is it possible?

If yes, how?

I've searched for NGO in NYC, I sent e-mails but I didnt receive an answer.

sorry about my english.

thanks!

[oksikoko]

Hey, positiveboy.

It is possible, though it ain't necessarily easy, and I don't know how it would work for someone who isn't a citizen. If I'm not mistaken, our travel restrictions on foreign nationals with HIV were only lifted last year, so it's not necessarily an inviting atmosphere. It can be pretty tough without money.

However, if you find yourself in NYC and HIV-positive, there's something called HASA (HIV/AIDS Services Administration). You can start your research there, but you have to apply, and to apply you have to already live in NYC. I'm not eligible, for instance, because my health is too good. Even though I'm having a serious housing crisis, they're unable to enroll me. Without being enrolled in HASA, other organizations are unable to help. It's a chain reaction. That's just how it works, so it's not quite as simple as you might imagine.

As for drugs, I get mine via ADAP (AIDS Drugs Assistance Program). You could start your research there, but they also have serious shortages, and it's already been remarked that my drugs (Stribild) are too expensive and that the doctor shouldn't have started me on this regimen. Fortunately for me, they don't take you off what you're already on, though I do feel guilty for taking more out of the system than other people are allowed to.

Good luck!

[leatherman]

If you guys don't know, the HIV medicament is totally free in Brazil.

actually that's not quite true. nothing is ever truly "free" - especially medical care. Someone has to pay for it.

The taxes paid by the citizens of Brazil pay close to half the cost as public spending accounted for 41.2% and private expenditure accounted for 58.8%. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_in_Brazil#Health_sector_expenditure)

Similarly here in America, health care is paid through taxes by government funding, through personal investment in private insurance - and out-of-pocket costs as healthcare is not a constitutional right (however it is on the verge of becoming a legal responsibility as the Affordable Care Act is being put into place)


as to your question, you might want to use the health care service locator here at AIDSmeds (http://directory.poz.com/). Using this locator, you should be able to find AIDS service organizations in the area in which you would like to move. Some of those agencies should have case managers who would have more information about funding in their area and be able to guide you on if or how a non-citizen might be able to get access to medical care.

best wishes