Shock Treatment At The Pharmacy
I've had a prescription to Gleevec for nearly a week, but due to the fertility clinic visits, I've had no need get it filled. Today was the day to do that and oddly, I was nervous.
I'm anxious to start getting better but nervous because there is a slight chance that the Gleevec won't work for me. Then it would be back to the treatment scramble and possibly the hospital. I really, really would like to avoid that, but I'm ready to fight either way.
As I strolled up to the pharmacy counter, the nerves climbed. According to the average lifespan calculater, this visit was the kickoff to about 500 more. The experience really registered with me. This was the miracle drug that was going to keep me alive and out of the hospital. What would it look like? How would I react? How much would it cost?
Well, I had some idea of the cost. Pam at work looked it up for me. Luckily it was covered by insurance and it was only $25 a month. I could definitely cover that and with a smile. Good thing I had previous knowledge about the coverage though, what happened next was nothing short of shocking.
I walked up to the counter, gave my name, and waited around while she went scanning through the M's on the shelf. She grabbed the bag and spun around checking to see what I was going to owe. She looked at the bag, then at me, then at the bag, and back at me. I must not have looked like the high roller because she figured there would be no way I could cover the cost, a whopping $3,197 dollars. Yes, thousand!
I knew something was wrong and apparently she did too. They grabbed my insurance card to double check. They fixed the error and apologized for the surprise. Again, thank God I knew the price beforehand because my inner Slovenian (notoriously cheap) was gagging for breath. Relieved, I headed for the exit, but not without asking myself "What the fuck?".
I thanked the Lord on the spot for blessing me with a great job with great benefits, health insurance being one of them. But what about those without health insurance? Who can afford thousands a month for medecine? Nobody I know.
Here is a groundbreaking pill proven to save lives while redefining the methods of CML treatment. This pill is saving lives without pain and suffering, months of hospitalization, and without risking life and limb for a cure. I can't help but think back to the many months, maybe years I spent without any insurance at all. What about all the people working part-time or for employers offering a pittance for health insurance? I worked for those employers too, but I lucked out.
I'll refrain from interjecting much more personal opinion because I don't know the options that are out there. If anybody out there knows, please leave a comment and let me know.
I experienced first hand what my Dad went through when he faced a major medical crisis stone broke. They wrote him off as an indigent, but not without some strategy on our parts. He must have spent weeks in the hospital. I can't remember if he died before the bills arrived or if the hospital wrote it off.
I'd like to think people less fortunate than me have options. Thinking otherwise is downright frightening.
