Making Medication Available to Everyone
As a young couple me and my husband decided we were ready to start a family. I was sure that things would go exactly as planned, but it turned out we had rough road ahead of us. We were both in college at the time and working full-time jobs, but we were still pretty tight on cash. We had insurance coverage. After a year of trying to get pregnant we began the process of testing to see if there was a reason I was not pregnant yet.
This social action is sponsored by: Sirum http://www.sirum.org/
Month after month of testing and tracking we figured out that I wasn’t ovulating, so the Doctor put me on Clomid. After a few months I was ecstatic to find out that I was pregnant. However, after a few short weeks I miscarried. I was devastated. After many tears were shed I began my next cycle of Clomid and again found out I was pregnant. This pregnancy ended in a miscarriage as well. I began to wonder if having babies was something my body was capable of.
Fast forward a few more months down the road. We decided to take a break from the Clomid and it’s crazy side effects and we were delighted to find out that miraculously I was pregnant. After some testing, my doctor told me that it seemed as if my body was not producing Progesterone, a crucial hormone during pregnancy. Without the correct levels, miscarriage was a certainty. He wrote me a prescription for Progesterone and sent me on my way. We headed to the pharmacy where they informed us that this medication was not covered by my insurance and that it would be $150 a week to have it filled, over the course of my pregnancy that was really going to add up. I was shocked. But, what choice did we have? It was pay that or lose our baby.
Millions of Americans are faced with problems like this daily, and are handling charges above and beyond what we faced at that time. SIRUM is aware of this issue wants to make a change. $5 billion worth of drugs are wasted but unopened, unexpired medications can be donated rather than flushed down toilets, dumped in landfills, or burnt in incinerators. Using an innovative platform, SIRUM saves peoples’ lives by allowing health facilities, manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacies to donate unused medicine rather than destroy it. Because they make donation quick, easy, and free, most organizations not only save lives by donating their medications, but also save time and money over destruction which is often costly and time-consuming.
Do you or your loved ones struggle to afford medications? Join other Americans sharing their stories with Congress and telling them what it’s really like to have to skip or skimp on the medicine you need to live a healthy, productive life. On March 6, SIRUM will deliver these stories to Washington and demand more support for programs and policies that make medicine affordable for all.
Thankfully we have good insurance, but I hate how expensive medicine is for those whose insurance won’t cover certain meds.
The cost of medicine is outrageous. I am very lucky to have some coverage. I did not know you could donate unused medicines. In Canada we are told to return unused medicine to the pharmacy for disposal.
I’m glad someone is doing this, but doubt it will have any impact since congress has been bought out for a long time. I guess I am just cynical.
Thankfully we have insurance and it has not been too bad although my son needed an inhaler recently with the insurance it was $50 see we opted not to get it an have him use the nebulizer instead which we already had.
Yes. No one talk about this. We don’t even know the percentage of profit they made.
Instead. We just pay for it.
It is insane how much medication can cost if it isn’t covered by your insurance. We have run into that once before with one of our meds.
I can’t believe so much medicine is wasted. There are so many people who need it too.
Yes, it is most unfortunate that some citizens have to struggle to receive any proper healthcare in this country.
The cost of some medication is a horribly high. I really hope that SIRUM accomplishes what they are trying to do and we receive more support for medical programs!
I can’t believe that people get punished for needing meds with high cost. Glad there are programs that help at least.
It’s horrible what some people have to go through. I am so sorry for your loss.
I think it is ridiculous that insurance companies can just decide not to cover certain medications that you need. I mean, that’s what you pay for.
I definitely have some people in my family who struggle with getting their meds. They can just be so expensive.
My prenatals were $120/month. It is quite amazing that even prescription vitamins are so pricey.
We are lucky here in Canada, medication wise – our benefits cover 80%, so we pay very little out of pocket. But, we can see the regular price and it’s shocking!
Ugh, I am so sorry for your losses. I had one miscarriage and am shocked I survived it. Now here we are ten years later, without health insurance and have the same issues of not being able to afford RX’s. My nasal spray for my allergies, alone is $150 a month. My little sister who has insurance had to give herself a shot every day to prevent blood clots during her pregnancy and that wasn’t covered either. It was $300 a month. My GOD, why??? Thanks for posting.
The cost of medicine is ridiculous. I know there are enormous costs to research and develop new medications, but even some of the ones that have been around for awhile are ridiculously expensive.
Yes, I do believe that we need some sort of reform on prescription prices. Reasons like these are what keeps me from getting better faster most of the time.
This is a really good idea, hopefully it works out as intended.
I think it’s a horrible thing that we live in the most prosperous country on earth, and yet there are still people out there who can’t afford medication. That says something about this country, and it’s not good.
This is a wonderful idea. I have family members who have had to decide between getting medicine and buying food in the past. It’s a horrible decision that should never have to be made.
This is a wonderful idea. I have family members who have had to decide between getting medicine and buying food in the past. It’s a horrible decision that should never have to be made.
My Nana is on Medicare and she struggles with paying for meds sometimes. I don’t think anyone who is 86 years old should have to stress about how they are going to pay for medication they need.
I think this sounds like a great concept. I know people that have insurance that can’t even afford medications or they aren’t covered. Something like this could benefit everyone.
I’m Canadian but we have similar problems here. Our medical expense are mostly covered thanks to OHIP but if you need a medication and don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover it, it can get VERY expensive! I definitely support anything that helps people pay for medication.
medicine costs are out of control, luckily i don’t know of anyone who has experienced this. i had no idea you could donate unexpired meds!