Lopsided - Please check out
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/ to see if you qualify for Medicaid. Once Medicare kicks in, Medicaid can be your secondary to help cover the 20% that Medicare does not pay. I am sure it has to be cheaper than what you are paying now. GlaxcolineSmith has a patient assistance program that covers the cost of Tykerb. It really annoys me that some doctors don't always tell their patients that there is help out there. Also, Walmart has $4 generic prescriptions. Check out this link to see if your prescriptions are part of the plan. Many of my anti-rejection drugs are not covered, but there are a lot of common drugs available.
http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5314.aspx
Look to see who makes your prescriptions, Search the company out. Many of the drug companies have prescription assistance plans. Contact CancerCare and the American Cancer Society. They also have financial assistance programs that offer small grants ($300 - $1500 per year) to help cover the costs of travel/lodging to and from treatments, pain medications and child care during treatments. Google "Prescription Assistance." There are tons of programs out there that will help pay co-pays .
Everyone that comes to this board has access to a computer and should be able to navigate the internet enough to Google HELP for what ever problem you might have. Believe me, IT IS OUT THERE - you just have to look. Call your Town Hall or Rotary Club. There are many businesses in the communities that offer free or reduced services to cancer patients. Ask about cancer coalitions in your area. One group paid for a professional cleaning service to clean my house 10 times. Very nice!!! There are scholarships just for children of cancer patients (living or not). There are free hats, scaves and wigs available (
http://www.heavenlyhats.com/), free make-up (
http://lookgoodfeelbetter.com/), free and reduced cost massages (call your local collages and massage schools), reduced cost dental and chiropractic services (also contact your local colleges), reduced cost haircuts, manicures and pedicures (call local beauty schools - BUT DON'T LET THEM CUT YOUR CUTICLES).
If you call/contact one company a day/week, before long your financial life will be so much easier (I am not promising "grand," but easier). I've got it down to a science. I know when I have to apply for what (love my calendar reminder). Reminds me...I have paperwork to do today...ugh! But I got to do it.
I had a free facial, massage and manicure last week at a salon near me that closes shop to the public one day per month. They offer free services to cancer patients all day long. How great is that?? A gym near me is offering a 6 month free membership to cancer patients and my cancer center offers free yoga classes Monday nights. There are free art, cooking and exercise classes given at some of the larger cancer centers and community centers. And don't forget to check out your own library. My friends and I go to the library for a free movie at least twice a month.
I hope this helps someone...