Insurance woes

[Fockers_n_tink]

I have been reading many of the posts about brain fog, joint aches, etc. and have noticed the same symptoms for quite some time and getting worse. I was diagnosed about 6 years ago and still have not had treatment. I'm not quite sure when I was infected, but did have major surgery in 1988 due to a gunshot wound. My employer does not offer health insurance, and though I've explained my situation to him, he refuses to insure his employees due to the high costs. If I didn't feel as bad as I do all of the time I would go get another job that would provide insurance, but feel like I would get fired from any other job due to constant fatigue and nausea. I can barely hold down this job and it would have to be one of the easiest jobs on the planet. I have 4 kids to support so I can't afford to quit working and attempt to qualify for SSI or SSDI. I haven't even seen  a doctor in 2 years but don't know how much longer I can take it. I tried to apply for state assistance but was refused because I make more than $180.00 a month!! Can anyone guide me in the right direction to get help without ending up homeless? Also, has anyone noticed blurred vision associated with HCV? Thank you for any help you can give. Fockers_n_tink

[mycoldfeet]

Please contact Pegasys directly and tell them your problem with getting your meds, its a very small amount of questions, and a paper for your Dr. to sign, and they will send your Dr. the meds free of charge,please read my thread I wrote today to FLGuy and others a few subjects back just look for mycoldfeet,anything I can do let me know, good luck, have phone numbers and such if you need them.

[Fockers_n_tink]

$180.00 a month is the maximum income allowed to get assistance from the state. I make about 40,000 a year.I live in Houston Texas. Thanks for the help!

Fockers_n_tink

[Fockers_n_tink]

Thanks Upbeat and Cajunlady for resonding so quickly. I have checked my sugars and they are constantly low. Too low most of the time. Since I realized this, I have been keeping sweets around to combat it. Even after a meal including dessert and Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, they are around 70. Don't know if it related or not. Thanks again!

[stangshelly]

if you look down through the posts there is alot of info on insurance etc. there is help out there. best wishes and a prayer to you today too. :)

[Kalio1]

Have you tried calling your local county health dept? Some counties do offer free treatment for Hep C and/or they might be of help i pointig you towards a heath care facility. You can also try the patient assistance program Commitment to Care, they are very generous with income qualifications and provide treatment drugs for free to many, even people who are fully insured so give them a call at 800 521 7157. Hopefully your county health dept. can lead you to a doctor or clinic who would oversee your care at an affordable price and also provide the prescription to Commitment to Care you will need. It is very easy to apply and they ship the drugs to your house for free. Good luck. There are other patient assistance programs if that oe doesn't work, I just do't have the info handy right now maybe someone else does.

[Fockers_n_tink]

I live in the Houston TX area and have called the local and state health agencies for assistance but keep getting pushed to someone else and then on from there until I reach a dead end every single time. I've been doing this for over a year now and still have no answers. Thanks everyone for helping!

[Upbeat]

You say your blood sugar is 70 after a meal? That is really low.  Have you asked your doctor about it?  With that low of blood sugar I wouldn't have enough energy to do anything.

                                                          Ron

[Forseegood]

hi, if youre not *diabetic* hypoglycemic, you might be another type of hypo and you shouldn't be eating sweets if this is the case, sweets can actually make the problem worse...I am this type of hypoglycemic...many of your symptoms could be attributable to this, but of course Im just guessing, I'm no doctor...

If you are like me, you should be eating 6 to 8 small meals a day, snacks in between the larger of them to keep your blood sugar up...and that means no sweets (or very occasionally, and only with some protein beforehand), just complex carbohydrates and protein...take peanut butter on some crackers with you, veggie juices with them...I'm so used to it by now that it's second nature to me, whenever I feel kind of dizzy and weak, with anxiety...vision kinda blurry, etc...I've forgotten to eat!

Hep C can cause hypoglycemia for some people, though it seems rare on these boards....they say now that all people should be eating more frequently and less per meal anyway to keep up blood sugar...

As for the other, I'd be talking to a Social Security lawyer and/or advocate to see what might be done...you have 4 kids to support which will bode well for you I should think...I'd be researching and making a lot of calls to different agencies to have someone help you though this, so you won't feel so lost , just putting things forward and getting some momentum can help you feel empowered...first thing, find a doctor though a teaching hospital, etc. to see you and check these various things out....good luck to you...

[Mister beagle bailey]

I feel for you and don't understand how any state can say you make to much money for help making($180.00 a month) and supporting 4 children. Many gave you good advice and I would call a teaching clinic, etc or Hep center for help.  Kalio gave you the Ph# for free meds for those who can't afford it.  After you find a Dr call that # for the drugs.  Also if your HGB drops and you need procrit here's the toll free # for free procrit--1-800-553-3851.
I also had burred vision while on the meds, it was an off and on thing.  Now I'm 7 weeks post meds and don't have the problem any more.  Please let us know how you make out.

What state and city do you live in?

Beagle

[cajunlady]

Welcome to the forum.  I have experienced blurred vision at the begining of tx.  And, I might add a pretty bad case of it.  There were days I just could not read at all.  As, time went on my eyes have cleared up.  I am on shot 32/48.  I also found that the blurr vision comes and goes; and some days worst than others.  Mine did pass after awhile on tx.  I have also read that you need to maybe check your cbc and be sure that your counts are not dropping.  I believe this is also affiliated with the blurr vision.

On the other matter, I do know there are places that can help you financially with this.  Someone will come in and give you the sites to look up for this assistance.

Good Luck,
Cajun

[Mister beagle bailey]

That's crazy $180.00 a month is the cut off.  Not long ago there was someone else from your area needing help finding a Dr.  I'll send out a SOS for help.

Even making $40,000. a year, no ins and 4 kids to support you can get help from the drug companies.

Anyone know of a hep clinic, etc in Houston, Texas?

Beagle

[way]

I couldn't get the ins where I work either because of part time. I went on line and got BC/BS for $250/mo (before DX)

They don't cover pre-exsting for this price but there are policies they offer where you can add a pre-existing as a rider. They will cover pre-existing after a year tho, but I don't know how long you can wait.

[worrywartwife]

I am so sorry for your difficulties. My husband is HCV and is starting treatment in a week or so. His employer offers insurance, but we were worried he might need extended leave of absence during treatment and that he could lose that coverage, and so I added him to my insurance through my job. I don't know if you have a spouse or not who could do this. We were pleasantly surprise that his job actually pays him to opt out of their insurance program, and my insurance covers family at no extra cost to us, so the switch actually MADE us a little money. Best of luck, JoAnn

[Kalio1]

At 40,000 a year you WILL  quaify with Commitment to Care especially with 4 kids.Pease call them,they can supply your meds for FREE.

[BJ1fish]

Check with Baylor College of Medicine and St Lukes liver center and see if they have a trial you can get in. They were looking for people a few months ago.

[OnAPrettyPoison]

I understand you will have to have a Rx from a doctor before Commitment to Care can give you your meds though.  Sounds like you need a basic physical anyway to look at your blood sugar, etc.  You are worth the money to take care of your health.  Those babies are depending on you!

[BJ1fish]

http://www.debakeydepartmentofsurgery.org/home/content.cfm?content_id=274&clinic_pk=11
I do not know the link to St Lukes.
Memorial Herman has a liver center too. Part of UofT.

[Kalio1]

Pretty is right you do need a treating physician to write the scrip but there must be a sliding scale clinic in Houston where you can get a doc visit for a reasonable fee, with 4 kids I know what a struggle it is. Have you tried contacting the state of Texas high risk insurance pool people?
You would have some initial testing and visit costs, but Commitment to Care can help with the expense of the meds.

[Upbeat]

Have you had your blood sugar taken? Blured vision is associated with Diabetes and a hec-c is associated with Diabetes.  Just a thought.

                                                         Ron