Sufferer I No Longer Have A Job Or Health Insurance

[caligirl]

I am off my meds and it is because i can't afford to pay for doctor or meds. I am borderline bipolar, O.C.D, and I suffer from depression along with ptsd. So I am my own worse enemy! I need to go to the doctor and get back on meds so at least I will have some sanity. Right now it's a chore just to get through an hour. Does anyone know anywhere i can go?



<edited for basic grammar by Deaf Global Nomad >

 

[Deaf Global Nomad]

Welcome to the Forum!

The one place that I have found helpful for referral to free resources in the United States is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. If you contact your local office, they can refer people with limited to no income to "pro bono resources". Sometimes individual counties also have mental health resources available (e.g. therapy, psychiatrists, etc.).

Best wishes!

 

[Gamereign555]

You can also owe the hospital or clinic and do payment plans. I no longer have insurance or a job either but I have a therapist and always make sure I have my medications. 4 dollar prescriptions are common in the US, and it is often the doctor's visits that make it all expensive. If you still have monthly refills, for your antidepressants and other meds, talk to your doctor about letting you have 3 or 4 months worth written out to you, or just limit your contact with your doc with a phone call to the clinic to ask for the refill, doing this costs nothing.

As for a therapist, the mental health department can hook you up if your proven to be low income, and you can have sessions for a mere 10 dollars a visit that way. I was recently approved for a lot more sessions, I have been seeing her on low income for more than a year now at a rate of once a week and sometimes once every 2 weeks.

 

[Tabitha]

I know it seems like a terrible chore but CALL CALL CALL and CALL some more. Tell every therapist, psychiatrist, clinic and whoever else will listen your story. Ask them for referals to other doctors that charge less. Ask them if they'd be willing to charge you based on your income. Be professional about it, let them know you're not begging for pity, you're simply seeking out options due to unforeseen circumstances at this time. (Use big words, it confuses them. lol) I did all of this recently and found an amazing doctor for my PTSD sufferer.

As far as for medications do a google search for "free prescription assistance plans" and see if you find any that covers the medications you're on. Check with the manufacturer's website for your meds and see if they offer any kind of prescription assistance. Lastly check with the pharmacy to see if they offer any kind of in house discount or discount card that you can sign up for.

I know it's hard trust me, been dealing with this for months now. Good luck.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[caligirl]

Thanks everyone for all the good direction!

 

[Eleanor]

Welcome to the forum Caligirl!

 

[ISupportHer]

Welcome. Is it OK to offer some suggestions? I am not trying to tell you what you should or should not do.

Try a search here. OMG, I am ashamed to say I don't remember her name, but there was a member here who was/is a sufferer and her job involved finding resources for patients. You might find some posts. I know it has been discussed by other members here. It IS hard but you are not alone in this problem. It is an epidemic.

Do you have a doctor you can see? Sometimes individual pharmaceutical programs have programs for free for those in need. You may have to fill out paperwork to prove your need.

I know also that our community has some free group sessions. Groups like the Bipolar Alliance, as I recall. They may not be specific to your problem but perhaps you can learn some "tools" to help that ARE transferable. I know, for example, that I went to another group, as a supporter, and parents of young adults with Bipolar were sharing information about resources and what has worked or not worked for them.

I hope these ideas help point you in the right direction.

ISH

 

[ISupportHer]

Oh yes, the free prescription cards. There are lots of them out there. I assume you are in the States. You can print them out and get significant savings. You still have to get the prescription from somewhere, and unfortunately you still have to have SOME money. I had a prescription that is not covered at all by my insurer. I had been paying $165 a month and it went to $120, still a lot but better.

I actually went online and some cards have a search function and you can see what the savings will be. I printed out 3 or 4 and the pharmacy put each one in the computer and then filled the prescription with the card with the best savings.

Good luck!

ISH