Medicare Patient Skips Mortgage to Cope With $20,000 Bill

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-22/medicare-patient-skips-mortgage-to-cope-with-20-000-bill.html


In September, William Piorun stopped taking his most expensive drug, Somavert from Pfizer Inc. when he was about to exhaust $8000 in financial aid he received earlier in the year from a charity.

Each month, William Piorun has to choose between paying his mortgage or buying medicine that keeps his pituitary-gland tumor in check.

This month and last, the 65-year-old Medicare patient paid the mortgage, and stopped taking a drug that his doctor says he needs to ward off the risk of premature death.

Once, hard choices like these were commonly forced only on those without health insurance. Now more patients who have insurance or Medicare must confront them as drug bills for those with chronic and life-threatening decisions soar.

Earlier this year, Piorun faced out-of-pocket bills of $1,000 a month for medicines. That -- together with $2,000 in monthly mortgage and home-equity payments, other bills and living expenses -- was too much for him.

[djean111]

1. And the TPP virtually cements and enshrines and encourages those drug prices.

All over the world. The pharmaceutical section of the TPP is aimed at generics.
Also, this is why "Medicare for all" is just a starting point. Something needs to be done about Big Pharma.
In addition, Medicare does not pay much, or at all, for glasses, hearing aids, dentures. You know, things older people need. Medicaid does.

[stillwaiting]

2. And they KNOW that lots of people will die unnecessarily. They clearly aren't bothered by that.

Looking out for average people they are!

[countryjake]

3. I can't KICK this hard enough.

And I wish I could double the recs for this thread.

Thank you for posting this distressing article, xchrom.

[daredtowork]

4. K+R+sympathize nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. ...

[area51]

6. Single. Goddamn. Payer.