Health Care Stories: Eligible Senior Struggles to Afford Medications

“I had a very good job with good health insurance for many years, but as I aged I had to leave my job and now I am on Disability and Medicare.  I have used all my savings and I struggle monthly just to pay my drug medication expenses.  We need a comprehensive health care plan for senior citizens and for people with serious and costly health conditions.” 

Joseph, Florida

A reliable, high-quality, affordable public health insurance option that caps total out-of-pocket spending would save seniors like Joseph from spending their retirement worrying about how to pay medical bills without sacrificing other basic necessities.   Currently the Medicare Part D coverage gap or “donut hole” forces seniors and people with disabilities to pay 100% of the costs of medication, but proposed health care reform would gradually eliminate the gap within 15 years and provide up to 50% of the cost of certain drugs in the meantime.
 

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*Please note that actual names have been changed to protect individual's confidentiality.  Media interested in interviewing HIV-positive people about health-coverage issues should contact AFC Communications Director Johnathon Briggs at jbriggs@aidschicago or 312-334-0922.