prescription $$ help in Canada?

[quantumleap]

Hi,
Cross posted this in health and healing...
I'm not sure where to post this, but I thought I'd try here. I'm a pretty severe asthmatic. No drugs = no breathing = hospital, is the basic breakdown. My dh doesn't have health coverage. I used to have it through school, but I lost it this year due to being a part-time vs full-time student. I stocked up as much as I could at the end of last year, but my important inhaler has about a week's worth left in it, and there's no way we can swing the 120$ to get a new one.
I'm waiting to hear back from the part-time student's union about how people have done this in the past, and my dr's office doesn't do asthma med samples. Any other ideas? Anyone know if Canada has a program that helps people out with prescriptions they can't afford? Help?
Thanks.
Katia

[mammastar2]

There's no national program - some provinces do have some coverage, I think, but it is pretty limited so far as I have heard, e.g. folks on income assistance or disability payments. What province are you in?

Definitely follow up with the student union and university, whether for an actual program or for some type of bursary or compassionate funding.

[quantumleap]

Thanks for the reply mamastar. I'm in Ontario. Bummer about the lack of programs. This seems wrong to me, because once I'm in the hospital and they're spending big bucks to keep me there, my meds are free. It would be a lot more cost effective to give me free or discounted meds now, when I can't afford them, in order to keep me out of the hospital. Craziness.
Katia

[Village Mama]

Maybe try a walk in clinic. There must be some sort of help.... the salvation army perhaps?

[smudge]

Try www.needymeds.com
This is a list of ALL drug companies and their patient assistance programs. If your income falls within the guidelines you can qualify for free meds.
Most of the programs require the doc and sometimes the patient to fill out forms to send in.
Have you checked with your doc to see if there is a generic (ie-cheaper) med you can take?
Good Luck to you!

[quantumleap]

Hmm, never thought about the Salvation Army. I'll have to check into that.
The NeedyMeds program sounds cool - too bad they don't have a Canadian program.
Ah, the adventures. I have occasionally, in the past, wondered how people without drug plans can afford their medication, but it has never been this present for me before.

[Village Mama]

I just know how expensive the asthma meds can be... Both of my little guys have it. At the worst times thier meds cost 50$ a week each. We are very low income as well and there have been times where it has been a bit of a panic. If your meds are that expensive as well and you are on a lower income, you should be eligable for the pharmacare plan. It wont help you right this instant but you should sign up. We bring in around 20,000 a year for a family of four and we have to pay for 350$ worth of perscriptions first and then we are covered for prescriptions after that. They have precentages that they will cover on certain incomes after you pay the initial parts. Luckily we have been med free for most of the year so far , so I dont think that we will be able to take advantage of that program!
I think that some charities have money put aside for people with emergency bills and such. Have you considered going to a foodbank so that you could afford your medicine?

[mammastar2]

Ok, if you're in Ontario, this is the coverage available:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/.../drugs_mn.html

You may qualify for the Trillium Drug Program, although this description is a bit sketchy:

"What is the Trillium Drug Program ?
This program helps you if you have high prescription drug costs in relation to your income.

To receive benefits through the Trillium Drug Program, you must first pay a certain amount (deductible) of your family's net income for prescription drugs. Once eligible, you will pay up to $2 for each prescription filled.

If you have questions, call the Trillium Program Hotline at 1-800-575-5386 or e-mail at [e-mail]"

Def check it out.

[betsu63]

Prescription Drug Help

I think some of the manufacturers will help out and sometimes you can get samples from your doctor.

[cassiemommy]

The Trillium program is the gov't program for people who work but cannot afford their meds. They determine what your household income is and based on that, decide how much deductible you can afford for meds. For some people it works, for others the deductible is to high. It also takes some time to process. Some manufacturers have compassionate release programs for meds, but that's not always a reliable supply source. Have you discussed this with your pharmacist or a social worker? There might be other avenues for you to persue to help you afford your meds.