Howdy,

Here’s my little ADD story (or nightmare of sorts):


I have ADD and I have been treated with adderall since 1999. For me adderall is a miraculous lifesaver.

Before adderall I would just get bored, frustrated and then go into depression. I dropped out of high school. I did manage to get into a small private college of my dreams but I just couldn’t keep up.

Ever since I started adderall in 1999 (I was 27 yrs. Old), I have been able to stay focused on activities. It still wasn’t easy but for the first time in my life I felt more normal and was more able to participate in society. I have slowly managed to rebuild my life. My wife was very supportive of me. She made it possible for me to pursue one of my dreams of being a musician. The first few years I practiced classical guitar and eventually started playing classical guitar at local restaurants and made my first CD. It was a good start, but the work just wasn’t paying the bills. After lots of struggles (of which I won’t go into right now), I eventually got a real job at a grocery store bagging groceries. I also got a job working part time at a music store. I’ve kept these jobs for over a year now and am doing fine working...

…So sounds like a story that ends well? Nope! I’ve got a major dilemma: I have to pay around $200 for my adderall every month. I live very modestly. I fix my own hand-me down-cars, I never eat out, etc. $200 is a lot of money to me. It is really taking a toll on me.

The health insurance I did have kept changing their policies and eventually it costed less to pay for my adderall than keep my health insurance. I tried the cheaper generic version of adderall but it doesn’t work and makes me sort of sick. I even quit adderall twice: once for a month and a half and another time for a month. Each time I realized that I really did need my adderall. So I went back on it.

Anyways here is my question: How the heck can I get financial help with my adderall prescription? I am thinking about pursuing some sort of disability even though I have heard it is difficult. I have a pretty long history of poor school grades, lack of employment and I have a doctor or two that might write something for me. I am currently employed and I have to keep paying for my adderall (I don’t function well without it).

This adderall bill is financially killing me and my wife. It isn't fair. I am in a real jam. If anybody can help or has any ideas for me I would be grateful. In efforts to save on household expenses I’ve been considering living in my car soon… so please hurry with all those helpful replies! ;)

Thanks,

guitareasley

Does your wife work? If not would it be possible for her to get a part time job? It wouldn't take too many hours of work to come up with $200. Have you considered private insurance? While we have insurance thru my husbands job it really just doesn't cut the mustard with 3 kids, two of which are ADHD/Depressive/OCD/ODD not all in the same kid but you get the picture and a wife who is ADHD/OCD/PTSD/Depression/Acid Reflux and doesn't want more babies. We just went around to different insurance agencies and got quotes for supplemental insurance...we're saving about $500 a month between normal doctor visits, meds, therapists, eye glasses, contacts, dental. It's a lot of work but then most things are to us aren't they *smiles*

Big hugs I can definatly empathize with your situation.
Futs

Nucking_Futs,

Thank you for your reply...
...and more importantly thank you for for your wonderful nickname/username!:D That's a good one!

Yeah my wife works. She makes a little more than me. We are in a little debt.

It makes sense to look into private health insurance but I am afraid just about any health insurance company will say I have a pre-existing problem and it won't get covered for maybe half a year. That actually happened to me not too long ago. Then finally after 6 months of paying for health insurance plus my $200 adderall not to mention the doctor bills I finally was able to pay $40 co-payments for my medicine. Then after a few months the insurance company changed their policy and doesn't cover the brand name anymore. They urged me to use the generic (which didn't work for me) uggg it is driving me nucking futs ;) I've been burnt really bad by Blue cross/Blue shield. Hard for me to look into insurance.

Nucking_Futs it is good to meet you I also empathize with your situation that sounds like a pretty busy family you got there:).

I could try to concentrate on making more money but seems like I am already working most every day. hmmnnn

I better sleep on this one, got to go to work in the morning

see ya later,

guitareasley

We have been burnt by insurance as well...our daughter spent 6 months in Children's hospital, 5 of them in a private room in ICU. A helicopter ride, 4 surgeries, at home IV's, home health. We both stayed with her and my husband found a job but it only paid to keep our home and car, nothing more...Thank Goodness for the Rainbow House (we go back every year on the anniversary of her release and take toiletries and food...we left our home and went to Omaha with nothing more then the clothes on our back and it's a 3 hour drive...wonderful wonderful wonderful people). The hospital helped us get temporary assistance with medical bills from the state. We got burned when the state wouldn't pay until our insurance would pay and our insurance wouldn't pay because we had medicaid. We fought for a year until our lawyer said file bankruptcy on everything including me...it's the most awful feeling to file on someone who has saved your daughter's life...as if there wasn't any price we wouldn't pay but we just couldn't eat and were in great danger of losing our house. I feel for you I really do I've been there. That's why I said shop around, look into other options you'll be suprised we definatly were. the insurance company that we chose took us on and held no pre-existing conditions against us except my pregnancy. Good luck...your still breathing so there's hope. :)

Dear Nucking_Futs,

Wow, you and your loved ones have really been through a lot. Thank you for sharing so much. I can't believe it, but you have got me more inspired about looking into insurance companies.

That is what I need: an insurance company that holds no pre-existing conditions. One of my biggest challenge and worry is the cost of my prescription. I wonder how I can explore/investigate into whether or not the prospective insurance company will cover the brand name adderall? Should I talk to the insurance salesman specifically about my adderall needs or withold that information? Should I just call their 1-800 numbers to explore their prescription coverage? Gosh it gets so tangled up dealing with health insurance. It is difficult position for me knowing the pharmacy charges me around $200 and then I have to approach an insurance company. I am not naive I don't have to give my insurance companies the name of my current doctor. I can give them an old doctor of mine before I was ever treated for ADD. I hate being in this position of decieving... I am not a criminal but it seems a game inherent in the the entire healthcare system (or lack of system). Yet another reason I hate health inurance companies. Thinking about all this mess always frustrates me.

Thank you so much for your replies,

guitareasley

Hi! I just started on adderal, and I think its going to help me too. I can totally relate to your situation. We, thanks to dear friends and Gods grace, have had help so far in paying for psyc appts, therapy ect. My insurance is crappy, but does pay for adderal at least, not the other ones i have. But my point is, that I just got a free coupon for adderal. My doc just handed me this "starter" kit and you activate this credit card type coupon and the pharm gives it to you for free, its not a rebate or anything. I dont have one to give you, but ask your doc. They might be for new PX only, so maybe a new doc? or if your doc is cool, he can just give you one. Ill see if I can get more info & Ill message you if I can help. Good luck!

Dear Nucking_Futs,

Wow, you and your loved ones have really been through a lot. Thank you for sharing so much. I can't believe it, but you have got me more inspired about looking into insurance companies.

That is what I need: an insurance company that holds no pre-existing conditions. One of my biggest challenge and worry is the cost of my prescription. I wonder how I can explore/investigate into whether or not the prospective insurance company will cover the brand name adderall? Should I talk to the insurance salesman specifically about my adderall needs or withold that information? Should I just call their 1-800 numbers to explore their prescription coverage? Gosh it gets so tangled up dealing with health insurance. It is difficult position for me knowing the pharmacy charges me around $200 and then I have to approach an insurance company. I am not naive I don't have to give my insurance companies the name of my current doctor. I can give them an old doctor of mine before I was ever treated for ADD. I hate being in this position of decieving... I am not a criminal but it seems a game inherent in the the entire healthcare system (or lack of system). Yet another reason I hate health inurance companies. Thinking about all this mess always frustrates me.

Thank you so much for your replies,

guitareasley

Silly, I don't know what you mean we've been thru a lot...we've been thru life and survived...well, this long anyway I'll let you know how today goes. *grins but the odds are with us* Don't look at it like awww the poor girl, look at it as the miracle it's meant to be. We weren't ever supposed to conceive our daughter let alone bring her home from Omaha but she's stubborn in all the right ways and some irritating ones as well but we'll take them just to have her. lol It's all in how you look at it.

Your making this much harder then it has to be...just start going around to agencies and tell them exactly what your looking for and why that way they can either find the right plan or implement a plan to suit your needs and NEVER agree to give any money without a written gaurantee for at least a year.

Hugs :D

Sorry I don't have an easy answer for you. I'm temporarily in the exact dillemma. I haven't had adderall in a couple days feelin pretty withdrawn. I went to the pharmacy today they needed a new insurance card from me. I'm still on my parents plan luckily but I didn't have a new card. They said I could purchase it today and I'd be reimbursed tommorow if I brought in my card but it's like 200.00. It's absolutely crazy isn't it. I couldn't believe how expensive that crap is. I thought it'd be like 60.00 without nope 200.00. Anyways I think I'm gonna quit it. My boyfriends not very supportive of me he says it's all a joke and I'm being decieved and theres no such thing as ADD. I have this stuff drilled into my head constantly. I'm so at unease with myself because I feel like I'm an addict. I've recently read a book about drug companies and the FDA and that makes me feel even worse because my dad made me read it. I don't like being told by everyone that I have a fake disorder. Personally I'd like to tell them all to go **** themselves. Including my boyfriend.

janesays,
As if things aren't rough enough for you acquiring treatment, you also have to deal with father and boyfriend's infinite wisdom:rolleyes:. That's a shame. Personally I believe there are a lot of misconceptions people and the public have regarding ADD. Regardless of Joe shmoe's opinions, my advice is trust yourself and explore and continue working with doctors. It would be nice if it could be a personal matter between you and your doctor(unfortunately that isn't reality). If you and your doctor see that adderall is really helping then I'd continue.

guitareasley

Sorry I don't have an easy answer for you. I'm temporarily in the exact dillemma. I haven't had adderall in a couple days feelin pretty withdrawn. I went to the pharmacy today they needed a new insurance card from me. I'm still on my parents plan luckily but I didn't have a new card. They said I could purchase it today and I'd be reimbursed tommorow if I brought in my card but it's like 200.00. It's absolutely crazy isn't it. I couldn't believe how expensive that crap is. I thought it'd be like 60.00 without nope 200.00. Anyways I think I'm gonna quit it. My boyfriends not very supportive of me he says it's all a joke and I'm being decieved and theres no such thing as ADD. I have this stuff drilled into my head constantly. I'm so at unease with myself because I feel like I'm an addict. I've recently read a book about drug companies and the FDA and that makes me feel even worse because my dad made me read it. I don't like being told by everyone that I have a fake disorder. Personally I'd like to tell them all to go **** themselves. Including my boyfriend.

I live in a small town and do business in small towns but my pharmacy just looks up our insurance if we don't have our new card yet. Maybe you should look into a new pharmacy or maybe I just don't know how the world really works. As for your dad and boyfriend...your dad is always going to be your dad, sit him down and have a real heart to heart and let him know how much he's hurting you, give him the link to the forums so he can see for himself and if that doesn't work remember all he has is an opinion nothing more and nothing less. As a parent I know first hand that we are not perfect and mess up all the time too. AS for your boyfriend...you would be well served in life to find a partner who is supportive and understanding. that one comes from someone who made all the wrong choices but made the right choice in the end.

Hugs sweetie, Life is too short and brutal to go around kicking yourself too.
Cherity