Can't afford medication for MS, what can I do?

[tina295]

im really scared since my med was taken away from and my MS is pretty bad. I'm a 38 yr. old female. i cant afford to pay for my med, been taking rebiff 44 for over 10 yrs and last month ODSP closed my case. i lost my benefits; glassess,medications,and the little money i was getting from them..im really scared of what might happen to my MS without the med. please give me some kind of hope, thank you.

[twopack]

For help with the Rebif I'd call the LifeLines number.  They advertise being available 24/7.  The number is 1-877-447-3243.  I would think you still need a doctor to prescribe your Rebif.  Do you still have a doctor willing to treat your MS and general medical needs now that your coverage has been cancelled?

There was a topic recently with info about financial assiatance for drugs.  I'll see if I can find that one.

Otherwise I'm not sure what your options are.  Can you appeal your case with this agency?  I don't know much about how Canadian health care works.  I thought health care was provided to all Canadian citizens.  Surely they realize that MS is a chronic condition requiring life-long treatment.  There are quite a few Canadian members of this community.  I'm sure one of them will be along with more helpful information.

[doublevision1]

You don't say why your ODSP benefits but have you tried appealing the decision?  It's difficult to provide advice based on the limited info provided here.

MS drugs are covered under the Trillium program for Ontario patients who aren't on income support and for those who don't have supplemental health insurance such as that provided by employers, or in addition to such supplemental insurance.   My understanding is that the co-pay is typically a max of 4% of net income.  Is there a reason you're ineligible under this program as well?

[doublevision1]

Re: your comment: "I thought health care was provided to all Canadian citizens."

It is, but most prescriptions aren't.  Having said that, very expensive meds for serious conditions like MS are typically made accessible through provincial drug programs which are not identical but have similar eligibility criteria.  

For example, all provinces' and territories' MS drug programs cover the same first line DMDs prescribed to RRMS patients.   The amount of coverage/co-pay varies, eg: in Ontario patients would normally pay no more than 4% of their net income on all of their Rx drugs combined.  In Alberta we pay no more than $30 per month for the MS DMDs.    Those with supplemental drug coverage eg: through an employer or similar group plan,  may have their plans combined to reduce or eliminate any co-pay.   Those on income assistance ('welfare') will have DMDs provided at no or nominal cost (such as tina295 was provided before her benefits were discontinued).

Anyone having trouble accessing MS drugs for financial reasons, which is unusual in Canada, should contact the MS society.  They should be able to point one in the right direction for help, and they need to be aware of access/affordability issues as this is a key area of their governmental advocacy efforts.

[Lulu54]

Make those calls, Tina.  And good luck,  Please let us know how this unfolds.  We're here to at least listen, even if we can't be of help.