I understand now!

Hello all,
This is the first installment of my Monday and Wednesday random blogs. When I am not running this site, I am working at my day job which pays the bills. About 3 months ago I was laid off from my pharmaceutical job, which was actually a good thing because I was there way too long. At the end of November I started a new job with a small specialty pharmacy company that specializes in Homecare infusions. It is interesting how through experience your perspective can change. With my last job I was dealing with drugs for Stroke and Parkinson's Disease. The drugs that I used to promote would cost a patient around $100 to $120 a month. By no means is that cheap especially when that is a monthly expenditure.
It is interesting because you hear the statistics that healthcare expenses are the number one cause of bankruptcy and financial hardship. My current medical job deals with infusions for Auto-Immune disorders and Immune deficiency disorders. Let me explain the difference, Auto-Immune disorders are when your Immune system attacks your own body because it cannot distinguish the difference between what is foreign or natural in your body. Immune Deficiency is when your body does not create enough antibodies to fight off infections. People who are chronically sick, may suffer from Immune Deficiencies.
People that suffer from these illnesses need plasma infusions to help keep them healthy. I recently had the opportunity to meet a patient that requires infusions. I must say I was shocked because this woman was a regular educated upper middle class lady who is trying to enjoy her retirement. She told me that her copay for the infusion was $5000.00, yes I mean $5000.00, not $50.00 or $500.00, but yes $5000.00. She was so happy to be getting the treatment because she had been trying so long to get approval from her insurance company. The insurance company finally approved her treatment for 2 months but she is still responsible for the $5000.00 copay.
I must admit I got choked up because I saw the stress in her face. She is working partime and her husband should be retired but he has to keep working in order to help her cover her medical cost. It all makes since now, when I hear the president and other people say that our healthcare system has to change. People should not have to make a decision between their health or their financial situation. I met this woman last Wednesday and I think about her and wonder how she is doing and hope that she is doing well. You should pay attention because things can happen that are out of your control and you should hope that you will be taken care of without the stress of financial cost!
Think about it.....
Blacklion