Psychiatric News February 4, 2005
Volume 40 Number 3
© 2005 American Psychiatric Association
p. 7
Mary's Story
Here is the story of one person who lost coverage through the Oregon
Medically Needy program, as presented in a recent report of the Kaiser
Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (see story on
page 6).
Mary (not her real name) is a 48-year-old, divorced Caucasian woman who was
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1996. She can no longer work and suffers
from double vision, difficulties concentrating, and problems with muscle
coordination and strength.
"When I wake up in the morning, my muscles are stiff. I've got
spasms. I can barely move."
Mary takes many medications and receives most of them through
pharmaceutical assistance programs. However, she reports making copayments of
$5 to $25 for those medications and paying a shipping fee of $75 for one of
them.
Mary spends much of her time filling out forms for health care assistance
programs when she can concentrate and her eyesight is not bothering her. She
said, "My life has been a living hell since I no longer have the
Medically Needy program."
Related Article:
-
Benefit Cuts Force Many To Make Painful Choices
- Kate Mulligan
Psychiatr News 2005 40: 6-48.
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