I need help, I can't afford my medication!

[skyrocket]

I have recently had to move to student accommodation due to my partner and I splitting up, this has caused a lot of grief for me financially and I am worried that I won't be able to afford my medication, I know without it I will become a complete mess. I am on youth allowance because I am studying and I have a low income health care card, but my medication isn't covered by my health care card. Is there anyway I can reduce the amount i have to pay for my medication, I also don't have private health cover because I cant afford it. Please help! I am really struggling to keep it together and I don't want to risk giving up my education!

[Doolhof]

Hi Skyrocket,

It sounds like you are in a tough place right now.

I don't know what the answer is here but I have a few suggests for you.

Can you go to your Dr and ask if they have any suggestions for you regarding this matter?

Is there a counsellor on campus whom you could speak to about the medication issue and also if you are not coping very well in general?

Are your parents in a situation where they can assist with the cost of your medication?

The Chemist where you buy your medication may have some suggestions for you.

Are there financial advisors attached to your campus who may be able to assist you with sorting out your finances?

You don't want to find your self struggling too much and it would be a  shame to stop your education.

Maybe you could phone Beyond Blue or  Life Line and they may have some suggestions for you. Look up in the directory and see if there is a student information number you could call. I'm not sure what organisations are out there to assist students.

I hope this has been of some help to you.

From Mrs. Dools

[CrashCoyote]

Hi Skyrocket,

Thank you for posting.

I think Mrs Dools' advice is worth following up. Without knowing the details of your needs (don't list them on here) it is hard to know what to advise you. Your doctor (or any doctor) can suggest a path to follow. Perhaps there are National Health Scheme or generic options that are far cheaper. Perhaps there are medications that merge two medications, thereby cutting back on how much you need to buy. (That was my experience with anti-hypertensives, by re-assessing my medications, my doctor was able to cut two out and replace them with one. Same result but cheaper.)

Also, are you able to do a little part time or casual work? I know that is an extra burden but I suppose people still work their way through uni or higher education these days? If your medications cost even $100 per week, maybe a shift at the local supermarket stacking shelves will help affordability?

I'm only suggesting based on the information I have and I hope it is of help. I understand you do not want to sacrifice your education and you mustn't sacrifice your health.

Please let me know how you go.

Kind regards, John.

[geoff]

dear Skyrocket, thanks for joining the site.

What I would like you to do is google 'health care card and buying medication' where you should be entitled to the reduced price of your medication, so I would ask around at other chemist shops, can I tell you that I know someone whose husband left her well, rich, and I talking about a millions dollars, a property in Fiji, one in Melbourne and lives in another house back in Gippsland, and being rich she hated paying full price for her medication, so she applied for a Health Care Card with centrelink, received one and now she can get her medication at the same price as pensioners $5.90 or what ever the price is.

So I would shop around as I said earlier you should get it at this reduced price, and maybe try the generic brand might also help. Geoff.

[Brisman1]

Hi Skyrocket,

I know that some unis can provide a loan (interest free) to assist you in the near future. Also they provide some 'scholarships' for the disadvantaged, speak to the guild and/or the counsellors  and see what steps are required.

Speak to your doctor about your financial situation as they get some medications to 'try' with patients. It would be worth a try anyhow.

Keep stepping forward, even if you have to defer for a semester then that is ok. Keep focused on the big goal of the degree. If you have a full time work load of four subjects ( I am assuming you are a uni student - but the same applies to tafe) then you can do three and still deemed to be a full time student therefore increasing your free time to be able to work more while maintaining allowances (Austudy, Abstudy or youth allowance). I would be careful of getting a student loan through the government as it is really a bad deal.

 B