" I lost my job"...begging for pills in America

[SoCalDem]

The commercial about the program that "offers" people "free" meds from the ever-generous "Big-Pharma" is disgusting.

Most people know by now that Montel Williams has MS and is on some heavy duty meds, but for him to be the "spokesperson" for this "program" strikes me as disingenuous at best.

Montel will never need this program, and my guess is that most people who "lose their jobs" will not qualify either.

These commercials smack of "Calm down, Honey..everything's ok" paternalism.

In America when you lose your job, you often didn't even HAVE prescription benefits while you worked, and if you DID, the loss of the job may also mean the loss of a CAR and a HOUSE, and ultimately, your life if some dweeb in a suit decides you are not "eligible" for their plan.

In a country with a national health plan, the loss of a job would mean unemployment benefits guaranteed, and your medical care would not be affected at ALL.. You would still have your health care intact, and get the meds and treatment you need..no begging required..

[Totallybushed]

1. Been there,

done that.

I lost my job right when my wife was in the middle of Chemo for breast cancer. I didn't have the money to pay the premiums. Luckily, I was able to get a new job within two months, so the new insurance company didn't refuse to pay for a "pre-existing" condition.

Let me tell you, it both sucks and blows.

It looks to me like, if the government can't afford total health care for everybody, they could at least look at covering catastrophic illnesses.

[Warpy]

2. I looked into that during my 3 years of poverty

and found that, like Medicaid, they need proof you're destitute, not just poor.

After all, I could have sold my house and lived in a studio apartment somewhere and afforded their pills that were still under patent.

I ordered from Canada and Mexico, instead.

You're exactly right that this is a feel good program that helps very few people and is just a smokescreen to conceal what they're really doing to sick folks in this country.

[Justitia]

3. My son made use of it, and it helped. I wouldn't discourage it.

Yes, healthcare for all is the goal.
However, in the near-term, like the here and NOW, it can help people.
My son got his chemo meds for free and other prescriptions at a significant discount.
When you are desperate, every little bit helps.
It is not the ultimate answer, but it is useful, and we only knew about it from those commercials.
He didn't have years to wait for healthcare policy to change.
In case anyone needs it:
www.pparx.org

[PA Democrat]

4. Is it just me, or does this "program" sound like nothing like a PR campaign to boost their image?

Throw some free meds at a small number of very desperate people to ward off criticism of big pharma's obscene profits.

The latest trend with the most disgusting corporate entities is to spend money on ad campaigns to boost their image rather than address their shoddy business practices. WalMart and the payday lenders' ads are prime examples.

[SoCalDem]

5. Yep, for the most part it's a PR stunt. The lucky few get help, the rest

get an "sorry-not-a-winner..play-again".

My friend's husband needed medication, and but he was foolish enough to have worked at a job that gave him a pension, so he was ineligible.

His 75 year old wife had to get a job to earn enough to pay for his meds...and since he was bedridden, he had to stay alone all day until she got home from work to tend to his needs..

She found work at a local casino, cleaning bathrooms..

[HockeyMom]

6. When my daughter was sick

and my husband lost his job (outsourced twice), I took her to a private clinic. The doctor charged us a fairly low fee (payment plan) and gave her the meds free from samples he had in his office.

I will admit it is easier for children than adults. Our state has low cost, or free, medical benefits for kids under 18.

[Madspirit]

7. The drug companies

Actually I'm bipolar and very poor and the drug companies always give me meds free. My shrink has to fill stuff out but they are good about it. Now I am so poor I am without shrink so can't get meds because they require a prescription but when I do have a doctor the drug companies have been really good about giving me my meds.
Lee

[KT2000]

8. A person can pay into insurance

for umpteen years and the minute they are out of a job - no insurance, which tranlates to no healthcare.
Yes - that ad bothers me too - propaganda for keeping the status quo. One would think Montel would know better.