I recently had a medical complication that led me to have an unplanned surgery.
Even with health coverage, I experienced the challenge of having to decide whether to pay out of pocket for a medication that would help post-operatively.
After two days of unbearable pain, I sought out ways to obtain the medication, even a generic version of it, for a more reasonable price.
The “cheapest” was slightly over $1,000! I had to decide whether to pay out of pocket and find other ways to cut costs in my budget for the month or just forego getting the medication altogether.
I decided to “suck it up” and did not get the medication. While I understand this is not the decision others would make, I am sharing my personal experience to highlight how not everyone can afford medications or treatments even with health insurance.
Was I miserable and did I suffer for a week, yes. BUT, I didn’t have to worry about not having groceries or being able to afford to put gas in my vehicle to take me to work.
Does that change your perception of me? Is that the “image” of me you had in your mind?
During disasters, we often neglect to think about elderly patients who do not want to evacuate their homes because they have animals that are part of their family, and the closest shelter may not accept the animal. We criticize their decision without taking a moment to understand their perspective.
People who are on a fixed income or have a tight budget, may not be able to afford additional expenditures that come up. Let alone ones as a result of medical emergencies.
We can plan as much as possible, but there are things that are outside of our control. All this to say, we need to be aware of the challenges that others are facing, whether they have health insurance or not. We have to be mindful of inviting others to events where there is a fee that is above their ability to pay.
The only way to know what others are going through is to have a nonjudgmental conversation with them. We have to create trust and mutual respect. If we can’t do that, then what has humanity come to?
#adventureswithnursejamla