One Family Hit Particularly Hard with Rx Drug Costs

Dan and Grace are 65 and 62 years old. Their son Michael is in his early 30s. Dan is newly retired and Grace worked a very part time job but now is not well enough to work. She was not eligible for any kind of paid leave or short-term disability. She was diagnosed with ‘involved’ colo-rectal cancer. She was undergoing some very ‘heavy’ chemo and getting radiation treatments at the same time, so she was quite ill.

During this time their son Michael was diagnosed with leukemia, which caused even more challenges for a family that was already struggling. Michael was a musician and was transitioning his career to teaching music for more stable employment. He was hired part time to start with the long-term plan of it evolving into a full time position. He was diagnosed during this transition and was medically underinsured.

His generic prescription drug medication Vincristine, costs roughly $15,000 per month. Additionally, Michael required additional supportive medication. Unfortunately, his insurance pays very little of this exorbitant expense.

Needless to say, the family was in an extremely difficult situation—a retired man with a very sick wife who is unable to work, and a sick son. Grace, is mostly covered by insurance but Michael is not. To cover the prescription drug costs and related expenses, Dan and Grace were forced to take out a second mortgage on their home to pay for their son’s treatment.

After time and some negotiating, they managed to convince their son’s employer to transition him to full time employment status so he would be adequately insured. In addition, they negotiated with the drug company to absorb the lion’s share of the cost of Michael’s treatment.

Unfortunately, these changes came after paying out of pocket for a few rounds of this very expensive treatment. Even though this family found relief, it wasn’t until this retirement-aged couple incurred a five-figure debt with a second mortgage on their home.

They are completely consumed by the illness of both Grace and her son, and all that comes with that—and now they have accumulated an insurmountable debt—a hole they will likely never dig their way out of.