You are on a fixed income and heart meds that costs $250 a month, do you pay for the meds or the heating bill?

Question

Call Me Bwana -- except for Iraqis, Afghans, Israelis and Turks right?

Answer 1

freedom isnt free..sell your house to pay for iraq

Answer 2

If you are a senior citizen or have a very low income, then you might be able to get help for the heat or meds.. In the interim, here's some ideas.. Talk to your power company and see if they have any help with heating programs that you qualify for or if they have a budget plan.. ..Try heating up a minimum of living space. At night, you might try using an electric blanket, and turing main the heat way down.. Curtain off unused areas, and close their vents.. Put plastic on the windows. . Take advantage of heat that is generated if you bake, or use a clothes dryer by opening the door when you are done to let the excess heat into the room. Always, turn off what you are not using.. If you don't qualify for aid from the manufactuor on the meds see if you can get a generic, or a subsititute that is cheaper.. Also, if you'd don't already have one, check into a discount medicine card.. It can cut your cost substantially on medicines.. .Possibly some off these sugestions will help you to pay for both.. .

Answer 3

Real life check.
You will not get hired if you have a heart condition.
They don't need the aggravation. Neither does your heart. You may not qualify for aid, the requirement are very low and social security plus owning your home may knock you out of the poverty ball park.
I see people who have worked all their lives end up like this, they wear sweaters and stay in bed under the covers and they take their pills and break them in half.
And they use alternate heating sources, like kerosene heaters.
Mostly they just get cold. You don't even have to be on a fixed income, not with a 300% rise in heating oil prices over the last six years. We shut off part of our home to keep things affordable. And we have a good income.
But it doesn't keep up with taxes and gas and oil increases, or food for that matter.
Its shameful that some young idiot thinks that elderly heart patients should get a job so she doens't have to pay for someone elses heart meds. Who does she think paid for her education, and is still paying for her childrens education?
If anything she should see the doctor, she may not have a heart at all.

Law, a fixed income is one that doesn't rise, its usually meant to be retired people who are living on their life savings, pensions and social security.
You might also want to think about the fact that wearing a sweat suit won't help if you live in one of the colder states, and the elderly have poor tolerence for cold, for them it can be fatal. As it is each winter there are sad stories of house fires and frozen bodies. And again, a 60 year old with a heart condition can't work two jobs. They won't get hired.

Answer 4

Well, to answer that, I need to know some of the other costs involved, as well as the amount for the heating bill. There are ways of doing it, with the way the system is now..though it's likely going to be a lot of paperwork. If money is that tight for you, there is government assistance available if you know how to look for it.

And those talking about life choices...not all heart related conditions are connected to that. Some are purely genetic.

Answer 5

You get on PACE, PACENET, or Medicaid or you're lying about your income. And if you're disabled or over 65 you qualify for Medicare Part D which is drug coverage.

Sorry I know you wanted an answer that was all doom and gloom so I'll try an answer you'll like:

My whole family froze to death facing this same horrible choice. We had already switched from Tender Vittles and Fancy Feast to generic cat food so we could eat. Then we figured out that winter lasts three months EVERY year so we budget. $250 a month for 3 months hmmmm $62 dollars a month.
Wait sorry it turned into an answer you don't like again

Answer 6

Having worked for a university hospital there are programs in my area that you can qualify for if you do not have the means to pay for your heart meds. Evil pharmaceutical companies also have programs that you can register for to provide free or low cost rx's. What heart medication are you on that cost $250 dollars a month.
How about an HIV possitive person who has monthly drug cost of over $2000?

Answer 7

It's a trick question: if you're all that old and poor (fixed income generally = retiree), you wouldn't be paying for either. You'd be on the lifeline program with the utility, and medicare for the drugs (or if they aren't covered, a frequent flyer at the emergency room).

Answer 8

LOL...too many good answers already. It does seem that $250 per month is a bit steep for a heating bill. Dressing in layers is what the soldiers do in Iraq...some sleeping on the cold ground...protecting your right to whine.

Answer 9

you did not say what type of fixed income you are on,i.e. ssi,military retirement,company retirement,and you did not mention your age,so if you are a senior citizen,and or disabled,mentally,or physically,you should not have to choose between,your meds,or heating bill,but unfortunately the fed government is saddled by the democrat party in providing for the needs of its nonworking voters,and nonvoters,but that agree with dem/lib ideals that the gov.should reward laziness at the expense of seniors,and the disabled!

Answer 10

Right. And--if you look at the fine print of Bush's so-called "prescription ddrug plan" you notice something interesting: In your example that's $3000/year. Now--to be on the plan costs around $550. And the plan will pay--on that amount--no more than about $1250. So your net assistance is maybe $700--call it 25%. That's if you're lucky--in most cases the outcome isn't that good.

Oh--and about those heating bills. We were assured by the (GOP) politicians that deregulating things like natura l gas would "bring increased competition and lower prices." At this point, I think we can justifiably say they were either lying through their teeth or incredibly stupied. Or both.

Answer 11

You can try to appeal to the company that makes the medication. You can see about a program for reduced heating costs. You lower the heat and see if that makes enough of a difference. You appeal to your community. These are things that you can do.
Aside from that, lobby your government. Get a part-time job.
I know plenty of retired people that do just that. It helps them get out of the house too. Sometimes pharmacists will help patients out as well.