Cancer Patient Shares $11,000 Monthly Drug Co-Pay Struggle Amidst 'TrumpRx' Discussion

Janet Kerrigan's Cancer Diagnosis and Financial Hardship

• 💡 Janet Kerrigan, a former critical care nurse, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, in 2011.
• 🎯 She was prescribed Revlimid, a life-saving drug, but faced a staggering $11,000 monthly co-pay, equating to $800 per pill.
• 🏥 Kerrigan also incurred significant costs from her stem cell transplant, which was $800,000, and had to pay 20% of that amount.
• 💸 To cover medical expenses, she emptied her pension, cashed in her 401k (incurring taxes due to her age), and struggled to afford her medication.

Navigating the Healthcare System's Challenges

• ⚠️ A social worker suggested Kerrigan get a divorce to lower her income and potentially qualify for assistance, a suggestion that angered her.
• 📉 After leaving her job due to being immunocompromised, she had to pay $1,200 a month for COBRA insurance.
• 🆘 Kerrigan spent eight hours a day searching for financial help, but was repeatedly told she was "over income" despite having no money.

The Impact of High Drug Costs

• 💊 The high cost of Revlimid, $24,000 a month, is questioned, comparing its necessity to insulin for diabetics.
• ⚖️ Kerrigan expresses frustration that patients are forced to choose between living or dying based on decisions by insurers and pharmaceutical companies.
• 🗣️ She became involved with Patients for Affordable Drugs to give a voice to those who are silent and started a support group for multiple myeloma patients.

Reaction to 'TrumpRx' and Message to Others

• ✅ Kerrigan views the 'TrumpRx' initiative as a positive start, though not a complete fix for the drug pricing issue.
• 🤝 She met with RFK and participated in a drug pricing round table, finding that her story and those of others deeply affected him.
• 🌟 Her message to those in similar desperate situations is to be proactive, seek reputable grants, and remember the human factor behind medical bills and treatment decisions.