Athena Joost, a 28-year-old nurse living in Oregon, knows firsthand how prescription drug prices can impact treatment options. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition that can cause debilitating flare-ups. After initial treatments failed, her doctor recommended a biologic medication. Together, they decided on Stelara (Ustekinumab). “I kind of picked […]
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May, Indiana
Last December, May’s life changed in an instant when she was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a dangerous blood clot in her lungs. Doctors immediately prescribed blood thinners to prevent another one from forming. The diagnosis was frightening, but what shocked her most was the price of the medication she needed to survive. “I was on […]
Jennifer Blumenthal, New Jersey
For years, 55-year-old Jennifer Blumenthal of New Jersey, has lived with Type 1.5 diabetes. Managing her condition depends on two prescriptions, Novolog and Jardiance. Without them, her health and life are at risk. Finding the right treatment hasn’t been easy. After years of taking an antibiotic that damaged her liver, Jennifer’s diabetes spiraled out of control, leading to a […]
Angel Melendez, Texas
Living with asthma can be a lifelong challenge, especially when finding a treatment that works means navigating barriers like step therapy, an insurance practice that requires patients to try and fail on lower-cost medications before gaining access to newer, often more effective treatments. For Angel, a 30-year-old living in Texas who has battled severe asthma […]
Leslie Rogers, Oregon
Gloria Rogers was born in September 2013 at full term, weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz. She struggled right out of the gate with breathing and feeding and spent most of her first hours on the incubator machine. In the first months of her life, doctors discovered numerous challenges, from a galloping heart rhythm to pulmonic […]
Kelly Fryman, Florida
Kelly Fryman, a 63-year-old woman living with diabetes in Florida, has spent years working to keep her condition under control. She is proud of the progress she has made. “I went from 9.0 to 5.6 on my A1c,” she explained. At first, Kelly managed her condition with medications such as Trulicity and Mounjaro. Eventually, she […]
Jim and Teresa Matthews, South Carolina
Jim and Teresa Matthews never imagined that a hospital visit in August of 2024 could unravel into a financial bureaucratic nightmare. From Indian Land, South Carolina, the Matthews run a medical practice just across the state line in Indian Trail, North Carolina, where Jim is an optometrist and Teresa serves as office manager. Being health […]
Morgan Barrett, Kansas
Morgan Barrett, a resident of Kansas, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at only seven years old. She and her two siblings have the same form of the disease, and growing up, they faced many serious health challenges. CF is a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system and can cause breathing […]
Bob Parant, New York
Bob Parant has been living with type 1 diabetes for over 52 years. Diagnosed at 19 during what he calls the “dark ages” of diabetes care, Bob’s journey has been one of perseverance, adaptation, and advocacy. At the time, diabetes management was rudimentary—urine testing provided little insight into actual blood sugar levels, and treatment relied […]
Robin C., Missouri
In 2017 Robin, a therapist from Missouri, fell very ill to the point where she could not even stand, so her husband took her to the ER. There, they informed her she had ketoacidosis, specifically a life-threatening form of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and that she only had one day to live without treatment. The doctors […]