What would you do?

My name is Donna Renfroe and I was diagnosed with acid reflux in 1997. In addition to that, I also suffer from high cholesterol. Thankfully, my doctors have always worked with me to find the best medications to treat my conditions.

I have been on Nexium for a number of years for my acid reflux, but I recently found out that my insurance company won’t cover it anymore. I thought it would be no problem and I could just pay for it myself because some years ago, it was $126 a month without insurance. I was surprised when I found out it is now $700 a month. Nexium is the only thing that controls my symptoms, but I can’t afford the $700 price tag. And Nexium is not the only medication I have had trouble affording. My doctor prescribed me Repatha for high cholesterol, and there was no option but to go without it due to the price.

What would you do if you were told it would cost $1,000 for just two shots of Repatha? I know most people I know would simply not take it, and that was the case for me. I simply could not afford it.

I am a patient who will continue to face the life-altering symptoms of my conditions, and I wish I could afford the medicines that made my quality of life so much better. I am sharing my story to show that patients are not alone in their struggles. There are everyday people, just like me, who are struggling to scrape by and keep their good health. We deserve better.