My name is Barbara Bultman, and I am a resident of Faribault, Minnesota. I’ve got a big family –– 8 kids, 19 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. When I’m not with my family, I love to spend time with my longtime group of girl friends. 

I have issues with my lungs, so my doctor wrote me a prescription for multiple inhalers. I never expected to have to worry about the cost of medicine, but it’s now something that is constantly on my mind. Trelegy Ellipta is an inhaler that has worked wonders on my breathing –– but it costs $353 out of pocket. I couldn’t afford that, so I had to borrow money from people to get the inhaler I need to breathe. The Augmentin I take on top of my inhalers is also expensive.

I ration my inhaler and it affects my health and my lungs. I know there are so many others going through this. I get scared and it causes stress, which only worsens my health. I worked in manual labor all my life, and it has taken its toll on my body. I’ve been left with osteoarthritis and scoliosis.

Life is hard when you’re sick and aging. I hope every day that I will receive help and be able to afford my medication.