Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Day 286 I'm still here!

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. And I left the narrative in such a negative place. My apologies for my absence. It's not that I haven't had anything to say, or that I have not been able to get to it, I guess sometimes you just need to take a step back, which is what I did. However I am back and am thrilled to tell you about the developments in my PrEP journey.

When last I wrote, I was so frustrated by my lack of ability to get PrEP or to get funding for PrEP. But Several months later and I am still taking Truvada without breaking my bank. This is how. I have an amazing team at my doctors office. They found a way to make sure I was still able to get Truvada through them, even if I couldn't pay for it. Several new developments have also arisen so I don't have to be a charity case for much longer. Gilead is raising income levels for their Assistance Program to 500% of FPL (or approx $58,350). So you may be able to get PrEP paid for if you are making below that amount and can't afford the drug. Also being told that the Co-Pay Assistance program is expanding from $200 to $300 per month. This is clearly good news expanding the pool of people eligible for assistance. (Thanks to Damon Jacobs for the information!) The other thing is the fact that open enrollment for health insurance is rolling around again. I now know what I need to look for and will be able to see if I can afford a plan that will cover Truvada without me even needing the assistance. So I am grateful for the help from my doctor. I know they are truly looking out for the well being of their patients. But I hate being the charity case that they have taken on, and am grateful for the options that are available to continue to take PrEP without looking for a handout.

Now, another issue came up about a month ago, that had an effect on my PrEP experience. I got a new job! The issue is that this job occurred several days at the time i had been used to taking my Truvada. Not a huge deal, but when I would get home from work it became a challenge to remember to take the medication. So I made the choice to switch when I took my pill. The change from morning to night seems like a simple decision, but it is one that has made my life easier. One of the biggest arguments people have against PrEP is the argument that compliance to a daily regimen is not practical for many people. It is our job as people taking PrEP to find a way to make taking a daily pill possible. It is the only way PrEP remains effective.

Ok, I think I have adequately caught everyone up on my life, and I will try to keep bloging on a more regular basis. Thanks for taking the time to read. Feel free to comment, ask questions, and share this with anyone who might find it interesting.