I am 56 years old and have worked all of my adult life.  I have type 2 diabetes and many of the complications associated to diabetes.  Unfortunately my last employer could not continue to offer health insurance to workers and was forced to discontinue our coverage.  Ultimately my employer could not meet payroll and was forced to lay many of us off, I was one of the people layed off.

I have a very disabled husband who has Medicare and Kaiser coverage but his co-pays for prescriptions and medical visits are taxing on our budget.  As a result of this, I have discontinued all of my prescriptions and do not seek any medical care. 

Late last year, I was very ill with kidney problems and was hospitalized for 8 days.  I have a kidney infection now and know the risk of my family losing everything we have worked our entire life for so I decided to treat myself.  I went to the pet store and purchased “AQUA-PENN” for $14.95 for a bottle of 50, 250mg penicillin tablets.  I searched the Internet for correct adult dosage and have been taking 4000mgs per day.  The Internet website I got my dosage information from suggests that a 10 day treatment plan will be the best.  I also researched Kidney infections and determined that taking vitamin C will be helpfull so I do.  This is a short term solution because my diabetes is out of control due to lack of medication and overwhelming stress.

I have worked in the health care industry most of my working life and I believe it would cost upwards of $1,000.00 to resolve my kidney infection, ie; Doctor appointment, lab work, prescription antibiotic and follow-up. 

I am intelligent enough to know the risk I am taking with my life.  I grew up with a disabled father and I know what poverty is about.  I simply will not put my family or myself through that, as such, I am hoping my treatment plan for myself works.

By the way, a cobra plan was completely out of reach for me financially, it would have cost about $600.00 per month and you still have co-pays above that if you seek treatment.