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It has been two years since I have been on my miracle drug, Saphris, and in that time I have not suffered from a single delusion or hallucination. That is so miraculous as to be unbelievable. Two healthy years after ten bad ones. 1/
It needs to be said, however, that my miracle drug costs $1250 a month and, were I not so well employed I would have no way to pay for it. Many people with schizophrenia are too incapacitated by this disease to be employed. 2/
Before being employed my medicine was twice paid for by friends, and I believe that it is only with the help of this medicine and those friends that I was able to even be employed and get insurance. 3/
So we can address this in three ways: 1) we can either have more charitable friends, 2) we can reduce the price of drugs, and 3) we can make sure the unemployed and poor have access to healthcare. 4/
Because expecting people who are unemployed BECAUSE OF their disabilities to get employed in able to pay for their care is backwards. Health is a precursor to gainful employment (and therefore most insurance) 5/
Of those three options, I believe that all three of them are possible. Is it better to tax people to pay for healthcare or not tax people and leave them to choose to donate to charity? My opinion: 6/
First, of course we should reduce the price of drugs. Because $1250 a month (with a coupon!) is ridiculous. 7/
Second, never in the history of mankind, before the advent of taxation and social welfare, has private charity ever come close to dealing with the proper care of the disabled. 8/
Can charity work? Yes, in theory. Does it work solely on its own? Not in recorded history. Is this pessimism on my part? Probably, but I think it's backed up by data. 9/
Anyway, Medicare for All, socialized medicine, universal healthcare, whatever you want to call it. Get it done. It's the only realistic way to make a difference. /end
