Affording HRT

Sir Real · September 28, 2014, 05:37:02 PM

Long story short, I can't afford HRT. I have the prescription for testosterone, that's not the problem. I can't work, am not on disability, and don't qualify for any aids like OW (welfare) or TDP (Trillium Drug Plan) because I'm dependent on my parents because I can't work. (To get on disability you have to apply, get denied, then request an internal review, get denied and then appeal which takes forever. Just the way it works and I'm doing it now but it'll take time). So I am running out of options here. So far I've looked at doing paid testing like for medical or psychological stuff and there's nothing in my area. I've looked at selling plasma which I can't do here. I've got a couple random things I can sell which will help a little if they sell. I've started Swagbucks and this is going to take forever to get anything, but I'm desperate and going to do it anyway. Does anyone have any ideas that maybe I haven't thought of/don't know of?

2fish · September 28, 2014, 09:08:29 PM

If you live in the States go to www goodrx com and print a coupon. In my area it cuts the cost from $111 to $45.00.

Rich726 · September 28, 2014, 09:37:16 PM

Go online and see if you can find a prescription card to use. You'll be surprised how much they save you.

Sir Real · September 29, 2014, 09:21:35 AM

I live in Ontario Canada, sorry should have mentioned that before... I'm not sure if TDP is what would be the equivalent of a prescription card? Which I can't get :/

Polo · October 06, 2014, 10:53:35 AM

Have you checked what you can do online? I don't know why you can't work but there are some things available online, this website sums up the ones I immediately thought of plus a couple I hadn't: http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/homebasedbusiness/a/makemoneyonline.htm
I also jumped to app-building, people can make some big money off of that...

Buying testosterone online can be much cheaper, but you have to do your homework to make sure it's a legit website. There are certain medical providers in the US that use online med sites to get around state legal issues (but nationally legal, the U.S. can be a mess) so there are good ones out there.

Edit: Also, what talking to your doctor/parents? They may have some answers for you...

In the U.S. we have something called Care Credit, which is essentially a credit card/loan for medical expenses. Maybe they have something like that you could look into?

Alaena_okc · October 06, 2014, 11:03:14 AM

WOW, that really bites... the whole thing can be very expensive for us TG folks who have very little income - initial blood test 200 to 500 dollars, then they put you on the lowest dose possible just to see if your body can handle it, even though you tell them i have used estrofem for years prior to this exam. but im sure there are others who could use this kind of info. So when you figure it out, please keep us informed...

My self, i dont know how to get the HRT prescriptions with little or no moneys...

i always figured they pretty much have too many hands trying to make a profit off them, if you can find the source or producers of hormones, that they might be a bit cheaper...

Sir Real · October 07, 2014, 05:45:09 PM

I'm very fortunate that I don't have to pay for blood tests here. I think I'd have far less chance of starting if I had to. I was able to so far gather enough money (by selling a lot of console stuff) for a vials worth so I'm on it now! (yay!) Got my first shot yesterday! Won't last forever, of course. I still have some things I can sell, though. Hopefully I'll be able to.

This is gonna sound a bit stupid but not sure how I feel about getting T in the mail because my parents are going to start asking a lot of questions and get mad. Though I will definitely do the research anyways and see what's out there. Trying to find out if Stroheckers will ship to Canada and how much that would cost.

Polo, thanks for the ideas! Hopefully I'll be able to get one of those to work out for me.

Update: Can't get prescriptions mailed from the States.

Alexis2107 · October 07, 2014, 06:35:24 PM

Quote from: Evan of Spades on September 28, 2014, 05:37:02 PM
Long story short, I can't afford HRT. I have the prescription for testosterone, that's not the problem. I can't work, am not on disability, and don't qualify for any aids like OW (welfare) or TDP (Trillium Drug Plan) because I'm dependent on my parents because I can't work. (To get on disability you have to apply, get denied, then request an internal review, get denied and then appeal which takes forever. Just the way it works and I'm doing it now but it'll take time). So I am running out of options here. So far I've looked at doing paid testing like for medical or psychological stuff and there's nothing in my area. I've looked at selling plasma which I can't do here. I've got a couple random things I can sell which will help a little if they sell. I've started Swagbucks and this is going to take forever to get anything, but I'm desperate and going to do it anyway. Does anyone have any ideas that maybe I haven't thought of/don't know of?

Hey sweetie

Since two years ago social security disability has changed their policies because they got tired of paying years of back pay, going to court, etc..My hospital counselor said I really should try and apply. I got it on my first try and it was rather simple. Then, you could get on Obamacare and get everything paid for including certain surgery. At the moment, it takes 24 months to get medicare after you are accepted for disability. However, obamacare is way much better and cheaper than Medicare as it is through major insurance providers like Anthem.

Note, once you apply for disability, apply for SSI -- you can start getting money right away but it isn't very much plus Medicade, which should also pay for your HRT's -- but it's better than nothing! (:

Good luck. My BEST advice, is to apply for disability like right now, online.

kaye · October 08, 2014, 03:10:56 AM

Quote from: Evan of Spades on September 29, 2014, 09:21:35 AM
I live in Ontario Canada, sorry should have mentioned that before... I'm not sure if TDP is what would be the equivalent of a prescription card? Which I can't get :/

Canada? You don't have subsidised medication in Canada and some sort of government welfare?

That's very surprising. Thought Canada was better than that.

Sir Real · October 08, 2014, 08:08:51 AM

Quote from: kaye on October 08, 2014, 03:10:56 AM
Canada? You don't have subsidised medication in Canada and some sort of government welfare?

That's very surprising. Thought Canada was better than that.

We do. Welfare in Ontario is called OW, Ontario Works. I'm not eligible because I'm dependant on my parents financially. We also have help for people who cannot afford prescriptions which is TDP. But again, I'm dependant on my family so, without getting into the details, it doesn't help me in this case. I understand the reasoning behind this, but it just makes it a bit difficult right now :/

crowcrow223 · October 08, 2014, 12:15:22 PM

Out of pure curiosity and desire to understand you and the world, are you disabled and unable to work?

Sir Real · October 09, 2014, 11:09:49 AM

Hi crowcrow. No problem. I have had severe depression since puberty along with psychosis and then PTSD before that since I was 5-6. I've pretty much struggled my whole life with some sort of serious mental illness or another. My abilities to work or do school or function in life have been very compromised because of this. I'm currently in recovery but I'm definitely not "there" yet. Of course, a big part of all this has been compounded with being trans and having fairly bad ADD. So the short answer is yes, I'm currently unable to work. But, I will get there one day and am able to slowly work toward that!

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Affording HRT