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For more than four decades, I’ve been battling psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.
Enbrel, one of the medications I need to manage my conditions, comes with a staggering price tag. Last year alone, I paid over $9,000 out of pocket for this one medication. As a nurse, I spent years counseling patients on the importance of taking their medications consistently. Yet I’ve found myself occasionally skipping doses due to its prohibitive cost.
Managing these conditions has taken a serious toll on my body, but the financial strain of my life-sustaining medications has caused stress beyond belief.
But hope is on the horizon. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, my out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $2,000 starting in 2025. For myself and millions of others on Medicare who rely on expensive medications, this relief is truly life-changing. The out-of-pocket cap next year promises savings of up to $7,000 next year — a huge financial burden lifted off my shoulders.
Finally, my husband and I can begin to worry less about managing the overwhelming costs of my medications and enjoy our well-earned retirement together.
Judy Aiken
Portland