REAL NORTH DAKOTA STORIES
“I am a kidney/pancreas recipient and am on immuno-suppressants, which, even after insurance pays, costs me hundreds of dollars a month. I am also diabetic and need insulin and diabetic supplies and I take pills for acid reflux. As you can imagine, being an organ recipient and diabetic, I spend a lot of money on medication.
“Sometimes I skip taking my pills, which is very dangerous, I could lose my kidney and end up on dialysis again. But sometimes I have no choice, I skip in order to have money for gas and groceries.”
—M.B., Bismarck
“I have Blue Cross and it hardly covers my medication. I am on thyroid medication, cholesterol, and one other and the three combined when I fill them runs my payment to over 200 dollars. I have not taken any of them for over two months, because I can not afford them. When they are ready to be filled I sometimes do not have the money and that is what happened. I really think ND needs to fix the problem we are in and get the med cost down.”
—A.C., Crosby
“I have good health insurance; yet I cannot afford my medications. I am eighteen years old and am on my own. I go to school full-time and work full-time to pay my medical bills and have health insurance.
I do not take all of the medications I am supposed to be taking because I cannot afford it. I just recently had strep throat and to get my medications in Grand Forks, ND it was $180 with my health insurance. I went over to East Grand Forks, MN and it was $78.
I have thought multiple times about moving, but I am attending college here at this time. It’s highly likely that I will be out of here when I am done with school, because I will be on medications for a long time. I have a thyroid dysfunction, epilepsy, and migraines. I am on 6-7 meds a month. I spend over $500 on these meds and that is with health insurance.
North Dakota really needs to do something. ND is always worried about young people not staying around here. This is another thing that pushes me and classmates of mine away.”
—C.R., Grand Forks
“My Dad recently retired from his job and my Mom is disabled. And with a fixed income my parents really have a tight budget. They tried to get help from a state program but made too much money to qualify by $100!!! What a waste of time. AND with all the medications my Mother takes for everything from thyroid problems to chronic pain and my Dad takes inhalers for breathing problems. They really need help with their prescriptions and they cannot always depend on freebies from the doctor. My parents need help NOW with prescription costs!!!!!!”
—L.E., Bismarck
“After disability retirement in 2002, I found it a requirement to locate a drug supply at a reasonable price. I made many inquires and found the drug costs to be reduced by 2/3 in Canada. I have been buying there for much less. The drugs are from the same manufacture as in the U.S.A. Being on a fixed income, I need all the help I can get. Our elected politicians need to address this issue now and not be swayed by the drug cartel.”
—R.D., Burlington
“I am a 38 year old woman who has a compromised immune system due to a hereditary blood disorder and a virus. I am also epileptic, have RLS, Fibromyalgia, and suffer from severe depression as well as reactive arthritis. My husband is the sole worker in my family and we have two boys. Sometimes I cannot go to the clinic when I’m sick because I have to pay for medicines. We are in the poverty level when it comes to taxes and have had to file for bankruptcy due to relentless mounting medical bills as well as others just to survive. Please Change this law as I love my home state but not this bill. I am looking ahead to future for my kids as well.”
—N.T., Fargo
“I have heart disease, diabetes, early alzheimer’s, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. I am not overweight and take care of myself. I have been in the ‘donut hole’ for the last two months and have paid almost $2,000 from my own pocket for prescriptions. I have another $2,500 to go before I won’t have to pay anymore which means I will be paying until the end of the year. I cannot afford these payments so have quit the alzheimer’s drugs and have contacted Wal-Mart in Rapid City. They sent me a three month supply of 3 prescriptions which saved me hundreds of dollars.”
—J.F., Bismarck
“I take $900 in prescriptions a month; we need to lower prescription costs in ND.”
—J.A., Bismarck
“I am very interested in updating the 1963 ND Century Code 43-15-35 requiring pharmacies be 51% owned by registered pharmacists. This law is outdated and needs to be brought up to current lifestyles.”
—D.S., Bismarck
“My wife takes numerous prescription medications. She is a chronic meyeloid leukemia patient as well as an asthmatic. We’re finding that it’s well worth the minor inconvenience of driving across the river to Moorhead to avail ourselves of the cheaper generic prescriptions that are offered by the big box retailers such as Target, Walgreens and Wal-Mart.
I also take two prescription medications for my high blood pressure. Those also cost much less by going over to Moorhead to get them.
We wish your organization well as you get the word out to the public that the pharmacy ownership law is just what it is: a protectionist law. As the rural pharmacists retire, there are few if any young people who are willing to step into their shoes, when they know full well they can earn twice if not three times more money as a pharmacist in another state.
North Dakota is desperately trying to keep its young people in the state. However, its laws just like this one that are driving them out in droves.
The Board of Pharmacy needs to stop it’s charade and opposition of repealing the ownership law. Competition should rule the market.”
—R.O., Fargo
We’d like to hear your story, too. Let us know how high prescription drug prices have affected you and your family. Your stories will help us advocate for affordable prescription prices for all North Dakotans. And be sure to check back here as we post real stories from North Dakotans just like you.
