I am fortunate to have comprehensive health insurance. The table below is what it would cost me to stay alive and functioning without insurance.
This is the cash price of my medical expenses for a year. A good year. Figures are rounded but based upon explanation of benefits (EoBs) for past procedures, medications, etc.
I have excluded the costs of living in a safe apartment, full of safe furniture, with utilities turned on, to be able to care for myself. I have also excluded the costs of skilled nursing that I do for myself (which saves about $250 a DAY).
I have chosen to ignore the fact that the stress of not having insurance would significantly trigger my disease, resulting in higher expenses. I have chosen to ignore this because it would also likely kill me so my expenses would drop off pretty quickly.
If I lost my insurance, used every bit of money, and sold everything I own, I could pay for less than a month of care.
I’m sure I’m forgetting some stuff. I’ll add them in when I think of them.
| Item | Cost | Frequency | Total per year |
| Standard meds (cetirizine, ranitidine, cromolyn, ketorolac, ketotifen, levothyroxine, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D, turmeric, prednisone, trimethobenzamide, ondansetron, metoclopramide, montelukast, gabapentin, fluticasone, glycerin, lidocaine jelly, and pain meds) | $1,527 | Monthly | $18,324 |
| IV meds (IV Benadryl, IV Pepcid, IV Solu-Medrol, 5% Dextrose in Lactated Ringer’s ) | $1,600 | Monthly | $19,200 |
| Specialty injectable meds (Enbrel, Xolair) | $6,709 | Monthly | $80,508 |
| Compounded medications | $110 | Monthly | $1,320 |
| As needed meds | $85 | Monthly | $1,020 |
| Epipens | $650 (2 pack) | Three times a year | $1,950 |
| Office appointments (routine) | $980 (4/month) | Monthly | $11,760 |
| Office appointments (specialty, procedure) | $1,260 (2/month) | Monthly | $15,120 |
| Surgical procedures (scopes, etc) | $3,000 | Twice a year | $6,000 |
| Lab work | $1,000 (4/month) | Monthly | $12,000 |
| Skilled nursing care | $1,000 (4/month) | Monthly | $12,000 |
| Central line supplies | $800 (4/month) | Monthly | $9,600 |
| Other medical supplies | $150 | Monthly | $1,800 |
| Imaging studies | $1,800 | Four times a year | $7,200 |
| ER Visits | $4,400 | Twice a year | $8,800 |
| Hospitalization | $6,850 (per night) | 7 nights a year | $47,950 |
| Major surgery | $29,000 | Once every other year | $14,500 |
| Ambulance | $650 | Twice a year | $1,300 |
| Dentist | $325 | Twice a year | $650 |
| Safe foods | $450 | Monthly | $5,400 |
| Transportation (Uber, taxis, gas) | $300 | Monthly | $3,600 |
| Phone (to schedule appointments, receive results, communicate about medical issues) | $80 | Monthly | $960 |
| Total | $280,962 |