There has been a proposed change to the Air Miles incentive program for prescription drugs and, as a patient suffering with several chronic health issues, I wanted to bring up some of the issues from a patient’s perspective.
I realize that I have no official position or official voice other than that of the public, but this is a situation that I am very passionate about and one that will directly affect me. This is in no way meant to be a sob story type of letter. This is more an explanation of why receiving a relatively small perk through Air Miles holds such gravity in being continued as an incentive.
My medical history is a little complicated. I will sum it up in as few words as possible. I have been receiving prescription medications from Safeway Pharmacies for 12 years now. My list of conditions includes:
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Pouchitis
- Recurrent Pancreatitis
- Chronic Migraines
- Myofascial Pain Disorder
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Sinus Tachycardia
- Psoriasis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
Plus a few smaller issues: bouts of teeth grinding, bouts of sleep apnea, insomnia, as well as an eye disease presenting like Macular Degeneration with no conclusive diagnosis as of yet, and speculation of other illnesses that cannot be confirmed without a laparoscopy, which is not an option. Further diagnostic tests are still being performed.
I had my large intestine removed at age 17, the reconnection and J-Pouch done 7 months following that initial surgery, as well as a few smaller surgeries. I have been on disability now since May of this year due to the recent diagnosis of AS. I am unable to work. I will be unable to work full time, if at all, for the remainder of my life. I am 26 years old.
The Air Miles incentive for prescription drugs has been a silver lining to an awful situation. Regardless of the perks, I have to be on several different medications. These medications are usually terrifying, include giving myself injections at home and include several – extremely difficult – side effects that can be as dangerous as the conditions themselves. I have no choice but to be on these medications. I am one of the lucky few and I have coverage for prescription medications but I do NOT believe that that is a reason to be denied a perk either. The perk of Air Miles, for me personally, has more to do with something positive coming out of being so ill (with conditions that could not be prevented, were not caused by anything that I did, nor have any cure). Furthermore, I would like to note that getting my prescriptions at Safeway was a decision made on the collective benefits including quality of care, pharmacy hours, location, convenience with grocery shopping, AND Air Miles.
It is hard enough, as a patient, to be on as many medications as I have to be – and my situation is better than a lot of other people who are dealing with much more serious health conditions. What I find difficult is that the proposal to remove the Air Miles incentive is taking away that little bit of a positive spin on being ill. One thing I would like people to remember is that dealing with a chronic health condition is not simply remembering to pick up medications once in a while or going to doctor’s appointments every now and then.
Dealing with any chronic condition is a way of life. It is a part of who we are – and we deal with these issues every single minute of every single day. It is not something that can be simply forgotten, put out of one’s mind, or ignored at any point in time. It pervades one’s every thought, every activity, every single decision. Doesn’t it seem a little fair that we can continue to have this one, relatively small, perk to having to deal with these issues consistently?
I realize that I have no official position or official voice other than that of the public, but this is a situation that I am very passionate about and one that will directly affect me. This is in no way meant to be a sob story type of letter. This is more an explanation of why receiving a relatively small perk through Air Miles holds such gravity in being continued as an incentive.
My medical history is a little complicated. I will sum it up in as few words as possible. I have been receiving prescription medications from Safeway Pharmacies for 12 years now. My list of conditions includes:
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Pouchitis
- Recurrent Pancreatitis
- Chronic Migraines
- Myofascial Pain Disorder
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Sinus Tachycardia
- Psoriasis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
Plus a few smaller issues: bouts of teeth grinding, bouts of sleep apnea, insomnia, as well as an eye disease presenting like Macular Degeneration with no conclusive diagnosis as of yet, and speculation of other illnesses that cannot be confirmed without a laparoscopy, which is not an option. Further diagnostic tests are still being performed.
I had my large intestine removed at age 17, the reconnection and J-Pouch done 7 months following that initial surgery, as well as a few smaller surgeries. I have been on disability now since May of this year due to the recent diagnosis of AS. I am unable to work. I will be unable to work full time, if at all, for the remainder of my life. I am 26 years old.
The Air Miles incentive for prescription drugs has been a silver lining to an awful situation. Regardless of the perks, I have to be on several different medications. These medications are usually terrifying, include giving myself injections at home and include several – extremely difficult – side effects that can be as dangerous as the conditions themselves. I have no choice but to be on these medications. I am one of the lucky few and I have coverage for prescription medications but I do NOT believe that that is a reason to be denied a perk either. The perk of Air Miles, for me personally, has more to do with something positive coming out of being so ill (with conditions that could not be prevented, were not caused by anything that I did, nor have any cure). Furthermore, I would like to note that getting my prescriptions at Safeway was a decision made on the collective benefits including quality of care, pharmacy hours, location, convenience with grocery shopping, AND Air Miles.
It is hard enough, as a patient, to be on as many medications as I have to be – and my situation is better than a lot of other people who are dealing with much more serious health conditions. What I find difficult is that the proposal to remove the Air Miles incentive is taking away that little bit of a positive spin on being ill. One thing I would like people to remember is that dealing with a chronic health condition is not simply remembering to pick up medications once in a while or going to doctor’s appointments every now and then.
Dealing with any chronic condition is a way of life. It is a part of who we are – and we deal with these issues every single minute of every single day. It is not something that can be simply forgotten, put out of one’s mind, or ignored at any point in time. It pervades one’s every thought, every activity, every single decision. Doesn’t it seem a little fair that we can continue to have this one, relatively small, perk to having to deal with these issues consistently?