Woman Finding Out Her Medication Will Cost $18,392 Monthly on Self-Pay Sparks Outrage

When a woman shared her health care experience online, it quickly went viral. Read her story and discover why so many people were shocked by her financial burden after losing her insurance.

Paying bills and caring for one's basic needs can be expensive. Citizens with health conditions or those needing chronic medication are forced to pay exorbitant prices.

Without health insurance, it can be almost impossible to afford the required pills and treatment. One woman recorded the moment she discovered her health care costs—and it was an encounter that resonated with thousands of Americans.

SHE NEEDED UNIQUE MEDICATION

Abigail Gingerale, @abigailgingeraleofficial on TikTok, had a medical condition and required Schedule 3 class medication to treat herself and maintain good health. According to her, only one pharmacy in the United States carried the substance.

The wife was so overwhelmed after hearing the price of her medication that she decided to record the shocking encounter.

She couldn't find it in any other country and added that the vetting process for her prescription was intense. Gingerale didn't disclose the specifications of her disorder in the video but added the hashtag "cataplexy" to her now-viral TikTok clip.

THE FAMILY FELL ON HARD TIMES

In 2020, the photography business Gingerale ran with her husband didn't perform well, and they needed to cut back on their expenses. The family of three couldn't afford their health insurance which cost $1,600. The woman said:

"Unfortunately we are just getting back on our feet, so I don't think it will be possible to have it again for a while."

Gingerale hoped to use the self-pay option to obtain her much-needed medication, but she had no idea how much the treatment would cost.

HER HUSBAND CALLED IT OUTRAGEOUS

The wife was so overwhelmed after hearing the price of her medication that she decided to record the shocking encounter. In a clip posted in 2022, she chatted to a pharmacist about her rare form of narcolepsy, and it gained mass attention and feedback.

During the phone conversation, her husband asked the healthcare provider:

"I'm sorry, would you mind just repeating that number for 30 days, it's how much? And how do you [expletive] justify that? That's so outrageous."

THE TOTAL COST PER MONTH

The healthcare provider quickly read the total price, indicating that they would need to pay "$18,392.40" monthly. Gingerale added on-screen text, which noted that the final amount was actually "$18,023.40."

Regardless, paying more than $18,000 a month was unbelievable for the couple, and many others agreed. Gingerale spoke to the pharmacist next.

She told her it was "okay," because she knew the woman on the phone wasn't responsible for the financially torturous healthcare system. She added:

"I know it's not you. I know you're not the one who makes the price, it's just kind of comical."

SHE COULDN'T AFFORD THE PILLS

Gingerale revealed she would need to stop the medical treatment for her chronic illness because the fees were too high. Many netizens could relate to the woman's story, and her video gained thousands of comments.

People sympathized with Gingerale, and one user living in Australia expressed their gratitude for living outside of America. Someone else wrote:

"Our healthcare system is a crime against humanity."

THE ONLINE REACTION

The comment section was filled with people equally as outraged as Gingerale. One user stated: "My [chemotherapy] pills were $8,000 for five pills per month." Another netizen added:

"The caption said $1800 and I thought 'bad, but I get it.' Then she said 18 thousand and I think I just pooped my pants a little bit. Our system is bad."

Others admitted that their medical expenses were far more than their monthly salary, so they went without and suffered. One user pointed out that Gingerale's fees would amount to more than $200,000 annually. They said: "Worst healthcare system in the world."

SHE RAISED AWARENESS

A few people commented on Gingerale's appearance, suggesting that she had money to pay for "hair dye" and "piercings," so she should have money for her medication.

However, the woman ignored them and was glad her experience raised awareness about the crippling fees linked to the healthcare system in America.

Questions To Ponder:

• Was the woman justified in her reaction to the price of the medication?

Abigail Gingerale was in disbelief when she discovered the price of her pills. The TikToker was devastated because she realized it meant she would have to stop taking them. The high prices forced her to live a life of struggle, and her reaction was understandable, showing the genuine shock she experienced.

• Is there a better way to respond when placed in a similar situation?

While the couple's emotional response was understandable, there was a better way to handle the situation. Gingerale's husband spoke harshly with the pharmacist, who was not at fault. Responding with kindness is not easy, but it is always the best course of action one can take.

Click here for another story about a woman who shared her experiences on TikTok. The pregnant woman had to explain herself and faced lots of insulting remarks.