When Chronic Migraine Costs You Your Career — My Bill of Health
Key takeaways:
Yuri Cárdenas has lived with migraines since childhood.
At age 35, chronic migraines became so disabling that Yuri left a 15-year career.
Medical costs — which include medicine, supplements, visits to doctors, transportation, and a service dog — add up to more than $1,500 a month.
My Bill of Health is a series of stories about the financial strain of healthcare.
Yuri Cárdenas remembers the first time experiencing a migraine attack — at the age of 4. Migraine is a complex neurological disorder with symptoms that include headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, and vision changes.
At age 35, Yuri was diagnosed with chronic migraine. The condition became so disabling that Yuri left a 15-year career as a senior producer in interactive media. Up until then, Yuri had always been active and was an avid traveler, who took dance classes, volunteered, and had a big social life.
“I liked to live life to the fullest,” Yuri says. “Then, when my migraine attacks became more frequent, I left work hoping that I would get back to ‘normal.’ But 9 years in, that still hasn't happened.”
Migraine attacks have interrupted all aspects of life
Now 44 and living in Oakland, California, Yuri no longer has a job or much of a social life.
“I say, my dog is my social life right now,” Yuri says of service dog, Katsu.
Chronic migraine attacks have essentially affected every aspect of Yuri’s life.
At first, Yuri’s health insurance covered most medical costs. But Yuri’s coverage changed, and the cost of Yuri’s medications has risen dramatically.
Because Yuri is on disability income and Medicare, finding affordable care can be complicated. Yuri often spends most of the day on the phone trying to get treatments covered.
Yuri’s medical costs — which include medicine, supplements, visits to doctors, transportation, and a service dog — can cost more than $1,500 a month.
Life with chronic migraines takes an emotional toll
Yuri says the cost of having a chronic condition is more than just financial. It also takes an emotional toll. Yuri wishes that people who don’t have chronic illnesses knew how expensive it can be to get help.
“The people who are the most sick, the people who need the most healthcare, end up paying the most for it.”
Even with disability benefits, Yuri says people with chronic illnesses spend the majority of their money, time, and energy seeking treatment.
That’s why Yuri has become a patient advocate with Patients Rising, an organization that provides support, education, and resources for people living with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
You can never really know what’s going on with someone just by looking at them, Yuri says.
“We're all one accident away from being disabled. And as we get older in life, the world becomes less accessible. So, it really matters to everyone. And the best way to be an ally is to listen to what people need and ask. And it's really as simple as that. Simple and hard.”
Personal finance resources
The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides monthly disability benefits to people who are unable to work for at least 1 year because of a disability. Benefits are based on your earnings history.
You can apply online at SSA.gov or by phone (1-800-772-1213). Before applying, you should gather information and documents, such as:
List of medical conditions
Information about your doctors, healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinics
Military service
Details about your spouse and children
Job history
Education and training background
If you apply online, you must meet the following requirements:
You are 18 or older.
You are not currently receiving Social Security benefits.
You are unable to work because of a condition that is expected to last 12 month or result in death.
You have not been denied disability benefits during the last 60 days.
Yuri shared this story as part of a partnership between GoodRx Health and Patients Rising, which provides education, resources, and advocacy for people living with chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
DISCLAIMER: This article is solely for informational purposes. This article is not professional advice concerning insurance, financial, accounting, tax, or legal matters. All content herein is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Always consult an appropriate professional when you have specific questions about any insurance, financial, or legal matter.
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