What is the price of one life?
Versailles man faces insurance dilemma
Wanda English Burnett, Editor
Rusty Reed of Versailles was given a second chance on life with a double organ transplant a year and a half ago. That chance could now be challenged due to the rising costs of insurance in the United States.

Needing literally thousands of dollars worth of medication monthly to maintain his quality of life, Reed is now faced with the fact that his insurance company won’t be paying a large portion of it.

According to Reed, he takes eight different medicines directly related to the pancreas-liver transplant he received in November of 2004. From his childhood, Reed had to deal with being a diabetic. His condition deteriorated drastically in later years and finally he was put on a waiting list and knew he would need to have transplants to live.

“We knew from the beginning I would have to be on anti-rejection medication after the transplants,” Reed told the Osgood Journal. He wasn’t too worried because he has a good job at Batesville Tool & Die with insurance benefits. But, as is the case with many industries throughout America, they recently changed their insurance policy.

“I can’t blame the company,” Reed noted, saying he knows he’s the exception to most people. Reed’s medication alone runs about $39,000 per year. That doesn’t include any medicine his wife Connie or daughter, Faith, might need. Now his insurance is capped at $25,000 per year, leaving him to pay the difference, along with his co-pay, which now runs about $1500 for a three month supply for himself.
The Reeds have a strong faith and believe they will be able to overcome this hurdle. They’ve dealt with health issues, lost a home to fire and accepted the fact they couldn’t have children. The health issues were met with trying new things, following doctor’s orders, taking care of themselves as much as possible. They learned to trust God as they stayed in a camper during the period of time after they lost everything in a house fire. And, they adopted their beautiful daughter Faith, after they were told they would never have children. They say they will deal with this too, but right now it seems like a high mountain to climb.

While the Reeds are researching every avenue to help themselves, they seem to fall through the cracks. They make too much money for certain programs and simply do not qualify for others.
They thought about selling their house, but soon realized with the cost of rent, they were better off to stay put. They discussed other options, and know the reality is they don’t have a lot of choices.
“We have a lot of great friends and our church is a ‘praying church’”, noted Rusty. The couple rely on their faith and say they know a solution will be found, they just don’t know what it is right now.
Reed said, “To be given the second chance at life and then not be able to maintain it is really hard to take.” He says for the first time in many years he feels great, is able to enjoy life and now he’s facing the fact that he may not be able to afford it.

Would he have the transplant again if he had a choice? “Definitely,” answered Reed, who said he was in such bad shape before that he knows the transplant has made his quality of life much better. “My body hasn’t rejected the new organs in any way and I haven’t even had colds like the doctors warned me I might,” he noted.

The dilemma he faces is the rising cost of health care and while he and his wife both work, he doesn’t know how they can absorb that kind of additional bills. “I don’t blame my company - Batesville Tool and Die - I’m really the exception to the rule, most people don’t need $39,000 worth of medicine a year,” he noted. He says he’ll keep working and doing the best he can and hoping there is some kind of program he’ll qualify for in the meantime.

If you know of any suggestions for the couple, you can respond to their email at jcfreed@juno.com.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO Rusty Reed, Versailles, holds the medicines that make it possible for him to live. However, these medications cost nearly $39,000 per year and his insurance is now capped at $25,000.