Let’s talk about Judy Aiken, one of millions in the U.S. struggling to afford prescription drugs. Here is her medical bill summary:
Patient Info: Judy Aiken, 69, retired nurse from Portland, Maine
Medication: Enbrel with a list price of $7,000 for Psoriatic Arthritis & Psoriasis
Annual Costs (Post-Retirement): $3,000 of out-of-pocket costs in the first two months
When Judy retired in 2019, she stopped focusing on living and started worrying about how to afford her health. She relies on a medication called Enbrel, a critical treatment for her condition. Enbrel has a list price of $7,000 a month—and even with Medicare, she now pays $330 a month out of pocket.
Judy and her husband started skipping all the little joys—no dinners out, no treats—because every dollar went toward her medical bills. The reality is, medications don't work if you can't afford them.
In 2022, something changed. Medicare got the go-ahead to negotiate drug prices, thanks to organizations like Patients For Affordable Drugs. In 2024, the limit for out-of-pocket costs was set at $3,300, and by 2025, it’ll drop to $2,000.
Here’s the thing: the fight’s not over yet. Big drug companies aren’t backing down—they’ve spent millions on legal battles and lobbying to try to roll back the new rules.
Stories like Judy’s are everywhere, especially in Latino communities. Take Rosa in Florida—she’s stuck with a $496 monthly bill for her respiratory therapy. Or Jose in California, who’s drowning in credit card debt just trying to pay for his $25,000 chemotherapy pills.
That’s why Espacio, a new creative communications hub, along with over 190,000 supporters, is speaking up. "It is unacceptable that people in our community have to choose between paying rent or buying their medication," says Winston Peraza, Chief Creative Officer of Espacio.
This belief inspired him to join the fight with the “Vital Medicines, Not Luxuries” campaign to ensure medications are no longer treated as a luxury. For Leo Botero, the director behind the campaign, “It's about producing content with purpose and making a real contribution to the community. Partnering with Espacio to bring this idea to life is exactly why Jenn and I founded Happy Brands.”
When buying medicine starts to feel like paying for a designer handbag that only a few can afford, it’s clear something needs to change. And it’s time for everyone to step up and do something about it.
If you want to help, visit https://www.luchacontrafarma.org.
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