Hi, my name is Kevin Baker and I am a 22 year old Theatrical Director and college student from Moscow, Idaho. Meaning that I do a little bit of engineering, a whole bunch of problem solving, and even more carpentry, along with the normal college student course work. But I also have to juggle with the challenges and struggles of living with Crohn’s disease since the age of 11 years old. 

I am currently prescribed Rinvoq that carries a list price of $6,431.21. I am so fortunate to have private insurance under Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which covers about half of my drug costs. This being said, my Crohn’s diagnosis has also led me to take medications like Remicade, Humira, and Stelara, which carry monthly list prices ranging between $1,100 to about $14,000 —  before insurance.

The insane cost of these medications, which is about $2,000 out of pocket for me, has affected my life in a tremendous way. I have to choose between food and medication or even take more extreme measures to make sure I don’t get sick. In addition, I spend approximately 3 hours on the phone trying to order medications which take away from my time in class, with friends, and loved ones. Finally, due to the difficulty in getting these medications, I have never experienced a full remission, meaning that I am significantly weaker than those my own age. It is indescribable being a 22 year old that can’t keep up with his friends. 

The most upsetting challenge I have had to overcome is how my medication has affected my future marriage. I have recently become engaged to my wonderful fiancé Lauren and I don’t know when we will be able to become “fully married” because of the high prices of my medications, and with how insurance works in this country. So instead of finding a venue, buying a dress or tuxedo, or organizing a service, we are searching for jobs with good insurance so that maybe in a few years we can finally make things official. 

With all this being said, I ultimately believe that we should have affordable drug prices so that everyone can enjoy life to the fullest. We only have so many sunsets in our lives and it is a waste to spend so many of them fighting for something that is scientifically possible but not financially accessible.

I believe that life-saving medicine is a human right and if that right has to cost a billionaire’s next summer home or super yacht, then so be it. My life and the lives of others struggling with illness are not worth less than anyone else’s, but definitely worth more than a company’s profit margin.