How to pay for Lyme disease treatment: top resources to get help
Lyme disease is an illness that can affect people’s lives for weeks and months, and sometimes much longer. The disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat, making it both physically and financially draining.
If you’re battling Lyme disease and aren’t sure how to pay for treatment, this article offers resources to help lift the financial burden.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. Humans contract it when bitten by an infected deer tick (also known as a black-legged tick).
Every year, these infected ticks transmit Lyme disease to over 300,000 people across the US, making it the most common tick-borne disease in the States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These ticks are about the size of poppy seeds, and mainly inhabit the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwest regions of the US.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
There are many manifestations of Lyme disease, with symptoms changing over time and becoming more serious.
Early Lyme disease takes place up to around 30 days after a tick bite. Early symptoms can include “bull’s-eye” rash (erythema migrans), fever, headache, joint pain, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.
Left untreated, it can develop into more severe symptoms, such as Lyme arthritis (which affects large joints), meningitis, neurological issues, and heart problems.
Chronic Lyme disease, also known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), is the term used when people infected with the disease continue to experience persistent symptoms of Lyme disease even after they’ve received antibiotic treatment. Symptoms include musculoskeletal pain and extreme fatigue.
Diagnosis of Lyme disease
Lyme disease has been nicknamed “the great imitator” because its symptoms mimic those of so many other illnesses. Because of its mimicking nature, it can be difficult to diagnose.
Doctors often analyze blood tests as well as a patient’s symptoms to determine if they may have Lyme disease.
The two common tests used to diagnose Lyme disease measure someone’s antibody response to the bacterial infection: the Western blot test and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, according to LymeDisease.org.
Treatment of Lyme disease
It’s crucial to treat cases of Lyme disease in the early stages to prevent symptoms from developing. It is normally treated with a course of antibiotic treatment.
Oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime, are the most common treatment and typically prescribed for early-stage Lyme disease.
Intravenous antibiotics are reserved for when the infection has spread to the nervous system (meningitis, cranial neuropathy), heart (Lyme carditis), or joints (arthritis), and when oral antibiotics haven’t worked. Ceftriaxone is the most commonly used IV antibiotic, while others may be used.
Prevention of Lyme disease
The easiest way to prevent Lyme disease is to avoid tick bites altogether. This means taking care in areas where ticks are prevalent, particularly in grassy or wooded areas.
When taking part in outdoor activities, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to protect your limbs. Using insect repellent, such as DEET, is also effective.
In many cases, a tick needs to be attached for longer than 24 hours in order to transmit infections. Scan the body for ticks and wash them off quickly with a shower. If you find any attached to your body, remove it using tweezers or a tissue. Remove it from the head or mouth, rather than the body.
Lyme disease financial assistance
Lyme disease test costs can run hundreds of dollars and aren’t typically covered by insurance companies. Before getting any testing done, it’s a good idea to check with your health care provider and find out what costs to expect.
Because the CDC states that Lyme disease can be treated with 30 days of antibiotics, the majority of insurance companies do not recognize chronic Lyme disease as a legitimate illness and will not pay for long-term treatment.
The cost of long-term Lyme disease treatments can run into thousands for patients each year. This puts people suffering from chronic Lyme disease in a very tough financial position and makes it difficult to pay medical bills. Thankfully, a few ways exist to pay for Lyme disease treatments without insurance.
Lyme disease grants
- The Lyme Light Foundation awards up to $10,000 for individuals and up to $30,000 for families who demonstrate a financial need.
- The Lyme Test Access Program (Lyme-TAP) reimburses up to 75% of out-of-pocket expenses for Lyme disease tests.
- The Lyme Treatment Foundation, Inc. provides grants of up to $4,000 for blood tests and long-term treatment.
Government assistance for Lyme disease
While few government assistance programs help offset Lyme disease costs, filing for disability can make life easier while you receive treatment. Applying for Lyme disease disability benefits can be tricky, but the Benefits.gov website lists the benefit programs from every state with information on how to apply.
Crowdfunding for Lyme disease
Without the help of insurance to pay for expensive treatments, thousands have turned to crowdfunding to offset Lyme disease costs and pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. Crowdfunding allows people to tap into their network for support during difficult times. By launching an online fundraiser, you begin finding financial relief right away.
GoFundMe’s fundraising platform means you can keep more of the donations you receive, and it’s simple to withdraw your funds. If you need help getting started, our blog offers fundraising tips and a medical crowdfunding guide that offers advice specific to medical fundraising.
Real people who used crowdfunding to pay for Lyme disease
It might sound intimidating to put yourself out there and ask for help, but it’s important to remember that your friends and family want to help you recover. To see how it’s done, take a look at these real people who turned to crowdfunding when they didn’t know how to pay for Lyme treatment.
Firefighter Gary Kuhl relief fund
Craig turned to crowdfunding when his good friend and fellow firefighter, Gary, contracted Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick in a brush fire. After eight years of battling the disease, Gary is now wheelchair-bound and in need of a wheelchair-accessible home. Friends and community members rallied around Gary and raised over $45,000 to help him and his family.
Get financial help for Lyme disease today
There may not be a definitive end to chronic Lyme disease, but a healthier future is definitely possible with the right care and treatment. If the thought of seeing a Lyme-literate doctor without insurance is daunting, or if you’re wondering how to get help with bills, GoFundMe can help.
Sign up to create a Lyme disease fundraiser and begin healing today.