Comment by trashface | Hacker News Reader

Comment by trashface | Hacker News Reader

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I'm late 40s and basically the kind of man the article describes. I have saved up enough that I can go some time without working. My house is paid off. But I'm definitely spending my retirement funds. My estimate is 5% chance I'm homeless within 20 years.

Untreated ADHD is the main thing keeping me out of the workforce. Thank our government's restrictive policies around the diagnosis and medication for that. But its not like I'm sitting around enjoying the high life. My spending is basically poverty level. Most people would find it completely inadequate. No wife/kids so that helps.

I'm not _completely_ unemployed, I have a programming contract but I barely bill any hours. Also 10-15% of my time is spent providing what I call "social support" for my aging parents.

>Thank our government's restrictive policies around the diagnosis and medication for that.

Quite to the contrary I don't think ADHD diagnoses/prescriptions have ever been easier. They literally have online pill mills that will get you an ADHD diagnosis and an Adderall prescription within a week.

I went the more traditional route with an actual psychiatrist office, but after the initial appointments and testing, I just have one appointment every 3 months with my psychiatrist which basically amounts to "hey is everything still going alright" "yup life is good" and they write me the scrip for the next 3 months. It's literally a 10 minute televisit most of the time unless we get sidetracked talking about some tangent like we do occasionally.

Admittedly I have not tried super hard, and I was on an HMO when I did and they just love to throw up arbitrary gates (same insurance wouldn't even give me a clear answer on how or whether I could get an echocardiogram my primary doc ordered for me). Next year I will try again on my new insurance which is a PPO. But I know my primary doc doesn't want to treat me for this.

Try GoodRx to fill or get your prescriptions without insurance. It can be cheaper than a deductible. ADHD medication is showing up as $16.11 monthly after tax in my area. It’s very easy and cheap to get treated.

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