I am 32, and recieve an annuity payment of 3064.00 a month, I do not work and have no insurance, diagnosed 6 months ago, and currently receiving meds free in study. I have a mortgage and bills, and not enough money left over to be able to pay for meds. Is there help? What should I do? Get private insurance? will the premiums be lower than the cost of me paying for my meds outright?

You have a complex situation. Some of what is available to you depends on what state you live in. It would be best to get a consultation with a benefits counselor in your area. Try to locate one through your local AIDS service organization. If you have difficulty, call the Project Inform hotline at 1-800-822-7422 and ask for the Access Coordinator.

You may be eligible for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), depending on what state you live in. Some states are able to assist people making about $50,000 per year (although you would have a co-payment to make at that income). The difficulty with ADAP is that, with the exception of the NY state ADAP plus program, it doesn't cover primary care, so you would still have to pay out of pocket for all the rest of your health expenses, including seeing a doctor or other provider.

Individual insurance policies can be quite expensive, but they are worth checking into. Some states have what is known as a high risk insurance pool. They are set up to provide reasonably priced insurance to those who cannot otherwise get insurance policies.

In addition, sometimes a professional association will offer group insurance to its members. Sometimes people are able to get reasonable insurance policies through their associations. Strategizing with a benefits counselor may be helpful to explore your full range of options.