I'm 10 months off from my last benzo. Overall I am much better and yet in some ways I am worse. It's so frustrating. I keep hoping when I hit the 12 month mark I'll be mostly healed, and maybe I will. But it's incredible how bad I still feel. Again, I am absolutely trending in the right direction. But I constantly lose hope.
I had applied for financial assistance in 2025 and was denied. Then in early 2026 I updated my application with my 2025 tax returns and was approved. The bill was waived entirely.
I will say some people on this sub had sort of briskly told me that the law in California says your income must not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level AND your annual out-of-pocket medical costs must exceed 10% of your income. This is incorrect, and logically makes sense that it is. It's EITHER your income must not exceed 400% of the FPL, or your medical expenses in the last 12 months must exceed 10% of your income.
Anyway, just wanted to post this if it will help anyone with a high hospital bill in CA. The hospital was very difficult and evasive all along the way. They never answered any of my questions about my application, my tax return, California law, etc. It took 9 months.