New from MTV Documentary Films

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Pay or Die is available in theaters across the country. In honor of World Diabetes Day – Pay or Die will launch streaming on Paramount+ on November 14, 2023.

Pay or Die was directed by Scott Alexander Ruderman and Rachael Dyer, which sheds a necessary light on our US healthcare system that has become a more for profit business than it has for taking care of the people.

Here is the official synopsis.

Pay or Die follows families struggling to afford their medications and reveals the harrowing reality of living with a chronic illness in the United States – the richest country in the world. From a mother-and-daughter struggling to rebuild their lives after spending their rent money on insulin, to a young adult diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic, to a Minnesota family thrust into the national spotlight when their 26-year-old son dies from rationing his insulin, Pay or Die highlights this devastating struggle to survive while living with diabetes.

I am a diabetic. I have been for about 20+ years. I’m fortunate that I only take an injection (Ozempic) to aid in my insulin production. Even that medication I am having an IMPOSSIBLE time getting. Personally it’s been two weeks since I was able to take it because my normal dosage because what I normally take is out of stock. Why is that? It’s because it’s being prescribed for people to use in weight loss and NOT for what the drug is for.

FYI… I got sick taking a similar product (Trulicity). I was nauseous and vomited a lot. As soon as my body got used to it, the weight I did lose from being ILL came right back on. As soon as you stop taking DIABETIC MEDICATION to aid in weight loss, the weight WILL come back. The ONLY, and I do mean ONLY way to lose weight and keep it off is to eat right and exercise. There are NO MIRACLE CURES.

Anyway… I digress.

Pay or Die is about big pharma and how padding their own pockets comes at the expense of innocent lives. It has NOTHING to do about people’s lives.

I’m sorry, but NO PERSON in the richest country in the world should have to struggle or die simply because they cannot afford medication they require to LIVE. That to me is absolutely disgusting.

The cost of medications is out of control. I’m lucky that my husband has insurance, but without it we would be homeless. I take several medications on a daily basis for my diabetes, neuropathy, cholesterol and anemia. Without those medications I would die or lead a painful existence.

I hope that many people watch this film. I know that documentaries are not always people’s “cut of tea,” but this documentary is eye opening and I hope that enough people see it to DEMAND that there be a change when it comes to the availability and pricing of life saving medications.

It’s not just insulin. Even something like an EpiPen, which is used to help people experiencing anaphylaxis due to a severe allergic reaction such as to nuts or a bee sting, can cost $600-$700 EACH without insurance. Sometimes families need to leave one at school for their child meaning they don’t have one at home in case it is needed.

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Not everyone can afford medical insurance either. I think there needs to be big changes in that as well.

This film not only broke my heard for the people struggling to obtain the medications they need, but it also made me SO ANGRY that they have to go through all this.

Watch this film. Get angry. Demand change. It’s what we NEED to do, morally, as human beings.

For more information, please visit the film’s website and/or follow the film on social media.

Website: https://payordiefilm.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PayOrDieFilmOfficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/payordiefilm/

Twitter/X: @PayorDieFilm

Below is the film’s trailer.